Today marks the first anniversary of double earthquakes which hit Southern Türkiye and Syria, on the early morning of the 6th February 2023, a morning that changed thousands of lives forever.

We made a visit to the area post earthquake: “We decided to visit four weeks after the earthquakes when the family were able to cope better, they were still sleeping outside and still frightened of a further quake. Whilst waiting to visit them, I decided to raise awareness of what was happening on social media via various charities and international agencies. This information gave insight into the affected areas through stories about our past visits to the beautiful historical UNESCO areas of Southeast Türkiye.”

You can read our account of a visit to Adıyaman here:

Forward to 2024

It seems strangely unbefitting to call it an anniversary when more than 50,000 people lost their lives and more than 107,000 were injured. Writing this seems more difficult than the initial first visit we made.

So what of hope for the future? The loss of family, friends, homes, livelihood, and cities which have disappeared is overwhelming. Whilst it almost appears insensitive to bring attention to it all again, it is good reminder to the world of the ongoing emergency situation affecting the people of this area of Türkiye, drawing attention to facts and information after the news has moved on.

With a very personal interest for both Özlem Warren, the author of Özlem’s Turkish Table, whose hometown of Antakya (Hatay) and our family’s hometown of Adıyaman which were ripped apart by the earthquakes, we soon learned that people and our relatives were frightened and confused amid the wreckage and debris. Turkish and international rescue crews, when they finally reached the areas, worked around the clock, heroically trying to save those trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Freezing temperatures added to the cost of lives and the survivors stories were heart wrenching. The devastation was not just confined to city areas, driving along rural roads, we saw miles of destruction, which was endless. Approximately 680,000 homes were destroyed in the earthquake zone, one million tents were sent to the region, creating “tent cities” -amid freezing weather – for survivors, some of which are still their homes today. At the moment 215,224 containers make up 414 container cities providing temporary shelter (Source Daily Sabah). Aid eventually reached the area, feeding stations, clean water systems and medical care were all put in place, housing units are being rebuilt.

Özlem donated all proceeds from sales of her book in Türkiye to our ongoing donations, we still continue to raise funds together and we will be marking the year anniversary with ‘well being gifts’ for children in both area’s of Antakya and Adıyaman.

In Antakya one university’s book department was unfortunately destroyed, we have now donated monies to cover supplying invaluable books for 60 students.

In Adıyaman area we shall organize a party and gifts for ‘National Sovereignty and Children’s Day’ 23rd April 2024 to the children who are still occupying tent cities, previously visited by ourselves. The children love the atmosphere of celebration. They can draw pictures of their experiences, play, receive treats and dress up to celebrate this special day, something many children take for granted under normal circumstances. These children suffer from PTSD, separation anxiety, they still fear further earthquakes and it will take time to return to any kind of normality,

Aftershocks in the region continue, it is part of their daily life to cope with what has become part of their daily lives. Rising inflation, a nationwide housing crisis, and the mental trauma that these people have suffered – with associated illnesses requiring therapy and treatment – will be ongoing for a few years to come.  

We will update you on our April 2024 donations, thank you to my sister in law Songül Bozkurt and Hadice Nalçabasmaz for their invaluable assistance.

Ozlem’s Turkish Table Cookery Book is still available to purchase for delivery within Türkiye.

If you wish to help please contact, Beatrice Bozkurt at: 

info@esssnenceofturkey.com, 

https://www.instagram.com/blossomhill_uzumlu/ 

We look forward to hearing from you and we thank and appreciate all of you who have donated so far, contributing to the care of the children.

“Children are the assurance of our future, they are our joy of life. It is our human duty to raise today’s children as tomorrow’s adults.” – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

The post The children of the earthquakes – one year on appeared first on Fethiye Times.

Centered in the Pazarcık district of southern Kahramanmaraş, the first tremor struck at 4.17 a.m. local time (1:17 a.m. GMT) at a depth of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles).

Described as the “disaster of the century” that directly affected 14 million citizens, killed 53,537 and injured 107,213, Türkiye declared a Level 4 alert, including international aid, and national mourning was declared throughout the country for seven days.

More than 14 million people in Türkiye were affected by the quakes, as well as many others in northern Syria.

Honouring the memory of those who perished

People across the country, including the earthquake-hit provinces, assembled for commemoration ceremonies, honouring the memory of those who perished in the disaster.

A moment of silence and homage was held to remember the victims of the ‘Disaster of the Century’ at 4.17 a.m. local time (0117GMT), the moment the tremor struck.

In Antakya people threw flowers in the Orontes river that flows through the city and heard a local orchestra play “In the Wake of Those Who Have Left,” a composition created to remember the victims.

The aftermath

Thousands of homes were reduced to rubble, with the cities still having gaping holes in place of residences that toppled like houses of cards when the ground began to move with the first tremor.

In the aftermath, a frenetic race against time ensued as rescue teams, both domestic and international, endeavored to extricate survivors ensnared beneath the rubble. Reports of survivors emerging from the wreckage continued to surface, often hours or even days after the initial tremor. During an almost month-long search and rescue efforts, the entire nation also rallied to provide assistance, addressing the urgent need for shelter and sustenance in the harsh winter conditions.

Countless trucks departed from various aid hubs in cities, distributing meticulously assembled packages containing clothing, blankets, heaters and personal hygiene items to those affected.

Survivors struggle to rebuild their lives

As the disaster enters its second year, the most significant challenge for millions whose homes were demolished is still housing.

With tent cities that initially dominated the landscape largely yielding to containers, the quake survivors still grapple with persisting challenges, particularly in terms of heating and sanitation.

Concurrently, the arduous task of demolishing severely damaged structures and clearing debris persists in the 11 southern provinces, paralleled by sustained efforts in the realm of permanent housing constructions.

In Hatay, an epicenter of extensive structural damage, with an estimated one in two buildings either collapsing or sustaining severe destruction, the city strives to erase the scars of the disaster. The removal of debris from iconic structures has engendered voids within the urban fabric, inducing a disorienting sense for even Hatay residents who elected to remain, akin to navigating an unfamiliar city due to the absence of familiar landmarks.

A significant portion of earthquake survivors in Hatay reside in established container cities, where nylon covers are used to prevent leaks from rain and snow. Predominant among the persisting concerns are challenges related to heating within these containers.

A Turkish family is still afraid to go home one year after deadly earthquake

Fatma Kirici lives in a tent with her husband and two grown children, afraid to return to the multistory house they fled that somehow still stands.

“Our house is at the edge of a precipice,” said Kirici, 50, whose 20-year-old daughter and son-in-law died in the quake when their house collapsed. “I don’t want to put my other kids at risk.”

Because Kirici’s house was only “slightly damaged,” according to the government, the family does not qualify for either the subsidized housing under construction or a container home.

So they are spending another winter exposed to the elements: Cold rain regularly soaks the ground under their tent and the mattresses where they sleep, and every so often an aftershock rattles southern Turkey and the family’s nerves.

Read the full story here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ap-turkish-recep-tayyip-erdogan-red-cross-unemployment-b2488537.html

Further reading: https://www.reuters.com/pictures/pictures-life-after-turkeys-earthquake-one-year-2024-02-05/

The situation in Syria has only become more grim for those who survived

In Syria, the United Nations said 6,000 people lost their lives, the majority in Idlib. Other estimates put the number higher. The earthquake followed more than a decade of civil war that had severely damaged Syria’s infrastructure. Some of the worst quake-hit areas were also those most devastated by the conflict, including the city of Aleppo.

In the weeks after the earthquake, humanitarian aid started flowing into Syria and a U.N. appeal raised nearly $387 million in pledges.

But months later, as other crises emerged, priorities for Syria appeared to fall by the wayside. To this day, humanitarian agencies are struggling to draw the world’s attention back to the war-ravaged country as they face donor fatigue and shrinking budgets.

In many places, rubble remains where it fell as people struggle to survive in tents and prefabricated containers a year after the quake. Some 4 million people rely on humanitarian assistance amid a surge in violence in northern Syria.

Sources: Daily Sabah/Associated Press/TRT World/abc NEWS/The Independent

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