Disaster of the Century’s Second Anniversary: Reconstruction and Recovery Efforts Contact Kızılırmak Mahallesi Mevlana Bulv. No:144 Çankaya Ankara/TÜRKİYE T +90 312 590 20 00 | webinfo@iletisim.gov.tr 1st Edition, İstanbul, 2025 Disaster of the Century’s Second Anniversary: Reconstruction and Recovery Efforts Publisher Certificate No: 45482 ISBN: 978-625-6281-58-5 © PUBLICATIONS BY PRESIDENCY’S DIRECTORATE OF COMMUNICATIONS All rights of this book are reserved and belong to Publications by Presidency’s Directorate of Communications. No part of this book rnay be reproduced or published.It cannot be photocopied or reproduced on computer without the permission of the publisher. Disaster of the Century’s Second Anniversary: Reconstruction and Recovery Efforts C O N T E N T S FOREWORD PRESIDENT CUMHURBAŞKANI RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN........................................................7 CHAPTER 1 DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD...............................................................................11 CHAPTER 2 THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY.....................................................................................31 CHAPTER 3 A STRONG FUTURE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT: THE TÜRKİYE NATIONAL RISK SHIELD MODEL................................................................................49 CHAPTER 4 TÜRKİYE UNITED AS ONE HEART: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY .............................................................................................61 CHAPTER 5 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY .......................77 5.1. Public Safety and Oversight..........................................................................................................79 5.2. Inclusive Healthcare Services.........................................................................................................89 5.3. Transportation and Communication Services.................................................................115 5.4. Shelter and Safe Housing Services............................................................................................161 5.5. Uninterrupted Education................................................................................................................201 5.6. Continuity of Justice Services......................................................................................................275 5.7. Support and Measures for Economic Stability.................................................................293 5.8. Efforts on Work and Community Life.......................................................................................331 5.9. Steps to Support the Industry......................................................................................................351 5.10. Agriculture Friendly Arrangements........................................................................................365 5.11. Culture and Arts Activities............................................................................................................381 5.12. Supportive Activities in the Field of Youth and Sports...................................................413 5.13. Religious Services ...............................................................................................................................443 5.14. Social Services........................................................................................................................................461 5.15. Media, Communication and Publications...........................................................................497 6 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS F O R E W O R D | 7 F O R E W O R D 2 024 was a year in which we encountered significant develop- ments both at home and abroad while persistently engaging in various challenges across multiple domains. The earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, profoundly affected 11 provinces, and our citizens remained the central focus of our discussions for a considerable time, even amidst other urgent issues in Türkiye and the world. It was certainly a formidable challenge to restore the damage and mend the injuries inflicted by a disaster of such an unparalleled scale— impacting 11 provinces and more than 14 million citizens, causing over 50 thousand casualties and rendering 850 thousand independent units unusable. We mobilised all relevant institutions for the reconstruction of our earthquake zones, to meet the needs of earthquake victims and to heal their wounds. We have worked tirelessly since day one to completely fulfil the requirements for the promises we have made. Following the disaster of the century, we launched the reconstruction mobilisation of the century. In 2024, we maintained the intense efforts of construction and reconstruction for the recovery of the earthquake zones, ranging from construction to settlement, industry to agriculture, and education to transportation. In 2023 and 2024, we spent a total of 2.6 trillion TL, which equals 75 billion dollars at our current exchange rate. In our 2025 budget, we have allocated a total of 584 billion TL for the reduction of disaster risks, the rapid elimination of damages caused by earthquakes and the construction of earthquake-resistant cities that will meet the needs of our citizens living in earthquake zones. Our objective is to ensure that the 11 provinces affected by the earthquake have fully recovered, their issues have been completely addressed, and all of our citizens have residences and workplaces that are peaceful, secure, and enduring. In order to achieve this, we are mobilising all our means and continuing our efforts with great fervour. In 2025, the earthquake zone will remain our most significant and prioritised agenda item. Since day one of the earthquake, we have felt the support of our nation behind us. I would like to express my gratitude to all our citizens, who 8 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN endured the disaster of the century with the unity of the century and who stood by us—demonstrating to the world the true meaning of being a nation through their exemplary solidarity and sacrifice. I am proud of our nation and proud to be a member of this nation. I believe the book “Disaster of the Century’s Second Year: Reconstruction and Recovery Efforts”, published by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, serves as an important publication in terms of describing and showing to the public the efforts undertaken throughout the two years following the earthquake for the reconstruction and recovery of the 11 provinces affected. I wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives in the February 6 earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş, and I extend my condolences to their relatives. I would like to express my deepest sympathies to our citizens who were injured, and I pray for a speedy recovery for those who are still being treated. May Allah not allow our country and nation to face such disasters again. ÖN SÖZ | 9 Disaster of the Century’s Second Anniversary: Reconstruction and Recovery Efforts 01 DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD 12 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD | 13 Chapter 1 DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD Major Earthquakes in the World T he most severe earthquakes in world history have been ex- perienced in countries located in the so-called Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire is used to describe the Pacific Earthquake Belt, which is characterised by the highest frequency of tec- tonic earthquakes as well as the risk of volcanic eruptions, and it cov- ers Central and South America and Asia-Pacific countries, among which are Japan, Chile, Mexico, Peru and New Zealand. An examination of the world’s largest earthquakes from the past to the present demonstrates that earthquakes occurring in this region account for ninety percent of all earthquakes worldwide, indicating the substantial hazard potential associated with the geography in question. However, earthquakes that have caused many deaths and significant damage throughout history have also occurred outside of the said region. Because of the devastation they caused, these earthquakes, which have occurred around the world since 1900, have been classified as th most destructive earthquakes. 14 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS On January 31, 1906, the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coasts of Ecuador and Colombia killed about a thousand people. The tsunami that followed the earthquake crossed the ocean and reached Ja- pan, exacerbating the destruction wrought by the earthquake. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiyuan County, China, on December 16, 1920, caused severe damage and the deaths of 200 thou- sand people. The terrain underwent major changes after the earthquake. Due to the landslides, some communities were removed from the map, and some of the riverbeds changed course. The 7.9-magnitude Great Kanto Earthquake in Japan on September 1, 1923, caused massive destruction in and around Tokyo. A total of 143 thousand people lost their lives in this calamity. The 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Turkmenistan on October 5, 1948, caused many casualties. Due to the Ashgabat earthquake, 176 thousand of the 198 thousand inhabitants of the city lost their lives. A minimum of 1500 people perished in the 8.6-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Tibet on August 15, 1950. The devastation inflicted by the earthquake was not limited to Tibet but also had an impact on several cit- ies in China and India. The earthquake damaged hundreds of structures. DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD | 15 The 9-magnitude earthquake that struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia on November 4, 1952, did not result in any fatalities; nonetheless, the metre-high waves generated by the earthquake reached as far as Hawaii. The earthquake hitting the northern point of the Pacific Ring of Fire caused damage worth 1 million dollars. The 9.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile on May 22, 1960, with the epicentre in the city of Valdivia, was the most powerful earthquake in world history. 1,655 people perished, 3,000 were injured, and 2 million were left homeless in the world’s most powerful earthquake, which was felt over a 1,000-kilometre radius. Inflicted by the earthquake causing 550 million dollars of damage across the country, a tsunami spread over an area of 10 thousand kilometres and hit the coastal regions of South Africa, Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines, killing 61 people in Hawaii, 138 in Japan and 32 in the Philippines. The earthquake had an impact on the Puyehue Volcano, located in the south of the country, which re- mained active for weeks afterward. On March 28, 1964, a 9.2-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Alaska and lasted for 3 minutes triggered a tsunami. The earthquake and ensuing tsunami killed a total of 128 people and caused approximately 310 million dollars in damage. The earthquake in Alaska was ranked as the second most powerful earthquake in world history. Following this earthquake, another earthquake of magnitude 8.7 occurred on February 4, 1965, off the Rat Islands of Alaska, causing a 10-metre-high tsunami with no casualties. On July 27, 1976, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Tangshan city of China, killing 243 thousand people and leaving the region in ruins. 799 thousand people were injured in the earthquake, which caused damage as far as Beijing. The significance of an earthquake is determined not only by its intensi- ty but also by its duration. The duration of an earthquake indicates the length of time the energy is released. Given that long-lasting earthquakes release a greater amount of energy, it is evident that the damage poten- tial will increase in direct proportion to the energy. Indeed, the duration of the 9.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Sumatra, Indonesia, on December 26, 2004, was estimated to be 8–10 minutes. Recorded as the longest-lasting earthquake in history, it claimed the lives of 230 thousand people. The tens of metres-high tsunami generated by the earthquake, which had repercussions extending to 40 countries beyond Indonesia, af- fected 14 countries in northern Asia and eastern Africa as well as Indone- 16 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS sia and caused substantial damage in coastal countries. This earthquake, one of the natural disasters with the highest number of casualties, and the subsequent tsunami left 1,700,000 people homeless. On March 28, 2005, Indonesia was shaken by a second earthquake of 8.6 magnitude at a depth of 30 kilometres underground, killing more than 1,400 people and injur- ing hundreds more due to the tsunami that followed. About 75 thousand people lost their lives in the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Pakistan on October 8, 2005. The effects of the earth- quake, also known as the Kashmir earthquake, were quite devastating, and the region suffered great damage. On May 12, 2008, 87 thousand people lost their lives or disappeared in the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Sichuan province of China. As a result of the earthquake, 370 thousand people were injured and the region suffered severe material damage. On January 12, 2010, 316 thousand people perished and 300 thousand people were injured due to a 7-magnitude earthquake that occurred in the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. The earthquake that wrecked much of the southern part of Haiti left 1,300,000 people homeless. On February 27, 2010, more than 500 people lost their lives and thou- sands were injured in an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred 35 ki- lometres below the surface in Chile. The tsunami that occurred following the earthquake exacerbated the earthquake’s damage and impacted sev- eral Latin American countries, such as Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama, as well as Chile. The earthquake, which victimised 1.8 million people, caused 30 billion dollars of damage and rendered more than 500 thousand houses damaged beyond repair. On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake that occurred 24 kilome- tres below the surface in the Tohoku region of Japan cracked a 1-kilome- tre fracture on the ocean floor. The impact of the Great East Japan Earth- quake, the most powerful instrumentally recorded earthquake in Japan, was not limited to this. The tens of metres-high tsunami that occurred after the earthquake killed about 20 thousand people and inflicted heavy damage. Food shortages ensued, 4.4 million houses in northeast- ern Japan lost electricity, and 1.5 million houses had water supply issues as a result of the earthquake, which also severely impacted the region’s transportation network and infrastructure. Environmental safety was also critically threatened by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant leak. DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD | 17 The 7.5-magnitude earthquake that occurred on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on September 28, 2018 and the subsequent tsunami caused 4,340 people to lose their lives. This disaster was not limited to Sulawesi Island but also affected the Donggala, Palu and Sigi regions. The 7.2-magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of Haiti on August 14, 2021, brought to mind the disaster that struck Haiti 11 years ear- lier. The 2021 Haiti earthquake killed approximately 2 thousand and 500 people, injured more than 12 thousand people and left thousands homeless. Major Earthquakes in Türkiye The world has been faced with many natural disasters throughout history Among other natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, which occur due to the movement of plates in the earth’s crust, cracks along fault lines or volcanic activity, pose a significant challenge to communi- ties. Seismic waves that occur during earthquakes cause loss of life and collapse of buildings, trigger many natural disasters such as landslides and tsunamis, and have long-lasting negative sociological, economic, and psychological effects. 18 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS European Union, INFORM Risk Index Components of risk covered by INFORM Risk Index Our country, which is located on the Alpine-Himalayan Belt, one of the most active earthquake belts in the world, has its share of these chal- lenges. This belt corresponds to an area where one-fifth of the total earthquakes in the world occur. According to the Risk Management Index 2024 (INFORM), which was created to measure risks in terms of disasters and humanitarian crises and to rank countries, Türkiye ranks 40th among 191 countries and is among the countries in the “medium risk” group with an index score of 4.8. In the same index report, Tür- kiye’s earthquake-related risk index was determined to be 9.3, which shows that our country has a risk rate at the highest level. Ranking Level INFORM Concept Level (Dimensions) Hazard and Exposure Vulnerability Coping Capacity Functional Level (Categories) Natural Human- induced Socio-economic Vulnerable Groups Institutional Structural Components Level Earthquake Tsunami Flood Tropical Hurricane Drought Development & Deprivation Inequality Dependence on Aid Displaced People Other Vulnerable Groups Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Inspection Communication Physical Infrastructure Access to Healthcare System DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD | 19 AFAD, Disaster Management and Natural Disaster Statistics in Türkiye, 2018 In addition to facing humanitarian crises due to its geopolitical location, our country, which has many active faults due to its complex geological structure and geodynamic location, has encountered frequent earthquakes throughout history. The most severe earthquakes in Türkiye’s history, recorded since the 1900s, have caused great social, economic and psychological destruction. Maksimum Yer İvmesi 50 Yıllık %10 Tolerans ile Avrupa Deprem Geçmişi Earthquake History in Europe 20 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD | 21 April 28, 1903 6,7 Muş About 3 thousand people lost their lives in the 6.7-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Muş on April 28, 1903. The Muş Earthquake affected not only the province where it occurred but also the surrounding provinces. December 4, 1905 6,8 Malatya In the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Malatya on December 4, 1905, many people lost their lives and many villages were severely damaged. August 9, 1912 7,3 Tekirdağ 2 thousand and 836 people lost their lives in the 7.3-magnitude Mürefte earthquake that occurred in Tekirdağ on August 9, 1912. In addition, hundreds of villages and residential areas were severely damaged. May 7, 1930 7,6 Hakkâri In the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that occurred on the Hakkari-Iran border on May 7, 1930, 2 thousand and 514 peo- ple lost their lives and 80 villages were completely destroyed on the Turkish side of the border. Thousands of build- ings were damaged in the earthquake that inflicted severe damage. December 27, 1939 7,9 Erzincan The 7.9-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Erzincan on December 27, 1939, resulted in the deaths of 33 thousand people and injuries to 100 thousand people. The Great Erzincan Earthquake, one of the most destructive earthquakes in history, also destroyed 116 thousand buildings andcaused massive financial losses. 22 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS December 20, 1942 7 Tokat On December 20, 1942, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 struck Tokat, resulting in significant destruction. 3 thousand people lost their lives, and 6 thousand 300 people were injured in the earthquake. November 26, 1943 7,2 Kastamonu The 7.2-magnitude Ladik Earthquake that occurred in Kastamonu on Novem- ber 26, 1943, devastated the central por- tion of the North Anatolian Fault Line. Thousands of people died, five thou- sand people were injured, and a large number of people lost their homes. February 1, 1944 7,5 Bolu The 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck the Gerede district of Bolu on February 1, 1944, was felt in many provinces and districts and resulted in a large number of casualties. Ap- proximately 7 thousand individuals lost their lives in the impacted areas, and over 20 thousand houses were damaged. August 17, 1949 6,7 Bingöl The earthquake of magnitude 6.7 that hit the Karlıova district of Bingöl on August 17, 1949, resulted in signifi- cant destruction and loss of life. DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD | 23 August 13, 1951 6,9 Çankırı The 6.9-magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Kurşunlu district of Çankırı on August 13, 1951, caused he- avy destruction in the region, in addi- tion to the loss of life. March 18, 1953 7,2 Çanakkale A disastrous earthquake of magnitu- de 7.2 that struck Çanakkale on Mar- ch 18, 1953, resulted in the destructi- on or severe damage of over 8 thou- sand structures and claimed the lives of 250 individuals. May 26, 1957 7,1 Bolu A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Abant district of Bolu on May 26, 1957, resulting in numerous fatalities and significant structural damage to thousands of houses. August 19, 1966 6,9 Muş The 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the Varto district of Muş on August 19, 1966, was among the most destructive earthquakes and claimed the lives of thousands of people. July 22, 1967 6,8 Sakarya The 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Sakarya on July 22, 1967, resul- ted in the destruction of thousands of residences and the loss of 83 lives. 24 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS September 3, 1968 6,5 Bartın The 6.5-magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of Bartın on September 3, 1968, caused extensive damage, particularly in Bartın, with 29 people losing their lives as a result of the earthquake and thousands of- buildings being damaged. March 28, 1970 7,2 Kütahya The 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Kütahya on March 28, 1970, completely levelled 3,500 houses and severely damaged 7 thousand build- ings. The earthquake claimed the lives of 1,086 people and injured 1,260 others. September 6, 1975 6,6 Diyarbakır The Lice district of Diyarbakır was struck by a magnitude 6.6 earthqua- ke on September 6, 1975, which resul- ted in the destruction of 8 thousand 149 structures and the loss of 2 thou- sand 385 lives. November 24, 1976 7,5 Van The 7.5-magnitude Çaldıran earth- quake that struck Van on November 24, 1976, claimed the lives of 3,840 people and damaged roughly 10 thousand houses. The areas most se- verely affected by the earthquake in terms of loss of life and property were Muradiye and the neighbouring dis- tricts of Erciş and Özalp. In Çaldıran, which had a population of 3 thou- sand 304 people, 95% of the houses were completely levelled. DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD | 25 March 13, 1992 6,8 Erzincan Thousands of residences sustained damage, and hundreds of lives were lost in the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Erzincan on March 13, 1992. June 27, 1998 6,2 Adana A total of 145 people perished, and over 1,500 people sustained injuries in the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Adana on June 27, 1998. August 17, 1999 7,4 Kocaeli The impact of the Gölcük earthquake, which occurred on August 17, 1999, extended beyond its epicentre in the Gölcük district of Kocaeli and had a duration of 45 seconds at a mag- nitude of 7.4. The suffering caused by the most prolonged earthquake in the history of Türkiye was felt throughout the country, and it affect- ed a large area from Ankara to Izmir, injuring nearly 25 thousand people and claiming the lives of 17 thousand 480 people. In addition, 285,211 resi- dences and 42,902 workplaces were- damaged in the earthquake. 26 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS November 12, 1999 7,2 Düzce A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Düzce on November 17, 1999, which lasted for 30 seconds and was cau- sed by fractures in the eastern sec- tion of the 43-kilometer-long Düzce fault line on November 12, 1999. The earthquake claimed the lives of 845 people and injured 2678 others. Furt- hermore, thousands of residences and workplaces sustained damage. May 1, 2003 6,4 Bingöl The east of Türkiye was impacted by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that took place in Bingöl on May 1, 2003. In the affected area, at least 176 peo- ple perished, and 625 buildings were damaged. October 23, 2011 7,2 Van A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Van on October 23, 2011, with its epi- centre in the Tabanlı village, and a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Van’s Edremit district on November 9, 2011, both causing heavy destruc- tion and widespread discontent. The earthquakes wreaked havoc on the region’s building stock and claimed the lives of a large number of people. The earthquakes on October 23 and November 9, 2011, killed 644 people and injured 1,966 others. DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD | 27 January 24, 2020 6,8 Elazığ A 6.8-magnitude earthquake occur- red on January 24, 2020, at a depth of 8.05 kilometres near the Çevrimtaş village of the Sivrice district of Elazığ, causing destruction and loss of life in the area. The earthquake claimed the lives of 41 people and injured over a thousand others. October 30, 2020 6,6 İzmir An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 struck the Seferihisar district of İzmir on October 30, 2020, resulting in the loss of 117 lives and injuries to 1,034 people. The earthquake took place at a depth of approximately 16.54 kilometres beneath the earth’s surface. Many aftershocks occurred following the earthquake. Chronologically speaking, our country experienced the “Disaster of the Century” on February 6, 2023, with an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 at 04:17 a.m. and another one nine hours later at a magnitude of 7.6, both with their epicentres in Kahramanmaraş, which were the most recent ones and affected a very large area. The earthquake felt in a region of 1.2 million square kilometres covering Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and Syria and crossing our country’s borders was more severe than the 1939 Erzin- can and 1999 Marmara earthquakes in our Republic’s history. 28 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION: A MAP OF DISASTERS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD | 29 02 THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY 32 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 33 O n February 6, Türkiye awoke to a calamity seldom witnessed before. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Kahramanmaraş at 04:17, with the epicentre in the Pazarcık district. On the same day, at 01.24 p.m., another 7.6-magnitude earthquake occurred, with the epicentre in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaraş. Chapter 2 THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY 34 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Aside from their magnitude, the fact that these earthquakes occurred at such a shallow depth close to the earth’s surface amplified the devastat- ing power of earthquakes. The 7.7-magnitude earthquake occurred at 8.6 kilometres, and the 7.6-magnitude earthquake happened 7 kilometres below ground. The simultaneous occurrence of two earthquakes of this magnitude is unique in history. In addition to two very devastating earthquakes on the same day, af- tershocks of magnitude 6.4 and magnitude 6.5 occurred in Gaziantep’s Nurdağı and Islahiye districts. Following the several aftershocks felt on February 6, two of which were the primary earthquakes, almost tens of thousands of aftershocks were recorded. Gaziantep’s Nurdağı district 6.4 Gaziantep’s Islahiye district 6.5 On February 20, 2023, two further earthquakes struck, one with a mag- nitüde of 6.4 in the Defne district of Hatay at 08.04 p.m. and another with a magnitude of 5.8 in Samandağ, Hatay, three minutes later. The 5.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Malatya on February 26, 2023, de- stroyed 29 buildings and injured 110 people. The most significant differences between the February 6 earthquakes and other earthquakes are the devastating force of the earthquake and the large region of impact. These earthquakes impacted the provinces of Kayseri, Elazığ, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Osmaniye, Malatya, Adıya- man, Adana, Diyarbakır, Kilis, Hatay, and Şanlıurfa. This means that these earthquakes, which cover an area of about 110 thousand square kilometres, affected about 14 million people. THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 35 The given area corresponds to the entire surface area of Germany. Or we can say that the earthquake struck an area almost three times the size of Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Aside from Türkiye, the earthquakes on February 6 were felt in an area of 1.2 million square kilometres that included Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, and Iran, causing severe destruction and loss of life in Syria. Furthermore, the earthquake occurred in a location characterised by se- vere winter weather. When the earthquake struck on February 6, numer- ous provinces experienced harsh weather and snowfall. Aside from the fact that two large-scale earthquakes occurred on the same day, the February 6 earthquakes were unprecedented in terms of the area and population affected by the earthquake. 36 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Türkiye is a country with practically all of its territory on faults and strong seismic movements. The North Anatolian Fault Line, the Eastern Anatolian Fault Line, and the Western Anatolian Fault Line all travel through Türkiye, and these faults have been the site of numerous earthquakes, the greatest of which was 7.9 magnitude. Türkiye, which has been hit by numerous devastating earthquakes, has increased its institutional capacity to battle disasters, particularly earth- quakes, in the previous 20 years. When the February 6 earthquakes are compared to other earthquakes that have hit Türkiye, their destructiveness becomes clearer. Prior to the February 6 earthquakes, the first thing that came to mind in Türkiye when someone mentioned an earthquake was the 1999 earth- quake. The February 6 earthquakes had a three-times bigger impact than the earthquake in question. Comparisons with other earthquakes in the last century will yield similar results. The earthquakes of February 6 occurred in a far larger area and caused far more catastrophic results than the Erzincan earthquake of 1939. These earthquakes’ effects are also incomparable to those of the 1943 Çankırı, 1953 Çanakkale, 1944 Gerede, 1966 Varto, 1967 Mudurnu, 1970 Gediz, and 1976 Muradiye earthquakes. It was stated that the February 6 earthquakes, which are almost one of a kind in terms of surface rup- ture, produced an energy density of 30 quadrillion joules. As a result of the earthquakes, the plates shifted by sliding, causing changes in coor- dinates. The Anatolian Plateau shifted more than three metres after the earthquakes, according to scientific research. Comparing the February 6 earthquakes to other earthquakes that have occurred throughout the world and are etched in people’s minds will also illustrate the scale of the disaster. The strongest earthquake mea- sured on Earth was the 9.5-magnitude earthquake that occurred on May 22, 1960, in Valdivia, Chile. The 9.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Alaska on March 27, 1964; the 9.1 and 9.3-magnitude earthquakes that struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on December 26, 2004; and the 9.0-magnitude earthquakes that struck the Pacific Ocean epicentred in the Tohoku region of Japan on March 11, 2011 are also noteworthy. Although the indicated earthquakes appear to be greater than the Feb- ruary 6 earthquakes, when factors such as the area affected by the earth- THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 37 quake, destructiveness, and lethality are taken into account, the Febru- ary 6 earthquakes rank fifth on the list of the 21st century’s deadliest earthquakes, following the 2004 Indonesia, 2010 Haiti, 2008 Sichuan, and 2005 Kashmir earthquakes. Evaluating the Disaster of the Century From Various Perspectives The earthquakes have impacted not only natural, historical, and cultural assets, but also education, agriculture, and livestock services, in addition to causing a significant number of casualties. While many schools in the earthquake-affected provinces were destroyed, many more school build- ings were damaged. In order to ensure that the education of students im- pacted by the disaster remained uninterrupted for an extended period of time, academic activities continued within the framework of the formal education system. In addition, support activities progress concurrently with formal education. Transfers to different cities are made available to students who are unable to continue their education in their current city of residence. 38 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 39 Rural regions and urban centres were profoundly impacted by the earth- quakes that occurred on February 6th. Sugar distribution was carried out for beekeeping farmers affected by the earthquake, as well as support payments to farmers’ accounts within the scope of agricultural support payments, in order to assist the countryside, which is the stronghold of agricultural production, get back on its feet quickly in this process. 40 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS On the other hand, some of the works that have existed for thousands of years in the Anatolia region were completely destroyed by the earth- quakes, while others suffered significant damage. Damage assessment studies have been started on the damaged structures and the restoration process has been initiated with minimal intervention. THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 41 Paying attention to the economic dimension of the disaster, it is seen that emergency aid and expenditures made to the earthquake zone, debris re- moval activities, insurance payments, income loss payments, and all other support and expenditures lead to a great loss in the national income. Search and Rescue Efforts Following the Earthquake According to the Türkiye Disaster Response Plan (TAMP), Kahramanmaraş earthquakes have been declared as a fourth-level alarm. Disaster groups in all provinces have been brought together based on TAMP. While all AFAD state officials were notified, all teams, including search and rescue teams, were dispatched to the area. 42 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 43 44 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS During the meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, internation- al assistance in the field of urban search and rescue operations was re- quested through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC). In addition, while AFAD provincial directorates were put on alert, all teams, especially search and rescue teams, were directed to the region. The teams sent to the region were transported by the Turkish General Staff on two planes in the morning. As of 10:00 on February 6, 2023, offers of assistance have started to ar- rive from many countries, especially the International Search and Res- cue Advisory Group (INSARAG) team from the Netherlands, Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom. The State Information Coordination Center, which operates within the Presidential Complex, has continued its ac- tivities effectively since the beginning of the crisis. THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 45 The AFAD Operation Center has been working intensively for twenty-four hours since the earthquake occurred. In addition, a large number of search and rescue teams consisting of AFAD, PAK, JAK, JOAK, the Coast Guard, DAK, the search and rescue ship Güven, the Fire Department, Tahlisiye (Rescue Services), the Ministry of National Education, NGOs and interna- tional search and rescue teams have also worked in the region. 46 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who visited and examined the earth- quake victims in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Adana, Gaziantep, Osmaniye, Kilis, Adıyaman, Malatya, Diyarbakır and Şanlıurfa affected by the earth- quakes, received up-to-date information from the authorities on this issue. THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES: TRACES OF THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 47 03 A STRONG FUTURE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT: THE TÜRKİYE NATIONAL RISK SHIELD MODEL 50 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS A STRONG FUTURE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT: THE TÜRKİYE NATIONAL RISK SHIELD MODEL | 51 I n order to provide academic and technical contributions to the studies that will increase the city and community resistance to all risks and threats that have the potential to affect our country in Türkiye, especially in the disaster zone after earthquakes, the Tür- kiye National Risk Shield Model has been created under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Within the scope of the Türkiye Na- tional Risk Shield Model, efforts began on March 3, 2023. Field studies, technical examinations, scientific meetings and workshops were held. The Türkiye National Risk Shield Model was implemented under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and under the chairman- ship of the Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the period, Mr. Murat Kurum, to determine the monitoring, manage- ment, rehabilitation and reconstruction policies of the process covering all stages of disaster management before, at the moment of disaster and after the disaster. This model, which was established to provide sustain- able disaster management in Türkiye, consists of a Vice President, an Advisory Board, a General Secretariat and thirteen sub-comittees. These sub-committees are: Support Services and Social Policy Committee Earthquake and Earth Sciences Committee; Cities Recovery and Con- struction Committee; Urban and Rural Infrastructure Committee; Urban and Rural Transformation Committee; Geographic Information Systems and Smart Cities Committee; Historical and Cultural Heritage Commit- tee; Damage Assessment Committee; Debris and Waste Management Committee; Spatial Planning Committee; New Building Technologies Committee; Climate-Friendly Green Transformation Committee; Crisis Management and Communication Committee. With these committees, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change acts with the understanding of establishing sustainable, climate-friendly and disaster-resistant cities that cover every stage of the disaster management process and makes a great contribution to all studies in scientific and technological terms. These committees, which Chapter 3 A STRONG FUTURE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT: THE TÜRKİYE NATIONAL RISK SHIELD MODEL 52 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS are critical to achieving the goal of resilient cities, are made up of numer- ous representatives, including academics from geology to civil engineer- ing, architecture to sociology, and ministry bureaucrats. The purpose of the Türkiye National Risk Shield Model has been deter- mined as “to provide academic and technical contribution to the Works to be carried out in the disaster zone by the board established within the scope of the model on environment, urbanism and climate change issues.” The contributions of this model have become crucial for our country, which is susceptible to earthquakes across the majority of its landmass, to be prepared for earthquakes and all other disasters caused by the climate crisis, such as floods, landslides and fires, for improving the country’s disaster recovery capacity in every sense, and for the cre- ation of disaster-resistant cities and the social structure. The commit- tees make academic and technical contributions to the efforts that will be made in disaster areas and throughout our country on environmen- tal, urban, and climate change issues; they continue to provide academic support through their knowledge and experience in the field. A STRONG FUTURE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT: THE TÜRKİYE NATIONAL RISK SHIELD MODEL | 53 Activities Undertaken by the National Risk Shield Dolmabahçe Meeting: Announcement of the Board to the Public (March 3, 2023) Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Türkiye National Risk Shield Model was established on March 3, 2023, to coun- teract any risks and threats that may impact our country. The first board meeting, which lasted over seven hours, was very fruitful and yielded beneficial results, and the National Risk Shield Model was announced to the public. Another significant outcome of the meeting was the addition of the Disaster Management Policies Board to the nine existing policy boards of the Presidency. This decision signifies the elevation of disaster management to the highest level of public policy in our country. Gaziantep Meeting: Formation of Sub-Committees (March 10, 2023) The second meeting of the Türkiye National Risk Shield Model was held on March 10, 2023, in Gaziantep, chaired by Murat Kurum, then Minister of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, with the participa- tion of all members of the 13 committees. The Gaziantep meeting was particularly noteworthy because it institutionalised the model while also taking place in the earthquake area. This meeting resulted in the formation of 13 sub-committees, as well as the determination of their goals and operational principles. 54 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Earthquake Area Field Inspection (March 30-April 1, 2023) The committees, whose institutional structure had been established, conducted technical field investigations in the earthquake area from March 30 to April 1. Dolmabahçe Evaluation Meeting (April 7, 2023) A comprehensive evaluation meeting was held with the members of the Türkiye National Risk Shield Model Board at the Dolmabah.e Working Office on April 7, 2023, presided over by Chairperson Murat Kurum, who served as the Minister of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change at the time. As a result of the meeting, which evaluated the ac- tivities carried out since the establishment of the board, it was decided to hold a workshop on April 26, and Minister Murat Kurum announced the decisions to the public. A STRONG FUTURE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT: THE TÜRKİYE NATIONAL RISK SHIELD MODEL | 55 These decisions are as follows: • Expansion of early warning stations for all types of disasters in 81 provinces, • Increasing the availability of disaster information courses in second- ary, undergraduate, and graduate education levels and implementa- tion of these efforts in order to raise awareness among our citizens, • Consolidating all communications through AFAD’s coordination and promptly conducting efficiency assessments on fixed and mobile base stations in our urban areas, • Implementation of a regulation making it mandatory for a public au- dit to be carried out in land surveys, • If necessary, taking the steps required to make the use of raft founda- tions mandatory in some areas, • Decisive implementation of the planning process that includes all ac- tivities, including closing areas in stream beds and areas with a high risk of liquefaction in Türkiye to construction or reducing floors in these areas, 56 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • Utilisation of a wide range of new technologies during the demolition, relocation, retrofitting, and reconstruction of public service buildings situated in risky areas, • Development of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles capable of ac- cessing and even navigating in buildings during disasters, • Preparation of Türkiye’s building inventory and completion of dam- age assessment and risk assessment, • Allowing all institutions to benefit from this information through the digital database, • Implementation of the building identity certificate system through regular building inspections, • Ensuring that all buildings in Türkiye undergo regular inspections, • Increasing the use of environmentally friendly, zero-waste, energy- ef- ficient, and climate-sensitive building materials in 81 provinces, • Implementation of a new disaster-focused financial structure and a new incentive system to make Türkiye a disaster-resilient country, • Making professional liability insurance and competent engineering compulsory. Istanbul Workshop (April 26/27, 2023) To achieve more efficient and applicable results, a two-day workshop was held in Istanbul on April 26-27, 2023, chaired by Fatma Varank, Vice Chairperson of the Türkiye National Risk Shield Model Board and Dep- uty Minister of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change. The workshop was organised in the form of round tables, mixed committee meetings, and board meetings, and it produced a very extensive report. A STRONG FUTURE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT: THE TÜRKİYE NATIONAL RISK SHIELD MODEL | 57 During the workshop, all committees made presentations regarding their efforts and draft decisions. In addition, the Support Services and Social Policy Committee held a working meeting, and the following working is- sues were identified as priorities for the secretariat to implement: 1. All radio and other communication systems required to establish an uninterrupted and secure communication infrastructure should be deployed across the country to respond more effectively to disasters. 2. It is necessary to set up land, sea, and air routes, as well as alternate routes, for the immediate transfer of disaster response teams, vehicles, and equipment, as well as basic life materials such as food, supplies, and medicines to disaster areas, and these routes should be shared with institutions with authority and duty in the field of disaster. 3. The relevant law enforcement agencies should prepare implemen- tation plans from the start of the disaster to ensure the safety of de- bris, housing, and service areas in the disaster zone, especially the entrances and exits to and from the disaster area. 4. In order to increase the effectiveness of rescue efforts, the fire de- partment should be authorised locally in this regard, local capacity should be strengthened to train more search and rescue volunteers, and a local application/software should be developed to coordinate search and rescue teams. 58 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS 5. In order to meet urgent nutritional needs in case of a disaster, the nec- essary budget should be allocated to the authorised institution, and the nutritional capacity of institutions should be increased for disasters. 6. Throughout the country, it is necessary to carry out risk analysis of buildings belonging to all service units, particularly health and edu- cation institutions in provinces with high disaster risk, render them earthquake resistant, keep stocks of vaccines, medicines and equip- ment compulsorily to provide primary emergency health services at the local level, and monitor stock levels with a central system and plan where and how they can be delivered to the healthcare institu- tion in need. 7. Taking into account disasters of all sizes, it is necessary to establish the infrastructure services of pre-designated shelter sites, determine camp management standards for these areas (social facilities, secu- rity, water supply, sanitation, etc.) and implement these standards in the event of a disaster. 8. All public institutions and non-governmental organisations respon- sible for determining the need for humanitarian aid and its contin- ued and fair distribution in the disaster area should be ensured to work in coordination through a shared system. 9. In disaster response and recovery phases, information on vulnerable individuals with pre-existing information should be shared with rel- evant service groups. 10. In order for education and training to continue without disruption for the 2023-2024 academic year, integrated container/tent class- rooms and playgrounds need to be established in temporary accom- modation areas. 11. Courses on disaster awareness and preparedness for disasters should be included in primary and secondary education curricula, starting with pre-school education, by the Ministry of National Education. Additionally, subjects related to disaster management in the fields of logistics, firefighting, building and construction should be included in the curriculum in vocational and technical Anatolian high schools. 12. 12. In order to ensure social and economic development in the disas- ter area and reduce workforce loss, businesses should be supported through projects and grants, and employment opportunities should A STRONG FUTURE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT: THE TÜRKİYE NATIONAL RISK SHIELD MODEL | 59 be created by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) for the temporary or perma- nent employment of people who have lost their jobs and/or have no jobs after the disaster. 13. In order to ensure an integrated risk- and society-based disaster management system, it is important to transform the AFAD Presi- dency, which is the institution responsible for coordination in times of disaster, into a strengthened and authorised institution directly affiliated with the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye. Working Meeting (08-09 May 2023) At the Türkiye National Risk Shield Model Workshop, the Board decided to hold working meetings in Ankara to finalise the recommendations. Pursuant to this decision, the Board’s recommendations were settled at the working meetings held on May 08-09, 2023, at the facilities of İlbank. 04 TÜRKİYE UNITED AS ONE HEART: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY TÜRKİYE UNITED AS ONE HEART: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 63 A fter the February 6 earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş, which inflicted profound collective grief and was described as the “disaster of the century,” a national mourning period of seven days was declared, and our flag was lowered to half- staff throughout our country and foreign representatives until sunset on Sunday, February 12, 2023. In order to carry out the efforts in the region faster and more efficiently, based on Article 119 of the Constitution, a state of emergency was declared for 3 months, covering 10 provinces in the earthquake zone; a fourth-level alarm, which includes the call for in- ternational assistance, was declared; and Türkiye’s Disaster Response Plan (TAMP) was activated with an emergency code. Additionally, a call for international assistance in urban search and rescue was issued through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC). The international community did not remain insensitive to our deep sorrow and shared our grief. Since the first day of the earthquake, World leaders have published condolence messages, expressing their deep sorrow for the disaster of the century and emphasising solidarity with the Turkish people. In response to the fourth-level alarm declaration, which includes the par- ticipation of the entire national capacity in the efforts and the call for in- ternational assistance when necessary, many countries dispatched thou- sands of search and rescue teams and medical personnel to our country. Chapter 4 TÜRKİYE UNITED AS ONE HEART: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY 64 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Members of the UN General Assembly observed a minute of silence for those who lost their lives in the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria; many state and government officials, international organisations, academics, artists, athletes, journalists, NGO representatives and media figures shared messages of support for Türkiye on social media. National and international campaigns have also been organised to unite people together with a shared sense of solidarity and alleviate the wounds inflicted by this calamity, which is considered an exceptional natural disaster with its magnitude and destructiveness, from the first moments of which all our state institutions have been mobilised for our nation. The campaigns aimed to inform the public accurately, engage in strategic communication efforts with countries that demonstrated their support for us during that difficult process, raise awareness across all segments of society about the profound impacts of the earthquake, sustain the spirit of solidarity, assist the recovery of our society deeply affected by the earthquake’s devastating psychological consequences, and establish a communicative bridge fostering a shared sentiment between the east and west of Türkiye. National Aid Campaigns “Let My Home Be Your Home” Campaign The ”Let My Home Be Your Home” campaign was launched to contribute to the solution of the housing problem of citizens affected by the Kahra- manmaraş earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023. A nationwide system has been established, allowing benevolent citizens willing to open their vacant homes to earthquake victims to offer their residences to those in need, either without expecting any fees or at a discounted rate, through a trustworthy campaign. People who were unable to offer housing were given the opportunity to give earthquake victims shelter support in exchange for cash donations. It was planned to provide the earthquake victims with the accommodations that the campaign made available. Coordinating the campaign were the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Industry and Technology, and AFAD; the ministries provided the required explanations and promotion. The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications also supported the promotion of the campaign and the disseminationof press releases and social media postings from pertinent ministries, as well as public service announcements, promotional films, social media content and outdoor activities. TÜRKİYE UNITED AS ONE HEART: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 65 66 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS “Türkiye United as One Heart’’ Campaign “Türkiye United as One Heart” is a social aid campaign that was organ- ised on the joint broadcast of television and radio for earthquake vic- tims affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. On February 15, 2023, a live digital, local, regional, national, and international aid cam- paign was broadcast on 213 television channels and 562 radio stations. The donors made donations through bank transfers and SMS. More than 9 million SMS donations were made during the campaign, totalling 115 billion 597 million and 28 thousand TL in pledges. The largest donation, of 30 billion TL, came from the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, while Ziraat Bank also contributed to the campaign with a 20 billion TL donation. The slogan of the “Türkiye United as One Heart” campaign, launched with the understanding that the Turkish people can overcome all kinds of difficulties with solidarity and cooperation, emphasises the sense of unity and solidarity. The campaign sought to demonstrate that state-na- tion solidarity and a collective mobilisation of goodness can assist our country in overcoming this disaster. United Nations Secretary-General Ant.nio Guterres sent a video mes- sage for the “Türkiye United as One Heart” campaign, and President Re- cep Tayyip Erdoğan also joined the campaign by phone and said, “Our goal is to start delivering housing where our people can live safely and- peacefully in place of every destroyed building within a year. ‘’Inshallah, we’ll get through this test together.’’ TÜRKİYE UNITED AS ONE HEART: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 67 68 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS International Aid Campaigns The “We Stand With Türkiye” Campaign Based on global solidarity and aid mobilisation following the earth- quakes that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 6, the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications launched the “We Stand With Türkiye” campaign for the international public. The primary message of “We Stand With Türkiye” is to highlight the inter- national community’s global solidarity in the wake of the disaster, to point out the fact that our country, leading the way in humanitarian diplomacy, offering assistance to those in need in various crisis regions, acting as a stabilising power, sets an example for global solidarity in the face of the current disaster, and to fortify the spirit of international solidarity. The campaign was launched in 18 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Nether- lands, Hungary, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Chi- na, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan. The campaign highlighted the- significance of the global solidarity displayed by countries that sent aid, medical personnel, search and rescue teams, and messages of support to Türkiye immediately following the disaster of the century. Through- out the campaign, visuals and information bearing the slogan “We Stand With Türkiye” were disseminated across 18 countries’ traditional and digital media channels. These slogans emphasised the severity of the di- saster, the extended aid, and the solidarity with Türkiye. TÜRKİYE UNITED AS ONE HEART: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 69 Informative content on the nature of the disaster of the century, scientif- ic data and the activities carried out immediately after the disaster were published on the campaign websiteshttps://seninleyizturkiye.com/ and “https://westandwithturkiye.com” in Turkish and English.https://senin- leyizturkiye.com/https://westandwithturkiye.com/ To promote solidarity in the wake of the disaster, outdoor advertisements were also displayed on LED mobile trucks and in significant squares like Times Square in New York. Moreover, announcements bearingthe slogan “We Stand with Türkiye” were published in the countries’ major newspapers. UN Secretary-General Ant.nio Guterres, noted actors Morgan Freeman, Aamir Khan, and Reshat Strik, as well as singers Jamala, Yasmin Levy, and Della Miles, and athlete Matwe Middelkoop, all posted videos on various channels expressing their support for Türkiye. 70 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE UNITED AS ONE HEART: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 71 72 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS “Together for The People in Türkiye and Syria” International Donors’ Conference The EU Commission and the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU launched the International Donors’ Conference “Together for the People in Türkiye and Syria” on March 20, 2023, in Brussels, to support the earthquake-affected people in Türkiye and Syria. 65 countries and 26 international organisations and financial institutions participated in the conference, which was addressed online by our President and at- tended in person by then Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt .avuşoğlu, who delivered a speech at the beginning of the pledging session and held bilateral meetings on the margins of the conference. TÜRKİYE UNITED AS ONE HEART: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 73 At the conference, an announcement was made about a total commit- ment of €6 billion, of which €1.7 billion took the form of grants and €4.3 billion in the form of loans with favourable terms. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows up on these commitments in cooperation with the relevant institutions. Also, it contacts states, international organi- sations, non-governmental organisations and individuals who wish to contribute to reconstruction efforts. 74 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE UNITED AS ONE HEART: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 75 Disaster of the Century’s Second Anniversary: Reconstruction and Recovery Efforts 05 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 79 5.1. Public Safety and Oversight 80 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS During and after the earthquake, public safety and oversight are essen- tial for ensuring citizens’ peace of mind and the continuity of public or- der. In the aftermath of the earthquake disasters, epicentered in Kahra- manmaraş on February 6, 2023, the Republic of Türkiye implemented the necessary measures to guarantee the safety of the lives and property of the earthquake victims. In this regard, a state of emergency was declared for three months in the earthquake-affected provinces on February 8, 2023, in accordance with Article 119 of the Constitution, in order to expedite search and res- cue operations and subsequent efforts. The goal was to carry out efforts urgently, within the scope of the state of emergency, such as meeting urgent and vital needs, demolishing buildings that pose a risk of danger, and restricting access to areas where buildings are at risk of collapse. In order to strengthen the state administration in the region and increase its functionality during the state of emergency, the Governor of Kayseri was seconded to Kahramanmaraş, the Governor of Mersin to Hatay, the Gover- nor of Mardin to Gaziantep, the Governor of Tunceli to Adıyaman, the Gov- ernor of Bingöl to Osmaniye, and the Governor of Sivas to Malatya. Two air- craft were put into service by the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces to carry the officials dispatched to the region. Similarly, crisis desks were established for each province and district, and officials from the provincial and central organisations of the state assumed coordinated responsibilities at the crisis desks to guarantee the safety of life and property and to address the basic needs of the citizens. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 81 As a result, all state institutions worked together to ensure public safety and oversight, citizens’ demands were communicated to the appropriate institutions and crisis desks via the Presidency’s Communication Cen- tre (CİMER), and the principle of coordinated work was swiftly put into practice through efficient communication channels. Following the earthquake disaster epicentered in Kahramanmaraş, the “Earthquake Emergency” button in CİMER was established for citizens at 08:30 on February 6. Applications received from earthquake victims were created separately for the 11 provinces affected by the earthquake in the form of over 50 thousand EXCEL reports and shared with relevant institutions and organisations. 82 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS In the post-earthquake period, an effective oversight mechanism con- tinued intensively with damage assessment efforts. As a result of the efforts carried out within the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, the damage assessment of 6,609,408 indepen- dent construction units in the disaster area was conducted, and it was determined that 850,000 independent units, including approximately 680,000 residences and 170,000 workplaces, were severely damaged and rendered unusable. As a result of the damage assessment inspections, heavily damaged buildings that were unusable were sealed, preventing new disasters from occurring in possible aftershocks and ensuring citizens’ safety. Within the scope of the AFAD Circular, these inspections were carried out by university instructors under the supervision of experts and or- ganisations. The coordinated inspections conducted in the aftermath of the earth- quake demonstrated a similar level of effectiveness in ensuring public security. Law enforcement personnel dispatched to the region under the coordination of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Na- tional Defence made intensive efforts to alleviate any security concerns in the earthquake area. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 83 In this scope, the Ministry of National Defence’s Earthquake Search and Rescue units were dispatched to the region from the first day of the earthquake. On the first day of the earthquake, over 3,000 soldiers as- sisted with search and rescue operations in response to AFAD requests. On the third day of the earthquake, February 8, 2023, there were 31 search and rescue units in the region. In parallel with this situation, 17 battalions from the 2nd Army region and 19 battalions from other regions were urgently dispatched to the re- gion to ensure public safety. As of February 28, 2023, there are 57 bat- talions assigned to ensure public safety in the earthquake zone’s tent/ container cities. 84 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Turkish Armed Forces personnel, who played an active role in ensuring society’s peace and tranquillity, worked 24 hours a day in provinces, dis- tricts, and villages, without regard for working hours, to meet all of the earthquake victims’ basic needs, particularly safety. The air-sea corridor, which had 5,003 personnel assigned to the safety and oversight of the earthquake area, was made operational in the first two days of the earthquake despite the difficult weather conditions, with 50 aircraft, 31 helicopters, and 8 ships from the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory. The air corridor was supported by UCAVs and UAVs, and photographs from the Göktürk Satellite were shared with relevant ministries and units, particularly the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, to ensure that the events were as closely monitored as possible. To ensure public safety, the Turkish Armed Forces evacuated nearly 21,000 individuals from the quake-hit region via air, sea, and land to re- locate to other provinces. Additionally, essential humanitarian supplies were transferred by air to 311 villages in 32 districts via İncirlik. Other key law enforcement forces that supported public order efforts in the quake-hit region included the Turkish National Police under the Ministry of Interior, the Gendarmerie General Command, and the Coast Guard Command. Within the first two days following the earthquake, 16,421 gendarmerie officers, 6,148 police officers, and 391 coast guard officers were deployed to Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Malatya, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Kilis, Adana, and Osmaniye. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 85 18 vehicles, a CG corvette, and two helicopters of the Coast Guard Com- mand also supported the search, rescue, and evacuation operations since the first day after the earthquake. As of February 11, the number of law enforcement personnel deployed by the Ministry of the Interior ex- ceeded 130,000, including 70,000 police, 60,000 gendarmerie, and 1,000 coast guard personnel. In the aftermath of the earthquake, police search and rescue teams ac- tively participated in search and rescue operations in 11 earthquake-hit provinces, and the search and rescue operations were followed by the efforts of police officers, irrespective of their shifts, to secure the streets and avenues that had become silent following the earthquake. 86 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The police department secured the people against any form of public disorder through motorised and foot patrols and took effective actions for security against looting and thefts around the rubble. Police teams performed ID checks and searched vehicles on the grounds of possible security threats at checkpoints set up at various locations of the cities hit by the earthquake. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 87 Inspecting the debris from the buildings that collapsed after the earth- quake, the law enforcement officers acted as a deterrent against poten- tial disruptions to public order. The law enforcement officers’ self-sacrifice, as well as the sentimental bond they formed with the survivors who were clinging to life under challenging conditions following the earthquake, all contributed to the elimination of post-quake trauma. 88 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 89 5.2. Inclusive Healthcare Services 90 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS First Response after the Earthquake The earthquakes of February 6, 2023, the first of which took place at 4:17 a.m., struck 11 provinces with Kahramanmaraş as their epicentre and affected 14 million people. The teams of the Ministry of Health were quickly deployed to the site despite the winter conditions, arriving in Malatya at 7:15 a.m., to Ha- tay at 7:45 a.m., in Adıyaman at 8:00 a.m., and to Kahramanmaraş at 8:02 a.m. In the initial days following the earthquake, the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) and ambulance teams began to offer health services in tents to the survivors through emergency response teams and mobile healthcare service units. As of the first day, 1,810 ambulances, 245 UMKE vehicles, 16 air ambulances, and 15,883 UMKEs and emergency healthcare providers were deployed in 11 provinces. In addition to the establishment and operation of emergency response units and field screening, UMKE and 112 Emergency Medical Teams participated in search and rescue operations amidst the de- bris. The largest patient transportation operation in history, transporting a total of 51,665 patients and injured persons, was carried out through coordi- nation among all institutions of our government. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 91 Healthcare Professionals on the Ground While 113,759 healthcare professionals had worked for the healthcare pro- viders that report to the Ministry of Health across the earthquake zone prior to the earthquake, a total of 138,190 professionals, including 15,883 UMKE and Emergency Medical Services staff, 21,204 physicians, 62,590 healthcare professionals, and 38,513 support staff, were deployed from all over the country in the aftermath of the earthquake. The number of per- sonnel assigned to the region reached 190,814 in 2024. Number of UMKE, Emergency Medical Services Personnel, Physicians, Healthcare Professionals, and Support Staff Operating at the Earthquake Zone Paramedic/ Emergency Medicine Technician (EMT) Physician Total Health Personnel (Excluding Physicians) Non-Health Service Personnel Grand Total ADANA 1,363 5,789 17,659 11,706 36,517 ADIYAMAN 485 986 4,674 2,722 8,867 DİYARBAKIR 1,003 3,680 12,184 9,709 26,576 GAZİANTEP 1,098 4,432 15,167 12,242 32,939 HATAY 960 2,623 10,210 6,899 20,692 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 855 2,125 7,981 5,143 16,104 KİLİS 159 348 1,602 1,169 3,278 MALATYA 512 1,978 8,088 5,159 15,737 OSMANİYE 561 822 4,195 2,717 8,295 ŞANLIURFA 869 2,989 11,121 6,830 21,809 TOPLAM 190,814 Source: Ministry of Health 92 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Damage Assessment 114 hospital buildings sustained minor and moderate damage, while 20 hospital buildings belonging to the Ministry of Health, universities, and the private sector were severely damaged as a result of the earthquakes. In the aftermath of the earthquakes, a total of 243 primary healthcare fa- cilities were either destroyed, severely damaged, or moderately damaged. Logistics Management Logistics warehouses were constructed to facilitate the provision of es- sential medical supplies, equipment, and medication, and the “Disaster Supply and Logistics Management Software” was developed. Vaccines, medication, antiserum, and consumables were uninterruptedly delivered to the site starting from day one, and all medical supplies donated by lo- cal and international partners were checked before being delivered to the provinces designated as a logistics hub. For infectious diseases such as scabies and head lice that may break out in common living areas after the earthquake, 15,460 Ivermectin 3 mg tablets, 81,500 shampoos containing 1% Permethrin and 35,260 solutions con- taining 5% Permethrin were delivered to the region. Primary Care Examination Services and Village Health Checks Primary healthcare service centres were established in tent cities, container cities, and temporary shelters in order to facilitate access to healthcare ser- vices in the earthquake zone, and over 18 million primary healthcare exam- inations were carried out. Approximately 3 million examinations were car- ried out in the earthquake zone within the scope of village health checks. Mobile healthcare services were provided by the mobile teams and UMKE teams in the first weeks following the disaster. Mobile healthcare services continued to be provided in the earthquake provinces with 144 teams. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 93 Medical Follow-Up of Infants and Children in the Earthquake Zone Within the scope of providing follow-ups for infants and children, medical follow-ups were carried out for more than 170,000 newborns and more than 2.3 million infants and children, and more than 166,000 SMA screen- ings were conducted. Iron and vitamin D supplements were provided from the moment of the earthquake in order to protect the health of mothers and babies. Within the scope of the Newborn Screening Programme, medicines were deliv- ered to the zone in order to ensure that the treatment of babies diagnosed with biotinidase deficiency would not be interrupted. Follow-ups for pregnant and postpartum women in earthquake-affected provinces were monitored daily through the Health Statistics and Causal Analysis system. In order to reduce maternal mortality and provide qualified and acces- sible reproductive health services to the affected population in disasters and crises, “Minimum Initial Service Package Training in Emergency and Disaster Situations” was held in İzmir between December 19 and Decem- ber 21, 2023, for the medical personnel in the provinces affected by the earthquake. 94 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Number of Pregnancy and Postpartum Follow-Ups Number of Pregnancy Follow-Ups Number of Postpartum Follow-Ups Adana 126,973 94,677 Adıyaman 34,663 25,718 Diyarbakır 156,744 95,909 Gaziantep 185,441 139,374 Hatay 89,967 59,410 Kahramanmaraş 92,280 43,113 Kilis 13,372 10,755 Malatya 34,248 24,804 Osmaniye 38,894 31,064 Şanlıurfa 201,688 143,137 Total 974,270 667,961 The data for the period from October 27, 2023, to November 1, 2024 Vaccination Efforts Following the post-earthquake emergency responses in the affected prov- inces, vaccination efforts within the scope of epidemic prevention were ini- tiated. Tetanus vaccines, MMR vaccines, rabies and hepatitis B vaccines, as well as infant and childhood vaccines under the Expanded Program on Immunisation, were administered to the wounded who were pulled from the rubble (mandatory) to prevent disease and to all personnel (preventive) who took part in the search and rescue operations. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 95 Environmental Health in the Earthquake Zone Environmental health teams checked water supply systems, measured and sampled chlorine in areas with tap water and chlorinated tankers in areas with no tap water, and visited tent cities to identify and intervene in water and hygiene issues. In Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Kilis, and Malatya provinces, 200,931 chlorine analyses were carried out between October 27, 2023, and November 1, 2024. In cases of nonconformity in the levels of chlorine or the samples themselves, the relevant municipality or the authorised institution was immediately informed, and required steps were taken for such cases of nonconformity by providing instant chlorination or intervening with chlorine tablets in areas with inappropriate levels of chlorine. Province Number of Samples Taken Number of Chlorine Analyses ADANA 2,630 22,199 ADIYAMAN 3,334 16,420 DİYARBAKIR 3,398 13,412 GAZİANTEP 2,990 14,566 HATAY 10,304 25,596 K. MARAŞ 4,148 33,213 KİLİS 443 2,415 MALATYA 2,924 22,624 OSMANİYE 1,282 18,083 ŞANLIURFA 5,508 32,403 Total 36,961 200,931 Laboratory Services Potential threats of epidemics and diseases were brought under control through regular analyses conducted in mobile laboratories established by the Ministry of Health. Diseases and complaints at all examination centres were evaluated, and case increases were analysed centrally. A mobile labo- ratory with a Biosafety Level 2+ entered into service in Kahramanmaraş on February 8, 2023, and in Hatay on February 16, 2023. 96 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Precautions against Epidemics Initially, 20 thousand litres of disinfectant, 896 thousand N95 masks, 330 boxes of chlorine tablets, 2 million 400 thousand surgical masks, and 680 kilogrammes of granular chlorine were distributed as a precautionary measure against the risk of epidemics in the earthquake zone. In addition, medicines for the treatment of lice, scabies, fungus, and biotin tablets to ensure the uninterrupted treatment of babies with biotinidase deficiency were delivered. Medicines for the routine treatment of tuberculosis pa- tients in the zone were also delivered. Analyses regarding drinking water, hygiene, vector control, rodent con- trol, waste management, and humanitarian needs were carried out to de- termine the public health risks of the earthquake victims living in per- manent residences and temporary shelters in the earthquake-affected provinces. Necessary measures were taken for the prevention and early detection of infectious diseases in collective shelters where earthquake victims evac- uated from earthquake-affected provinces were settled, and follow-ups were carried out. Efforts continued in cooperation with provincial health directorates and institutions in the zone to monitor other potential risk factors and to carry out the necessary interventions. Hatay province was included in the influenza surveillance, and respiratory tract samples were taken, which were later analysed at the Adana Public Health Laboratory. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 97 Field processes (case investigation, field investigation, contact tracing, etc.) and reports, the number of cases, and increases in the number of cases were instantly monitored electronically and full-time through the “İZCİ” system (Infectious Diseases Surveillance and Early Warning Sys- tem) for infectious disease cases diagnosed and reported in all healthcare units across the country. Pharmaceutical Services Immediately after the earthquake, the shipment of medicines and medical consumables anticipated to be used was initiated, logistics warehouses were built for medical supplies, consumables, and medicines, and Adana and Ga- ziantep were designated as logistics hubs. 98 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Pharmacy services were provided in tents set up in hospital yards, and field pharmacies were established in coordination with the chambers of pharmacists. In the earthquake provinces, a legal framework was intro- duced for the establishment of mobile pharmacies and the free distribu- tion of medicines from field pharmacies. One out of every three pharma- cies began to operate on the eighth day of the earthquake in the provinces of Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, and Malatya, which were hit the hardest by the earthquake. The people hit by the earthquake were provided with means to access their prescribed medicines over the counter, and the medicines included on the List of Chronic Diseases were supplied. Stock and coordination manage- ment was provided for the vessels Bayraktar and Sancaktar, which were used to deliver the medicines and medical consumables required. Psychosocial Support Services After February 6, psychosocial support units were mobilised in 81 provinces, and information flow on disaster management was ensured. Online meetings were held with psychosocial support officers and provincial directors during the acute period. Cooperation was ensured with the Ministry of Family and Social Services on the personnel and services to be deployed to the field, and visits were conduct- ed to the disaster victims residing in undamaged houses, tent/container areas, and other collective accommodation areas established in the disaster zone. Adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrists were assigned from the pool of volunteers for the psychiatry services required in the disaster zone. Their assignment commenced as of February 12, 2023, and psychosocial support services were provided by our volunteer teams in the disaster zone and 70 other provinces. Psychoeducation has been conducted to provide informa- tion to disaster victims and their relatives receiving treatment in hospitals, direct them to safe areas, and meet their basic needs. As part of psychosocial support activities, disaster victims who were placed in collective accommodation areas such as dormitories or individuals resid- ing in separate accommodation areas and requested healthcare services were provided with a needs assessment, identification of potential risk factors, psychological first aid for earthquake victims and their relatives, as well as individual interviews, psychoeducation, group activities, transfer, and guid- ance. There still are patients who are monitored at healthy life centres. Psychiatric interviews were also conducted with individuals with chronic mental disorders or in need of further therapy. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 99 Healthcare centres that offer psychosocial support services in addition to mental health services were activated. Online trainings were provided to psychologists, social service personnel, and child development specialists working in the field on psychological first aid, coping with grief and loss, and psychosocial interventions in disaster management. Furthermore, online sessions titled “Ask the Expert” were held for 538 personnel under the coordination of experts in their fields in order to provide consultancy on the issues needed in the field at certain intervals. Support teams were established to provide assistance to the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) and paramedics, search and rescue teams, gendarmerie and law enforcement officers, personnel of the Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD), municipalities, fire brigades, and other institutions operating in earthquake zones, and individual and group works were carried out in Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Hatay, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa, and Malatya provinces. A total of 674 personnel in earthquake provinces and 4,050 personnel in other provinces were de- ployed in the field. In order to ensure the continuity of mental health and psychosocial sup- port services in three provinces (Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Hatay) that were severely affected by the earthquake, a total of 33 containers were provided with WHO technical support for 27 individual interviews and 9 group interviews, and preventive mental health services have been ini- tiated as of January 2024. In-service training of still active personnel is ongoing. The trainings are as follows: • Training on Psychosocial Support in Social Traumas and Disasters • Psychological First Aid Training • Problem Management Plus (PM+) Practitioner Training • Self-Help Plus (SH+) Practitioner Training • Training on Coping with Grief and Loss in Adults and Children Data on Psychosocial Support Services Province Total Number of People Provided Psychosocial Support Services: Kahramanmaraş 6,704 Hatay 11,477 Adıyaman 7,556 100 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Malatya 21,640 Kilis 15,779 Osmaniye 8,482 Şanlıurfa 14,084 Gaziantep 23,952 Diyarbakır 11,365 Adana 8,759 Elazığ 5,037 10 Province 229,798 70 Province 166,414 TOTAL 396,212 Support Services for Special Children Nearly 300 volunteer physicians provided mental health support services to children and adolescents who were victims of the earthquake through the “Support System for Special Children” application, which is accessible for download on mobile devices. The application, which was activated on February 14, 2023, allowed op- erators on duty 24/7 to schedule appointments with volunteer specialists in child and adolescent mental health and to conduct video calls at the scheduled appointment time. The system that was put in operation en- sured that the same physician provided long-term support to children af- fected by the earthquake. Support for Children with Autism, Down Syndrome and Other Special Needs AFAD was contacted to make sure that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down syndrome, and rare diseases affected by the earthquake were sheltered in the same container cities, and patient lists made with NGOs on the ground were sent to AFAD. With the support of Selçuklu Individuals with Autism Education Foundation (SOBE), an Early Response container was built in the Autism Container City of Hatay province, where individuals diagnosed with ASD live with their families. Mental healthcare and special education services are provided in the same container, and the services are being maintained. With the support of Tohum Autism Foundation, a Support Education Container was built in the Autism Container City of Malatya province, TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 101 where individuals diagnosed with ASD live with their families, and special education, development monitoring, and mental health services are also provided in the same container. In this process, the coordination of the services offered in the container was turned over to the Provincial Directorate of Health, and mental health services are currently provided with the support of İnönü University’s Faculty of Medicine (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry). A “Disaster Situation Child Mental Health Support Training Programme” consisting of 18 videos was created for use in actual or potential disaster situations. Created with the contributions of expert academics in their fields, the programme was made accessible to healthcare personnel through the Ekip Portal application. A total of 1087 healthcare workers participated in the training. The Special Children Support System Mobile Application, developed during the COVID pandemic in cooperation with the Department of Autism, Mental Special Needs, and Rare Diseases of the Directorate General for Health Services and the Directorate General for Health Information Systems, was reactivated on February 14, 2023, in order to offer service to children with autism in provinces affected by the earthquake. The announcement on the reactivation of the application was made via social media and by non-governmental organisations. Within the context of Special Children Support Services, a 24/7 operator service was provided, and appointments were made for 337 volunteer child and adolescent mental health specialists. The clients were provided with mental health support with at least 30-minute online video calls. Oral and Dental Health Services in the Earthquake Zone 15 dentists and 15 medical assistants were sent to the Oral and Dental Health Centres in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, and Adıyaman. Two oral and dental health vehicles in Hatay and one in Kahramanmaraş began to operate in the tent cities. In addition to examinations, emergency root canal treatments, tooth extractions, prosthesis repair, and filling were performed in mobile vehicles. Four additional vehicles were sent to operate in the tent cities established in Malatya and Kahramanmaraş, and oral and dental health services were provided with a total of nine mobile vehicles. Throughout 2024, routine oral and dental health services continued in Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa provinces, and requests from the field regarding physical conditions were evaluated. 102 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Earthquake Survivor Healthcare Service Hotline: Alo 184 The Ministry of Health Communication Centre “Alo 184 Hotline” is responsible for ensuring that health services are not disrupted during times of emergency and crisis, that the public is accurately and sufficiently informed, and that effective crisis management is carried out in collaboration with health institutions and organisations. ALO 184 Call Centre took on additional responsibility for the need for services caused by the earthquake conditions and has fulfilled all of our citizens’ requests 24/7 without interruption since the earthquake occurred. From the moment of the earthquake, a total of 130,565 applications were received through the Alo 184 hotline. Contacting Risk Groups of Earthquake Survivors through Call Centre In Adıyaman, Hatay, and Kahramanmaraş, 42,406 earthquake survivors aged 75 and over were contacted, and information was obtained regarding their situation. These citizens were called again, their health conditions were monitored, and their requests were received. The families of children with special needs registered with autism, mental special needs, and rare diseases in the earthquake zone were called, and information was obtained regarding their conditions. 270 family members were contacted in this regard. 503 citizens with celiac disease affected by the earthquake were contacted, and their requests were received. Individuals with special needs under the age of 18 who were affected by the earthquake and lost their relatives were contacted and informed about the Special Children Support System application. Healthcare Facilities in the Earthquake Zone In the aftermath of the earthquake, health investment expenditures amounting to approximately 16.7 billion TRY were made in 2023 within the scope of carrying out new hospital projects, especially emergency hospitals, repairing and reinforcing damaged buildings, and meeting the machinery and equipment needs of health facilities. In 2024, resources amounting to 28.2 billion TRY were allocated for the construction, machinery and equipment supply, repair, and reinforcement efforts for 311 primary healthcare facilities and for secondary care hospital projects with a capacity of 10,585 beds and 165 units. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 103 Emergency Response Units The establishment of 176 emergency response units in the earthquake zone ensured that survivors could access health services in their imme- diate vicinity. Field Hospitals In addition to the hospitals already operating in the earthquake zone, a to- tal of 34 field hospitals with full-fledged operating rooms were built, with 23 of them being built with the assistance of foreign partners. Among the 104 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS 34 field hospitals—19 in Hatay, 6 in Kahramanmaraş, 5 in Adıyaman, and 4 in Gaziantep—only those hospitals in Payas, Altınözü, Erzin, and Yay- ladağı, located in Hatay, are currently still in service. A total of 590,468 patients received treatment from field hospitals and emergency response units. Container Hospitals Hatay Kocaeli Container Hospital: The Kocaeli Container Hospital, which began operating on March 6, 2023, in the Antakya district of Hatay, is comprised of 94 containers and offers clinic services across 17 medical specialties within a confined space of 2,000 square metres. Each day, an average of 1,200 patients are examined at the hospital. Hatay Training and Research Hospital Container Campus: The 40-bed Hatay Training and Research Hospital Container Campus, built entirely of containers in the Antakya district of Hatay, began full-scale operations in June 2023 after the dismantling of field tents. Covering an indoor space of 741,000 square meters, the hospital provides outpatient services across 25 specialties along with an operating room, a delivery room, and a physiotherapy centre. The hospital has also established a dialysis centre that serves an average of 2,000 patients daily. Hospital Services via TCG Sancaktar and TCG Bayraktar Vessels The TCG Sancaktar and TCG Bayraktar were quickly converted into hos- pital ships following the earthquake, where they provided various health- care services, including emergency medicine, thoracic surgery, anaesthe- sia and reanimation, cardiovascular surgery, orthopaedics and traumatol- ogy, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and internal medicine. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 105 Number of Hospitals   Ministry of Health University Private All Sectors ADANA 16 2 14 32 ADIYAMAN 10   1 11 DİYARBAKIR 18 1 9 28 GAZİANTEP 13 1 19 33 HATAY 15 1 5 21 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 10 1 5 16 KİLİS 2     2 MALATYA 13 1 4 18 OSMANİYE 5   5 10 ŞANLIURFA 13 1 6 20 Source: Ministry of Health   MINISTRY OF HEALTH UNIVERSITY PRIVATE   Number of Oral and Dental Health Centres Number of Oral and Dental Health Clinics Number of Dental Hospitals Number of Dental Treatment and Prosthesis Centres Number of Dental Teaching Hospitals Number of Oral and Dental Health Centres Number of Clinics ADANA   3 2 2 1 4 104 ADIYAMAN 2 1     1   1 DİYARBAKIR 3 3 1   1 1 43 GAZİANTEP 3 2 1   1 1 115 HATAY 4       1   22 106 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Hospitals that Became Operational After the Earthquake Hatay Defne State Hospital: The hospital became operational on May 21, 2023, following 57 days of construction. It began to offer services at full ca- pacity on January 5, 2024, with 250 beds, 36 outpatient clinics, 11 operating rooms, and state-of-the-art equipment. İskenderun State Hospital: The hospital, which became operational in November 2023, was built on 63 acres of land using heavy steel materials. The hospital is equipped with 200 beds, 42 outpatient clinics, 35 inten- sive care beds, seven operating rooms, six imaging rooms, one MRI, one tomography, one full-scope laboratory, one bronchoscopy, one endoscopy, six PM&R, three oncology, one cardiovascular surgery centre, and one an- giography unit. KAHRAMANMARAŞ 1 3 1   1   52 KİLİS 1 1         3 MALATYA   2 1   1 4 30 OSMANİYE 2           24 ŞANLIURFA 2 1 2   1   28 Source: Ministry of Health TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 107 Hatay Training and Research Hospital: Completed shortly after the earthquake, the Hatay Training and Research Hospital became opera- tional on February 3, 2024. It is situated on 129,000 square meters of land, with an enclosed space of 65,350 square meters. The hospital features one helipad and has a capacity of 550 beds, including 126 intensive care beds, 30 dialysis beds, and 68 emergency beds. Additionally, it has 12 operating rooms, 101 outpatient clinics, two angiography units, and 13 x-ray units.  Gaziantep City Hospital: Located in Şahinbey district and constructed on 638,000 metres of enclosed area, the hospital sits on 115,183 square metres of land and began admitting patients on October 6, 2023. It provides a wide range of services with its five specialised hospitals and 1,875-bed capacity. 108 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Other Hospitals Constructed in Earthquake Zone Diyarbakır Çermik State Hospital (50 Beds) / Opening Date: July 17, 2024 Gaziantep Nizip State Hospital (400 Beds) / Opening Date: 2025 Gaziantep Nurdağı Emergency Hospital (72 Beds) / Opening Date: August 9, 2024 Hatay Payas Emergency Hospital (72 Beds) / Opening Date: October 16, 2024 Kahramanmaraş Türkoğlu Emergency Hospital (120 Beds) / Opening Date: January 14, 2025 Osmaniye Bahçe State Hospital (50 Beds) / Opening Date: March 13, 2024 Source: Ministry of Health Hospitals and Other Health Facilities Under Construction in 11 Provinces Diyarbakır Kayapınar City Hospital (1000 Beds) Şanlıurfa City Hospital (1700 Beds) Adıyaman State Hospital (150 Beds) Adıyaman Çelikhan Emergency Hospital (56 Beds) Adıyaman Maternity and Children's Hospital Landscaping and Complementary Works Diyarbakır Dicle State Hospital (60 Beds) Diyarbakır Hani State Hospital (35 Beds) Elazığ Palu Kovancılar Regional Hospital (150 Beds) Elazığ Keban State Hospital (25 Beds) + 112 Emergency Health Services Station + Housing (10 Apartments) Hatay İskenderun State Hospital (600 Beds) Hatay Erzin Emergency Hospital (72 Beds) Hatay Altınözü Emergency Hospital (120 Beds) TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 109 Kahramanmaraş State Hospital (600 Beds) Kahramanmaraş Afşin State Hospital (150 Beds) Kahramanmaraş Emergency Hospital (250 Beds) Osmaniye Düziçi State Hospital (150 Beds) Şanlıurfa Harran State Hospital (100 Beds) Gaziantep Cengiz Gökçek Maternity and Children's Hospital (300 Beds) Adıyaman Besni State Hospital Annex Building Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital Annex Building (Kitchen + Dining Hall) Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital Maternity Annex Building Gaziantep 25 Aralık State Hospital Annex Building (300 Beds) Hatay Yayladağı State Hospital Annex Building (2000 m²) Osmaniye Kadirli State Hospital Annex Building (135 Beds) + Oral and Dental Health Centre (20 Units) Şanlıurfa Viranşehir State Hospital Annex Building (200 Beds) Osmaniye Sumbas Integrated District Hospital (10 Beds) Osmaniye Hasanbeyli Integrated District Hospital (10 Beds) Adana Yüreğir Karşıyaka Newborn Migrant Health Centre No. 2 (Family Health Centre) (8 Family Health Units/FHUs) Adana Seyhan Yeşilyuva Meydan Reinforced Migrant Health Centre (Family Health Centre) (12 FHUs) Adana Ceyhan Küçükkırım Ali Ekinci Migrant Health Centre (Family Health Centre) (10 FHUs) Adıyaman Provincial Directorate of Health Service Building (İ7 Group) + Petrol Neighbourhood (Joint Health and Safety Unit + National Medical Rescue Team (Umke) Unit and Warehouse + Directorate of Health Warehouse + Garage + Cold Chain Vaccine Warehouse) Adıyaman Kahta Hürriyet Family Health Centre No. 5 (7 FHUs) Adıyaman Central District Dağkuyucak Single Physician Family Health Centre Adıyaman Besni Kızılin Dispensatory Adıyaman-Besni Suvarlı Family Health Centre (2 FHUs) + 112 Emergency Health Services Station Adıyaman Gölbaşı Family Health Centre No. 3 + 112 Emergency Health Services Station (6 FHUs) Adıyaman Kahta Bölükyayla Family Health Centre (1 FHU) + 112 Emergency Health Services Station Adıyaman Çelikhan Pınarbaşı Family Health Centre (2 FHUs) Diyarbakır Çermik Community Health Centre (T9) + Family Health Centre No. 2 (9 FHUs) + Healthy Life Centre + 112 Emergency Health Services Station Diyarbakır-Ergani İncehıdır Family Health Centre No. 11 (2-3 FHUs) Diyarbakır-Çınar Ovabağ 112 Emergency Health Services Station Diyarbakır-Kulp M.Eski 112 Emergency Health Services Station Diyarbakır Çüngüş Yeniköy 112 Emergency Health Services Station + Family Health Centre with Housing (3 FHUs) Diyarbakır-Ergani Selman 112 Emergency Health Services Station + Family Health Centre with Housing (4 FHUs) 110 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Diyarbakır Bismil Emergency Health Services Station No. 2 Diyarbakır Kayapınar Memur-Sen Family Health Centre (6 FHUs) Diyarbakır Sur Çarıklı Family Health Centre (6 FHUs) Elazığ Kovancılar Avlağı Family Health Centre (1-2 FHUs) Elazığ Central District Kızılay Family Health Centre (2-3 FHUs) Elazığ Karakoçan Central Family Health Centre No. 1 (9 FHUs) + 112 Emergency Health Services Station Elazığ Central District Yemişlik Family Health Centre (4 FHUs) Gaziantep Şahinbey Şahintepe Yeni 500 Evler Reinforced Migrant Health Centre (Family Health Centre) (10 FHUs) + 112 Emergency Health Services Station Hatay Reyhanlı Oral and Dental Health Centre (20 Units) Hatay İskenderun Family Health Centre (4 FHUs) + Healthy Life Centre + 112 Emergency Health Services Station + Community Health Centre (T5) (Restoration) Hatay Antakya Provincial Directorate of Health (Office + Meeting Halls Training Unit) (Restoration) Kahramanmaraş Dulkadiroğlu Yenişehir Family Health Centre (10 FHUs) + Healthy Life Centre Kahramanmaraş Afşin Healthy Life Centre + 112 Emergency Health Services Station Kahramanmaraş Dulkadiroğlu Erkenez Family Health Centre No. 3 (2 FHUs) Kilis Central District Nedim Ökmen Neighbourhood Osmangazi Reinforced Migrant Health Centre (10 FHUs) Kilis Central District Bölük Beşyüzevler Reinforced Migrant Health Centre (Family Health Centre) (12 FHUs) + 112 Emergency Health Services Station Malatya Battalgazi Fırat Family Health Centre (9 FHUs) + Healthy Life Centre +112 Emergency Health Services Station Malatya Yeşilyurt Tecde Family Health Centre (6 FHUs) Malatya-Yeşilyurt Bostanbaşı Family Health Centre (8 FHUs) + 112 Emergency Health Services Station Malatya Yeşilyurt Topsöğüt 3-4 Physician Family Health Centre Osmaniye Bahçe Islam Community Health Centre (T11) + Family Health Centre (9 FHUs) Osmaniye Central District Başmahalle Neighbourhood Migrant Health Centre No. 18 (Family Health Centre) (8 FHUs) Şanlıurfa Eyyübiye Osmanlı Neighbourhood Reinforced Migrant Health Centre (Family Health Centre) (12 FHUs) Şanlıurfa Birecik Square Neighbourhood Reinforced Migrant Health Centre No. 1 (Family Health Centre) (12 FHUs) Şanlıurfa Karaköprü Central District Neighbourhood Reinforced Migrant Health Centre No. 1 (Family Health Centre) (12 FHUs) Şanlıurfa Viranşehir Yenişehir Neighbourhood Reinforced Migrant Health Centre No. 3 (Family Health Centre) (12 FHUs) Şanlıurfa Ceylanpınar New Neighbourhood Reinforced Migrant Health Centre No. 2 (Family Health Centre) (12 FHUs) Şanlıurfa Akçakale Fatih Sultan Mehmet Neighbourhood Reinforced Migrant Health Centre No. 1 (Family Health Centre) (12 FHUs) Source: Ministry of Health TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 111 Primary Healthcare Organisations Serving in the Earthquake Zone In the provinces of the earthquake zone, health services are provided by 1356 Family Health Centres and 4670 Family Health Units, 69 District Health Directorates, 44 Community Health Centres, and affiliated units. ADANA ADIYAMAN DİYARBAKIR GAZİANTEP HATAY MALATYA KAHRAMANMARAŞ ŞANLIURFA KİLİS OSMANİYE TOTAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER (TSM) 9 6 5 2 1 9 3 4 5 44 DISTRICT HEALTH DIRECTORATE (District HD) 6 3 12 7 14 4 8 13 2 69 FAMILY HEALTH CENTRE 200 85 180 190 203 97 124 188 18 71 1356 FAMILY PHYSICIAN UNIT 786 221 604 847 538 291 411 715 54 203 4670 SUBUNITS AFFILIATED WITH TSM / DISTRICT HEALTH DIRECTORATES HEALTH UNIT (SE) 58 33 46 102 113 109 149 35 26 37 708 TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL UNIT (VSB) 4 1 3 3 2 1 2 3 1 1 21 CHILD, ADOLESCENT, WOMEN AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH UNIT (ÇEKÜS) 2 1 1 2 2 8 CANCER EARLY DIAGNOSIS, SCREENING AND EDUCATION CENTRE (KETEM) 1 4 2 4 2 3 2 18 HEMOGLOBINOPATHY DIAGNOSIS UNIT 1 1 1 1 4 DERMATOLOGICAL AND VENEREAL DISEASES UNIT 1 1 2 MALARIA CONTROL UNIT 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CENTRE (ÇASMER) 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 11 HEALTHY LIFE CENTRE (SHM) 8 3 2 2 3 3 5 6 1 3 36 MIGRANT HEALTH OUTPATIENT CLINIC FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS (YUP) 6 2 1 7 8 1 1 3 29 ENHANCED MIGRANT HEALTH CENTRE (GGSM) 4 2 4 5 1 2 3 2 2 25 MIGRANT HEALTH TRAINING CENTRE (GSEM) 1 1 1 3 MIGRANT HEALTH CENTRE (GSM) 8 1 3 7 22 3 5 11 2 1 63 MIGRANT HEALTH UNIT 60 15 6 87 115 15 34 59 25 21 437 INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICE CENTRE (ESM) 1 2 1 2 6 MILITARY HEALTH UNIT 2 1 11 4 7 4 1 8 2 40 JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY UNIT (OSGB) 64 7 29 39 28 19 16 21 2 11 236 PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 TOTAL 1219 385 913 1309 1062 562 779 1071 139 366 7805 112 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Primary Healthcare Facilities in Service Listed in the Investment Programme As of January 2025, the investment programme includes 301 facilities, of which 24 have been completed and operational. Land acquisition for 152 facilities was completed during this period and submitted to the investment programme for the year 2025. The planning of 157 facilities has been completed but has not yet been submitted to the investment programme due to ongoing land acquisition efforts. Facilities in the Investment Programme Provinces Land Project Tender Construction Total ADANA 2 2 10 3 17 ADIYAMAN 6 2 17 11 36 DİYARBAKIR 2 8 44 7 61 GAZİANTEP 7 4 5 1 17 HATAY 5 11 40 2 58 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 4 10 24 5 43 KİLİS 2 1 2 2 7 MALATYA 2 1 16 8 27 OSMANİYE 2 6 4 3 15 ŞANLIURFA 6 2 6 6 20 Grand Total 38 47 168 48 301 Completed Primary Healthcare Facilities S.No Investment Province Investment District Investment Title Provisional Acceptance Date 1 ADANA KOZAN Adana Kozan Şevkiye Family Health Centre No. 1 (4 FHUs) + 112 Emergency Health Service Stations March 7, 2024 2 ADIYAMAN BESNİ Adıyaman Besni Menderes Şambayat Family Health Centre (4 FHUs) May 6, 2024 3 ADIYAMAN CENTRAL DISTRICT Adıyaman Central District FHC No. 15 (5 FHUs) June 10, 2024 4 ADIYAMAN CENTRAL DISTRICT Adıyaman Central District Yeşilyurt Neighbourhood June 10, 2024 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 113 5 DİYARBAKIR DİCLE Diyarbakır-Dicle Kocalan Family Health Centre (2 FHUs) September 6, 2024 6 DİYARBAKIR ERGANİ Diyarbakır Ergani Ahmetli Family Health Centre (3 FHUs) December 28, 2023 7 DİYARBAKIR ERGANİ Diyarbakır-Ergani Kesentaş 112 Emergency Health Services Station+- Family Health Centre (2 FHUs) September 6, 2024 8 DİYARBAKIR KAYAPINAR Diyarbakır Kayapınar Metropol Healthy Life Centre+Family Health Centre (9 FHUs)+112 Emergency Health Service Stations February 12, 2024 9 HATAY ANTAKYA Hatay Antakya FHC No. 10 (6 FHUs) October 18, 2024 10 HATAY SAMANDAĞ Hatay Samandağ Uzunbağ Family Health Centre October 18, 2024 11 KAHRAMANMARAŞ DULKADİROĞLU Kahramanmaraş Dulkadiroğlu FHC No. 23 (sümer) (4 FHUs) June 11, 2024 12 KAHRAMANMARAŞ ELBİSTAN Kahramanmaraş Elbistan ÇİÇEK FHC (5 FHUs) June 11, 2024 13 KAHRAMANMARAŞ ONİKİŞUBAT Kahramanmaraş Onikişubat Yörükselim Family Health Centre (9 FHUs) August 5, 2024 14 KİLİS CENTRAL DISTRICT Kilis-Central District Yenişehir Family Health Centre (4 FHUs)+Community Health Centre (T5) + 112 EHSS September 12, 2024 15 MALATYA BATTALGAZİ Malatya Battalgazi Alacakapı Neigh- bourhood MHC / FHC (12 FHUs) December 1, 2023 16 MALATYA YEŞİLYURT Malatya Yeşilyurt Aşağıbağlar FHC (5 FHUs) June 11, 2024 17 MALATYA YEŞİLYURT Malatya Yeşilyurt Çilesiz Semtpazarı FHC (5 FHUs) June 11, 2024 18 MALATYA YEŞİLYURT Malatya Yeşilyurt Fahri KAYHAN Family Health Centre (9 FHUs) +Healthy Life Centre +112 EHSS October 20, 2024 114 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS 19 OSMANİYE CENTRAL DISTRICT Osmaniye Central District Çona Family Health Centre (2 FHUs) August 23, 2024 20 OSMANİYE CENTRAL DISTRICT Osmaniye Central District Industrial Zone FHC/MHC (8 FHUs) April 15, 2024 21 ADANA YÜREĞİR Ulubatlı Hasan Trai¬ning FHC (2 FHUs) (PH) November 18, 2023 22 ADANA YÜREĞİR Güzelcumhuriyet FHC (1 FHU) (PH) April 16, 2024 23 ADIYAMAN CENTRAL DISTRICT Central District No. 5 FHC - 112 EHSS (5 FHUs) (PH) October 2, 2024 24 MALATYA BATTALGAZİ Sarıcıoğlu FHC (4 FHUs) (PH) April 12, 2024 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 115 5.3. Transportation and Communication Services 116 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Railway Services Directorate General of Turkish State Railways (TCDD) General Overview The 1,275 km-long railway lines that traverse 11 provinces hit by the earth- quakes on 6/2/2023, with their epicentre in Pazarcık, Kahramanmaraş, are as follows: • Mersin-Adana-Osmaniye-Narlı • Toprakkale-İskenderun • Fevzipaşa-İslahiye • Köprüağzı-Kahramanmaraş • Nizip-Gaziantep-Narlı • Narlı-Malatya • Çetinkaya-Malatya • Malatya-Elazığ • Malatya-Yolçatı-Diyarbakır Railways Affected by the Earthquake Initial checks were performed by the maintenance teams immediately af- ter the earthquake. A total of 1,232 km of railways were made available for emergency cases and earthquake relief trains as a result of maintenance and repair works in the first stage. Actions were further taken to provide railway access to the earthquake-affected provinces from the north and the south as soon as possible, and logistic support was provided in the initial stage for the transportation of fuel oil and all forms of vital supplies to the earthquake site. In addition to guesthouses, social facilities, and construction sites, accom- modation services were provided for a total of 6,000 people in passenger and staff service cars parked at the railway stations. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 117 In partnership with the Governorship of Giresun, 1,500 earthquake survi- vors were provided with 3 meals free of charge at TCDD Malatya Family Lodge for 3 months following the earthquake. The Directorate General of Turkish State Railways (TCDD), along with all its staff, successfully fulfilled its logistic support duty in the earth- quake-stricken region from start to finish. Efforts are ongoing to make sure that the pre-earthquake operational con- ditions are restored and that the destroyed or damaged buildings and fa- cilities on the railway lines affected by the earthquake and opened for a limited mode of operation are rebuilt and rehabilitated to provide logistic support immediately after the earthquake. In addition to railway lines, TCDD’s buildings were also affected by the earthquake. It has been determined that 272 out of 1,628 buildings and fa- cilities in the region has sustained damage. The retrofitting, maintenance, and repairs of 116 buildings have been completed, while 34 of them are still under construction. A total of 122 buildings and facilities, including those collapsed during the earthquake or subsequently demolished due to severe damage, are currently subject to survey, project, and planning activities. In order to ensure the continuity of TCDD operations in the earthquake-stricken region, containers and prefabricated structures were installed with the primary aim of providing a working environment for TCDD staff. Containers Provided for Staff on Duty 118 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Actions Regarding the Damaged Buildings in the Earthquake- Stricken Region There are 1,628 buildings belonging to TCDD in the region. The earthquake affected 272 buildings. Damaged Buildings and Facilities The Number of Damaged Buildings in the Earthquake-Stricken Provinces Damage assessment certificates were obtained from the provincial di- rectorates of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, and a structural review of the damaged buildings in areas affect- ed by the earthquake was carried out. Within the boundaries of the 5th Regional Directorate of Malatya and the 6th Regional Directorate of Adana, a total of 42 prefabricated buildings have been constructed, comprising 2 administrative buildings, 11 station buildings, and 29 buildings to be used as offices. Furthermore, 416 containers have been provided for the work, accommoda- tion, and lodging of the staff working in the 5th and 6th regional directorates. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 119 Repair of the Railways Damaged by the Earthquake As a result of the studies carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) and AFAD, it was determined that a total of 1,275 kilometers of railway line traversing the 11 affected provinces were impacted by the earthquake. After the earthquake, initial checks were made by the maintenance teams, the suitability of the lines were determined, and necessary efforts were initiated for the transition to limited operation. As a result of these efforts, 1,232 kilometres of railways were repaired and made available for emergen- cy use and earthquake relief trains. Following the logistic support provided to the region through railways, work on the renewal and improvement of the line sections that were damaged by the earthquake continued. Within the scope of the “Earthquake Damage Recovery Project,” which was included in the investment plan, renovation and improvements of the infrastructure, superstructure, electrification, sig- nalisation and telecommunication facilities are currently in progress. Infrastructure and superstructure works on the Malatya-Gölbaşı-Narlı-Nur- dağı line, which is currently closed to train traffic, are now in the finalisation stage. On the other hand, the reconstruction of the T-7 tunnel, electrifica- tion, and signalisation works, along with the improvement of Beylerderesi bridges, are currently in progress. Other Relief Activities Accommodation services were provided to 6,000 people at stations, pas- senger and staff service cars, guesthouses, social facilities, and construc- tion sites in the region starting from the first day of the earthquake. 120 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Construction works to repair the cracks in concrete areas and rails at the İskenderun Port are currently in progress, while the fire that started in the overturned containers was successfully extinguished. Sorting of the containers affected by the earthquake has been completed. Two trucks of heaters, blankets, clothes, sanitary supplies, diapers, and food contributed by the railway employees were delivered to the earth- quake survivors. Four technical teams consisting of plumbers, electricians, welders, me- chanics, and carpenters from Sivas, Ankara, Samsun, and Kayseri assisted in the installations of the tents and containers in Adıyaman under the co- ordination of AFAD. Additionally, 151 portable toilets supplied by TCDD were delivered to Adıyaman. These include nine single-stall, three double-stall, four six- stall toilets, one triple-stall toilet/triple-stall bathroom, three triple-stall toilets, and 25 four-stall portable toilets. Directorate General of Infrastructure Investments (AYGM) A team formed under the Directorate General of Infrastructure Investments was engaged in search, rescue, and relief activities. On February 7, 2023, 10 earthquake survivors were rescued from the rubble. Various relief supplies and staff were sent by the Directorate General of Infrastructure Investments and its 34 active construction sites. Within this scope, 371 pieces of construction equipment, 1,521 staff, 10,588 auxiliary materials, 73,077 temporary shelters, 49,071 clothing items, 966,919 food rations, and 102,291 medical supplies were provided. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 121 Directorate General of Turkish State Railways, Transportation Inc.(TCDD Transportation) The General Directorate of TCDD Transportation Inc. initiated damage assessments, logistics, and relief activities in the 11 affected provinces without delay. While damage assessment activities on railways and railway vehicles con- tinued to ensure the continuation of railway access to the quake-hit re- gion, earthquake survivors were provided with shelters and food rations as part of relief efforts. A diesel multiple unit (DMU), four locomotives, and thirty freight wag- gons belonging to the TCDD Transportation Inc. fleet were damaged during the earthquake, which were swiftly removed in an effort to clear the railway for traffic. 122 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS To meet the need for accommodation, sixty-four passenger cars, four die- sel multiple units (DMU), and three electric multiple units (EMU) were made available, allowing for the accommodation of 4,767 people. Additionally, TCDD Transportation Inc. staff dormitories in Ankara, Kay- seri, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Samsun, Ulukışla, Halkalı, and Edirne provinces were allocated for the accommodation of earthquake survivors. 68,001 food rations donated by the train crew staff of the Directorate Gen- eral, as well as the heaters, blankets, food, clothing, sanitary supplies, and diapers were transported to the region on two trucks and distributed to the earthquake survivors. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 123 Moreover, 16,912 litres of fuel were provided in aid for construction ma- chines, ambulances, and other vehicles operating in the earthquake-strick- en region. A firefighting waggon belonging to the Directorate General’s fleet inter- vened -in the fire that broke out in İskenderun Port. From February 06 to April 13, 2023, 450 passenger trains operated by the Directorate General transported 77,974 passengers free of charge, includ- ing earthquake survivors, volunteers, doctors, and military personnel. 124 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Furthermore, the Directorate General sent a total of 3,164 waggons of re- lief with 171 trains to the earthquake-stricken region, which included 17 waggons of construction machines, 498 waggons of humanitarian relief packages, 2,290 waggons that carried 4,617 container houses, 266 wag- gons hauling 320 container heaters, blankets, and generators, 30 waggons of coal, 4 waggons that brought 26 portable toilets, 5 waggons of heat-gen- erators, 24 waggons for accommodation, and 30 maintenance waggons. In addition, 77 waggons hauling 1,560 tonnes of supplies (tents and hu- manitarian aid supplies) sent from Germany, Austria, China, Hungary, Ro- mania, and Slovakia were given expedited customs clearance and shipped directly to the earthquake-stricken region. The technical staff of the Directorate General provided necessary tech- nical assistance in plumbing and generator installations at the container cities in the earthquake-stricken region where container houses were de- livered to. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 125 108 General Directorate staff were deployed in the relief efforts in the earthquake region, providing a total of 2,419 mandays of service. Social Relief Activities in Communications Directorate General of Communications (HGM) Immediately after the first earthquake epicentred in Kahramanmaraş, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, and Information Technologies and Communications Authority (BTK) ensured the transportation of mo- bile base stations, generators, and field teams of cellular operators to the region, enabling them to eliminate the disruptions in communication. 126 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Approximately 500 mobile, trailer base mobile stations, emergency communication vehicles, as well as over 2,200 personnel and 3,500 generators were deployed to the earthquake-stricken region in addition to the existing capacity. 40 trailer base mobile stations designed in projects aimed at providing communication services to rural regions as part of universal service in a way that is suitable for use in emergencies were deployed in the region in the aftermath of the earthquake. Container cities and large-scale tent cities were provided with fibre optic connections, free Wi- Fi internet connection, and satellite internet connection -via the Türksat 5B satellite. Mobile coverage requirements of these areas were also met. It was ensured that operators made the necessary planning for communications infrastruc- ture and installed more than 1,350 permanent base stations during the reconstruction and rebuilding phase in the earth- quake-stricken region. Opera- tors continue to install mobile and fixed communications infrastructure in parallel to the permanent housing⁣ planning and infrastructure building activities at new settlements by the Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) and Emlak Konut. The essential measures taken and the ongoing efforts following the earth- quakes epicentred in Kahramanmaraş are as follows: TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 127 Initiatives were taken to strengthen the communications network and take more effective measures against future disasters after the earthquakes. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure identifies and follows up on the implementation of the measures operators are required take in disaster-prone provinces, particularly İstanbul, to prevent disruptions in communications at times of disaster or emergency. Operators are tasked with implementing risk mitigation efforts to ensure that base stations are protected from physical damage and minimally af- fected by power outages during disasters. The following measures have been taken in this scope: • Buildings harbouring base stations and transceivers in İstanbul and other disaster-prone cities are inspected to identify risky areas that could be damaged during disasters, and are removed if deemed nec- essary. • Necessary measures are taken to ensure disaster resilience during the construction of new base stations. • Backups for fixed and mobile communication infrastructure are main- tained at provincial and district levels, and the backup status of base stations is enhanced. • Disaster-related resources such as mobile base stations, satellite- supported mobile base stations, and emergency communication vehicles are constantly increased in order to prevent disruptions in communication during disasters. • Cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Energy Markets Regulation Authority, and distribution companies is ongoing with a view to prioritising energy supply to prevent base stations from being affected by power outages. • The capacity of accumulators, generators, and alternative energy sources is constantly increased to minimise the impact of power out- ages on the communication infrastructure.⁣ • Optimisation of mobile networks and increased network capacity in the latest period prevented capacity issues during the recent earth- quakes. The continuity of these efforts is followed up by the operators. • Operators prepare business continuity plans to ensure service con- tinuity and minimise possible losses and test their plans annually 128 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS through drills and simulations. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) regularly audits operators and imposes sanctions on those found to be in breach. • Mobile coverage and capacity have been enhanced in disaster assem- bly areas, with ongoing efforts for new assembly areas. • Mobile coverage measurements by AFAD provincial directorates have been completed, ensuring out-door coverage. Efforts are underway to reinforce in-door coverage in provinces where needed. Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) The following regulations, activities, and studies were carried out by BTK after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake: • Following the earthquake, the Disaster Emergency Assistance Coordina- tion Group consisting of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastruc- ture (MoTI), BTK, and operators convened within the framework of the Communication Contingency Plan and began to work immediately. • Operators were instructed to provide earthquake survivors with free call time, SMS, and data allowance and to open all restricted mobile lines to ensure continuity of communication. • MoTI and BTK sent mobile base stations to disaster zones. The fuel supply required for the generators that power the base stations was urgently dispatched to the earthquake zones. • The process for infrastructure installation permits was expedited, and frequency usage fees were suspended in the affected region and dura- tion of the State of Emergency. • Radio fees waived for earthquake survivors for three months pursuant to the Presidential Decree No. 140 dated April 6, 2023. • Payment of administrative fees and universal service fees was postponed. • Frequency allocation requests were fulfilled for the radio system to be uti- lised for communication among foreign aid teams that arrived in Türkiye within the scope of earthquake response with the involvement of the Min- istry of Foreign Affairs . • The use of the 2.4 GHz satellite band was authorised for information flow TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 129 from the earthquake zone and communication. • Cellular phone subscribers and users in the earthquake zone were provid- ed with free service for at least one month, not charged for bills, and grant- ed access to certain services free of charge. • Certain services such as SIM card replacements and subscription transfers were provided free of charge for subscribers affected by the earthquake. • Prepaid mobile subscriptions were not suspended or restricted due to in- sufficient credit or balance.⁣ • The process of obtaining new SIM cards was facilitated for subscribers who lost their identity documents and SIM cards during the earthquake. • BTK provided basic-level coding and robot programming training to ap- proximately 2,500 students in 16 tent cities in the Adıyaman and Hatay provinces with the “mBot” and “Makey Makey” sets. • BTK Academy converted a container into a mobile classroom equipped with the necessary computer, internet, and electricity infrastructure, and transported it along with the robot programming kits to the earthquake zone to realise the project aimed at teaching programming to the children affected by the disaster. • Children who attended the training in the mobile classroom deployed in Adıyaman began to learn the basics of software development. These train- ings provided children with an enjoyable distraction from the psychologi- cal toll of the earthquake.⁣ • After the earthquakes, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority supported the earthquake zone with the necessary robot pro- gramming kits, computers, internet and electricity infrastructure. Post and Telegraph Organisation (PTT) On the first day of the earthquakes, 40 mobile PTT offices were dispatched to the region to enable the citizens to access financial services. A total of 19 mobile PTT offices (5 in Adana, 6 in Adıyaman, 1 in Diyarbakır, 2 in Gaziantep, 1 in Hatay, 3 in Kahramanmaraş, and 1 in Malatya) remain in operation to meet the customer demand for PTT services in the earthquake zone. 130 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Approximately 19.7 million transactions worth 32 billion TL have been car- ried out as of the end of November 2024 through the 355 PttMatik ATMs ac- tive in the region. Out of the 64 main postal lines in the region, 53 main postal lines were actively operated in seven provinces, excluding Adıyaman, Hatay, and Kahramanmaraş. Within the scope of the free shipment campaign for aid deliveries, 43,350 aid packages from domestic and foreign sources were delivered to those in need. Food supplies (essential provisions, sugar, dry food, water, bread, etc.) and all basic necessities (such as clothing, cleaning supplies, electrical sup- plies, heaters, power banks, hardware, medicines, diapers, cables, sockets, teaware, kitchenware, generators, fuel, etc.) that were urgently needed in the earthquake zone were provided and shipped to the region. In addition, mattresses, bed bases, blankets, bedding sets, and other items were provided from other provinces and shipped to the earthquake zone. All PTT guesthouses across the country were allocated to earthquake survivors. Moreover, kitchens were set up in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Adıyaman, and Malatya, serving three meals per day to the employees and the citizens. 60 container offices/workplaces were procured and dispatched to the region, ensuring uninterrupted access to PTT services for our citizens. PTT has ensured uninterrupted delivery of services with its unaffected branches as well as 40 mobile and 60 container offices. As a result, approx- imately 61.2 million PTTBank transactions (including ATM) totalling 117.6 billion TL were made. Upon the requests filed by the AFAD Presidency, PTT Inc. dispatched 1,618 trucks with aid supplies in the first 48 hours of the earthquake from the main disaster logistics warehouses in 27 provinces and support warehouses in 53 provinces. Within the first 48 hours, a total of 85,082 tents, 175,360 blankets, 174,492 mattresses, 170,234 pillow and sheet sets and 10,227 kitchen sets in AFAD warehouses were delivered to the earthquake zone. Along with the said shipments, the delivery of both domestic and interna- tional aid supplies and container houses to the earthquake zone as per the requests of the AFAD Presidency by PTT Inc. was successfully carried out with a total of 32,842 truck shipments within the scope of special opera- tions until December 31, 2023. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 131 Approximately 50,000 containers sent by ships from Qatar, China, and TRNC were delivered to the settlement areas established under the co- ordination of AFAD by means of 250-300 trucks daily from the ports in Hatay and Mersin provinces. Türksat Uydu Haberleşme Kablo TV ve İşletme A.Ş. (Türksat Company) Türksat, which sent support to the region from the first day of the earth- quakes of February, 6-7, epicentred in Kahramanmaraş, to address the disruption in the whole communication infrastructure, ensured the com- munication among all emergency aid teams, especially AFAD and Turk- ish Red Crescent, owing to the satellite communication systems it estab- lished. In addition, it carried out logistics processes through Adana and Gazian- tep provincial directorates and sent more than 1,000 items of technical equipment for the installation of communication systems to the region. Türksat, which also provides mobile communication with 35 base stations established in the region, provided 60 million TL to AFAD and the Red Crescent and over 6.5 million TL in cash aid to the earthquake survivors. Accrued invoices belonging to customers of local TV channels that are broadcasting via satellite for February, March, and April 2023 (3,631,155 132 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TL ) and invoices of cable TV and internet service subscribers for Febru- ary (14,152,738.53 TL ) were waived. The subscriptions where Türksat provides cable TV and internet services in the State of Emergency provinces that were suspended due to debt were activated, and debts were suspended and legal proceedings were halted during the State of Emergency. Türksat, which sent over 50,000 support packages of various kinds to the region, waived the collection of the February invoices of subscribers receiving Cable TV and interactive services in the earthquake zone, and rendered all transactions free of charge for 6 months. Four libraries were established under the sponsorship of Türksat: the Türksat 6A Library in the container city in the İslahiye district of Gazian- tep, the Türksat Library in the Malatya Samanköy Yeni Hayat Temporary Accommodation Centre, the Türksat 5A Library in the Adıyaman Tempo- rary Accommodation Centre, and the Türksat 5B Library in the Adıyaman Gölbaşı district. After the earthquakes of February 6-7, Türksat was the first company to provide internet service to the earthquake residences in Kuzeyşehir TOKİ and Güneyşehir TOKİ. Services were made available to a total of 300 buildings and 2,618 apartments as soon as possible, with an investment totalling 3 million TL for these projects. Services within the scope of Maritime Affairs Some of the restoration efforts carried out by the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs in maritime transport in the region since the earthquake are as follows: TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 133 • 10,346 container houses, 1, 171 trucks/containers of humanitarian aid supplies, and 403 heavy machines were delivered to the region by 44 commercial vessels and 52 support vessels. • By the said vessels, 3,561 people and 338 vehicles of various kinds were transported from the region. • Accommodation was provided for 1,800 earthquake survivors on three cruise ships in the region. • In addition, a payment totalling 28,320 TL was made from the budget allocation titled “Cargo Transport Expenses” for tents and aid sup- plies to be delivered to Hatay province . Ships Carrying Humanitarian Aid Supplies, Cargo and Voyage Information Ships Delivering Aid to the Ports of İskenderun and Mersin: • NDMA Pakistan aid ship: 3,425 winter tents, 38,000 blankets, • ITAL BONNY: beds, blankets, generators, diapers, container houses, mattresses and radiators from Slovenia to İslahiye and Gaziantep public hospitals, • MSC POLARIS: 92 cabins were purchased from Qatar, • BSG BAHAMAS: 75 cabins were purchased from Qatar, • CMA CGM KONGO: 180 cabins were loaded from the port of Doha, Qatar, • MSC VIDHI: 54 cabins were loaded from the port of Doha, Qatar, • CROATIA: 60 cabins were loaded from the port of Doha, Qatar, • JPO FISH: 75 cabins were loaded from the port of Doha, Qatar, • HERBERT: 1000 cabins were loaded from the port of Doha, Qatar, • CMA CGM KONGO: 150 cabins were loaded from the port of Doha, Qatar, MSC TAMARA, HAMMONIA BALTICA, MSC NADRIELY, and HUTTON: Four ships were assigned for the delivery of some aid materials collect- ed by the Consulate General of Canada in Toronto that could not be dis- patched by Turkish Airlines. 134 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Ships and Loads PERGAMON SEAWAYS RO-RO: • 74 lorries, 35 trucks, 15 trailers, 34 cranes with 11 trailers, 21 clamshell grab buckets, 41 excavators, 1 generator, and 31 vehicles carrying humanitarian aid. • Arriving in Istanbul, 25 earthquake survivors and six vehicles were disembarked. ULUSOY-5 RO-RO SHIP: • Departed from Çeşme, İzmir / 114 trucks carrying humanitarian aid supplies, 74 heavy machines, 4 tankers and 221 volunteers and vehicle drivers disembarked at İskenderun Limak Port. Çeşme returned to the port with 23 earthquake survivors. • Five ships belonging to Ulusoy departed from İskenderun Port and returned to Çeşme Port, carrying 158 passengers (49 of whom in need of housing), 30 vehicles, 8 motorcycles, 23 trailers, 3 full loads, six rollerbeds, and three lowbed trucks. ADNAN MENDERES FERRY: • Following İstanbul, docking at Mersin and at İskenderun Port, disembarking two large generators, six small generators, 10 motor pumps, two pallets, fleece jackets, berets, scarves, gloves, shoes, 10 sacks of blankets, 320 tons of drinking water, 1,074 black masks, 31 cardboard boxes, blankets, three caravans and three cars, two mobile kiosks, 20 thousand adult clothes and 20 thousand children’s clothes. • Carrying 626 earthquake survivors and 11 cars from İskenderun to the ports of Mersin, Alanya, Antalya, and İzmir, disembarked the earthquake survivors. ASOS SEAWAYS RO-RO SHIP: • It docked at the Mersin International Port (MIP) and unloaded 23 trucks carrying various relief supplies from Italy. • It unloaded its cargo at Mersin Port, which included 33 semi-trailers with gas stoves and 39 semi-trailers containing humanitarian aid. • 22 humanitarian aid items, a truck, 33 stoves and heaters were disembarked at Mersin Port. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 135 CAPPADOCIA SEAWAYS RO-RO SHIP: • From Pendik Port, carrying 21 container houses, five trucks (toilet stalls, relief supplies), six trailers, 59 earth-dump trucks, 16 excavators, one crane, seven clamshell grab buckets, 78 container houses and five portable toilets, • 1*45 container, 3*20 container, one full load vehicle, three semi-trailer loads, • 8*20 container house, one semi-trailer of humanitarian aid, 2*20 sanitary container, 1*45 humanitarian aid cargo. ÇANAKKALE SEAWAYS RO-RO SHIP: • Humanitarian relief supplies and vehicles, • Six semi-trailers, 1,813 humanitarian aid items, 33 heaters, 64 electri- cal equipment, 1,193 relief items of various kinds, • Two semi-trailers and one full trailer of humanitarian aid, one genera- tor, one container of clothing supplies, • 33 heaters and 932 humanitarian relief items. OLYMPOS SEAWAYS RO-RO SHIP: • 12 trucks with containers of various sizes, bathroom and kitchen units, beds, medicines and medicine kits, various food cargoes, • 3*45 containers of humanitarian aid, six truck loads. ARTEMIS SEAWAYS RO-RO SHIP: • 3*45 containers of humanitarian aid, 1,312 gas stoves and 33 aid supplies. Housing Ships The MSC AURELIA passenger ship departed from the Port of Naples in Italy, loaded with relief supplies, arrived at İskenderun Port at 8:00 p.m. on February 20, 2023. With a capacity of 940 people, the vessel started to be used for housing purposes. SÜHEYLA SULTAN catamaran-type passenger ship, intended to be used for housing purposes docked at İskenderun Fishermen’s Harbour. The ship has a capacity of 1,500 people. 136 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS RAUF BEY catamaran-type passenger ship, docked at İskenderun Fisher- men’s Harbour, used for housing purposes. It has a bed capacity of up to 2,000 passengers. İKİZLER Passenger ship, having a capacity of 1,056 beds, provided hous- ing to earthquake survivors. Works Deemed Necessary Name of the Work: İskenderun Fishermen’s Harbour Repair Construction Tender Date: August 31, 2023 Contract Price: 341.041.388,78 TL The breakwater section of İskenderun Fishermen’s Harbour is being rein- forced with riprap material to make it earthquake-resistant. Name of the Work: İskenderun Fishermen’s Harbour Interaction Zone 1st Section Construction Contract Price: 181.450.500,00 TL Following the earthquake, coastal fortification is used to make the coast safe in areas where water ingress from the sea is detected. Directorate General of Shipyards and Coastal Structures The Directorate General of Shipyards and Coastal Structures employed three heavy machines (floating excavator, pontoon, and tugboat), as well as a team of 10 personnel to complete the works. As part of the project, the Directorate General of Shipyards and Coastal Structures conducted 46,000 m³ of seabed dredging activities in the İskenderun Fishermen’s Harbour to facilitate the mooring of high-tonnage vessels, which can serve as a living space for earthquake survivors. Services within the scope of Highways Directorate General of Highways (KGM) The Kahramanmaraş and Hatay earthquakes caused structural damages on highways, including fractures, collapses, landslides, tunnel and bridge damages. Acting in accordance with emergency plans in the earthquake- affected regions, the Directorate General of Highways took the appropriate measures, particularly to maintain logistics traffic flow and road safety, snow and ice removal operations, and temporary repairs on damaged roads. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 137 Initial Assessments After Earthquake Snow and Ice Control Efforts Before and After the Earthquake 138 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS According to the preliminary examinations conducted by the technical teams, 9,176 km of the 68,550 km of road in the organisation’s responsibility network was located in the earthquake zone, accounting for 13% of the net- work, with 0.7% heavily damaged and 1.3% moderately damaged. Additional- ly, 634 km, representing 18% of the 3,796 km highway network, was situated in earthquake zones, with 61 km impacted; 66 km (8%) of the 789.4 km tunnel network waslocated in disaster zones, with 17.3 km affected; 102 km (13%) of the 797.4 km bridge network was in earthquake zones, with 5.1 km affected. The Directorate General of Highways, implemented essential measures to -avert traffic disruptions following the earthquake, diligently managed urban traffic, and conducted extensive search and rescue operations employing 4,865 personnel and 3,284 machines and equipment in the earthquake zone. Roads Identified as Damaged on Highways and Reopened to Traffic through Expedited Repairs GÖLBAŞI - ADIYAMAN ROAD MALATYA-ÇELİKHAN-ADIYAMAN ROAD KAG HIGHWAY BAŞPINAR VIADUCT ANTAKYA-REYHANLI ROAD TOPBOĞAZI-KIRIKHAN ROAD KAHRAMANMARAŞ - NURDAĞI ROAD TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 139 Search and Rescue and Debris Removal Efforts Disaster Management Organisation (Field) 140 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS KGM Disaster and Emergency Coordination Vehicles Alongside search and rescue operations, the region received containers and -tents, and new living spaces were erected to provide basic necessities, in- cluding food, provisions, clothing, blankets, stoves, mattresses, toilet cab- ins, and sanitary supplies in the mobile units set up. Moreover, tools and equipment were supplied for use in rescue and relief efforts. Social facilities, guest houses, various construction sites, administrative buildings, and out- buildings across the country were made available to earthquake survivors who had migrated from the earthquake zone to various cities. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 141 Logistics Support Established Container Cities and Tent Cities 142 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS B V Meeting the Food and Housing Needs of Earthquake Survivors As a result of panoramic imaging and recording efforts conducted for dam- age assessment and status analysis of highways and highway component inventories after the earthquake, pre-earthquake images were integrated into the system, enabling a comparison with the post-earthquake condi- tion. Major engineering structures (bridges, viaducts, and tunnels) in the transportation category of critical infrastructures were assessed in terms of risk. Visual survey entries were made using the Image-Based Informa- tion Management System, and test shots were taken using unmanned ae- rial vehicles for a comprehensive assessment. Efforts for the Damage Assessment and Status Analysis of Highway, Bridge and Tunnel Inventories On the other hand, earthquake damages/costs were analysed in a sectoral context in order to align with international standards. In this context, damage assessments were made in terms of social sectors (housing, edu- cation, health, employment, environment), infrastructure sectors (trans- portation, communication, drinking water-sewage, municipal services, energy), and economic sectors (agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tour- ism). In addition, suggestions for short-, medium- and long-term goals for each sector were presented. Efforts for permanent repairs are underway to repair the roads affected by the earthquake, enhance traffic safety measures through the renewal TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 143 of signalisation, guardrails, horizontal and vertical signs on these roads, replace seismic reinforcement isolators on bridges, repair non-structural damage to tunnels, and restore damaged historical bridges, service facili- ties, retirement homes, and other service buildings. NURDAĞI VIADUCT BAŞPINAR VIADUCT ELBİSTAN - NURHAK -KAPIDERE PROVINCIAL ROAD 144 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Permanent Repair Efforts on Highways Reconstruction Efforts on Highways after the Earthquake: General Assessment Following the earthquakes epicentred in Kahramanmaraş, the Directorate General of Highways (KGM) followed emergency plans in the areas affect- ed by the earthquakes, first making temporary repairs on damaged roads and then taking the necessary precautions, particularly ensuring logistics traffic flow and road safety, as well as carrying out snow and ice efforts. KGM, which regularly supports AFAD within the scope of the Türkiye Disaster Response Plan and promptly responds to disasters (fire, earthquake, flood, etc.) that occur in our country by cooperating with relevant institutions, immediately provided support with a total of 3,284 vehicles, 1,374 from the Directorate General of Highways and 1,910 from contractor companies, due to the earthquakes epicentred in Kahramanmaraş and then Hatay on February 6, 2023, which are referred to as the “Disaster of the Century.” Moreover, a total of 4,865 personnel, including 1,682 from the Directorate General of Highways and 3,183 from contractor companies, responded immediately, providing vehicle and personnel support to the earthquake zone. In addition to the personnel support, the General Directorate of Highways maintains 523 permanent personnel at the 5th Regional Directorate (Mersin), 8th Regional Directorate (Elazığ), and 9th Regional Directorate (Diyarbakır) campuses. As a result of panoramic imaging and recording efforts conducted for damage assessment and status analysis of roads and roadside inventories after the earthquake, pre-earthquake images were integrated into the sys- tem, enabling a comparison with the post-earthquake condition. ERKENEK TUNNEL TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 145 Major works of structural art (bridges, viaducts, and tunnels) in the trans- portation category of critical infrastructures were assessed in terms of risk. For bridges, viaducts and tunnels, visual survey entries were made using the Image-Based Information Management System, and test shots were taken using unmanned aerial vehicles for a comprehensive assessment. Panoramic Imaging with Lidar scanning (with Lidar point cloud at mm scale) operations began to assess post-earthquake damage and examine the condition of our tunnels located on highways, state roads, and provin- cial roads across 11 provinces. In the first stage, the imaging of Erkenek Tunnel and Karahan Tunnel in the earthquake zone was carried out. AFAD was provided with the location information of 8,000 vehicle tracking devices, including heavy machines, and online camera footage from 1,400 camera-equipped tracking devices. Earthquake damages/costs were analysed in a sectoral context in order to align with international standards. In this framework, damage assessments were made in terms of social sectors (housing, education, health, employment, environment), infrastructure sectors (transportation, communication, drinking water-sewage, municipal services, energy), and economic sectors (agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism). Moreover, suggestions for short-, medium- and long-term goals for each sector were presented. 146 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Total Road Network (Türkiye) Total Road Network of 11 Provinces in the Earthquake Zone Severely / Moderately Dam- aged Road 68,550 Km 9,176 Km 184 Km Total Highway Network Total Highway Network in 11 Provinces Severely / Moderately Dam- aged Highway 3,796 Km 634 Km 61 Km (20 Km Severely Dam- aged - 41 Km Moderately Damaged) Total Number of Vehi- cles X Km Total Number Vehicles X Km in 11 Provinces 142,000,000,000 17,600,000,000 Total Network of Tunnels Total Network of Tunnels in 11 Provinces Severely / Moderately / Mini- mally Damaged Tunnels 2 x 50 Erkenek Tunnel 2 x 1,816 Erkenek Tunnel Elec- tromechanical 512 789,4 Km 37 66 Km Operational - Moderate- ly Damaged 4 Tunnels (Taşoluk, Ayran, Kızılaç, Aslanlı) Minimally Damaged Double Tube Length 5,350 m Single Tube 10,700 m Total Number of Bridges Total Number of Bridges in 11 Provinces Severely / Moderately / Minimally Damaged Bridges 10,017 797,4 Km 1,401 102 Km 50 m - Collapsed 2 Severely Damaged 172 m Highways 6 Viaducts, 3,100 m Moderately Damaged 4 Bridges, 1,768 m Moderately Damaged Efforts for permanent repairs are underway to repair roads affected by the earthquake, enhance traffic safety measures through the renewal of sig- nalisation, guardrails, horizontal and vertical traffic signs on these roads, maintain and repair our bridges, replace seismic reinforcement isolators on them, repair non-structural damages to the tunnels, and restore dam- aged historical bridges, service facilities, care homes and other service buildings. For the roads impacted by the earthquake, 6,300,000,000 TL was spent in 2023, 5,900,000,000 TL in 2024 and 5,100,000,000 TL is planned to be spent in 2025. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 147 Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads: Tasks re- lated to the zoning and access roads in reserve areas are assigned to the Directorate General of Highways under Presidential Decree No. 171271 of August 14, 2023. Within this framework, six projects and 16 tenders have been launched re- garding the construction of 336 km of access and zoning roads, including their infrastructure (water, sewage, rainwater and electricity installations) in 26 different zones in eight provinces. Intensive efforts are underway and the total project cost of these tasks is 31,400,000,000 TL. In Hatay province, zoning and access roads of 14.9 km are being built for 2,663 residences in Gülderen, with 13.4 km already completed. Hatay Gülderen Permanent Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads In Orhanlı, Defne, zoning and access roads of 19.4 km are being built for 3,069 residences, with 11 km already completed. Hatay Defne Orhanlı Permanent Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads 148 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS In zones 1, 5, 6 and 7 of Antakya, 57.1 km of zoning and access roads for 15,107 residences are currently being constructed, and 19.6 km already completed. Hatay 5th Zone, Permanent Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads Hatay 6th and 7th Zones, Permanent Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads In the Cebike neighbourhood of the İskenderun district, the work has been completed on a total of 15.4 km of zoning and access roads for 1,628 residences, as well as the access road between Erzin-Dörtyol. The 10 km access road for the alternative route to Hatay airport is still under construction. In Kilis province, the construction of 7.6 km of zoning and access roads for 2,340 residences in Deveciler neighbourhood and Tahtalı village is under- way, with 3.8 km already completed. Kilis Deveciler Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 149 In Osmaniye province, the construction of 15.3 km of zoning and access roads for 1,820 residences in Akyar, is underway, with 11.5 km already completed. Additionally, within the Gökçayır residential zone, work is un- derway on a 6.3 km section of road for 1,209 residences, with 2 km already completed. Osmaniye Akyar Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads In Diyarbakır province, the construction of 55.5 km of zoning and access roads for 13,490 residences in the 1st and 2nd zones of Oğlaklı in Bağlar district is underway, with 25.5 km already completed. Diyarbakır Oğlaklı Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads 150 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS In Şanlıurfa province, the construction of 38.8 km of zoning and access roads for 2,738 residences in Karaköprü district is underway, with 7 km already completed. Şanlıurfa Karaköprü Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads In Malatya province, the construction of 37.5 km of zoning and access roads for 9,200 residences in the İkizce neighbourhood of the Yeşilyurt district is under- way, with 23 km already completed. Malatya İkizce Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads In Adana province, the construction of 8 km of zoning and access roads for 4,500 residences in the Karakuyu neighbourhood of the Seyhan dis- trict is in progress. In Kahramanmaraş province, the construction of 38.4 km of zoning and access roads for 16,317 residences in the Karacasu and Akyar neighbour- hoods of the Dulkadiroğlu district, the Önsen neighbourhood of the On- ikişubat district, and the Karaelbistan and Taşburun neighbourhoods of the Elbistan district is underway, with 10.3 km already completed. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 151 Kahramanmaraş Karacasu Earthquake-Resistant Residences Zoning and Access Roads Moreover, access roads and hospital internal roads of Hatay Training and Research Hospital, İskenderun Emergency Hospital and Defne Emergen- cy Hospital have been completed and put into service. There are also plans to construct roads to Erzin Emergency Hospital and Nurhak Emergency Hospital. Hatay Training and Research Hospital İskenderun Emergency Hospital 152 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Defne Emergency Hospital Services within the scope of Aviation Directorate General of State Airports Authority (DHMİ) Through multifaceted coordination, humanitarian aid and evacuation flights to the airports affected by the earthquake were safely carried out with minimal waiting time. At airports operated by DHMİ, round-the- clock services were provided to ensure continuity by maintaining the critical infrastructure, to participate in the search and rescue activities for earthquake survivors, and to facilitate their evacuation and assist them. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 153 An Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) team of 528 was deployed to actively participate in the search and rescue operations conducted by the AFAD teams from the disaster’s first day onwards, and the team rescued 210 earthquake survivors out of the rubble. In the aftermath of the earthquake, in order to address the accommoda- tion issues of personnel at the airports affected by the earthquake and to facilitate their transition back to social life, furnished family containers with bathrooms were provided, including; • 45 for Adana Airport, • 100 for Kahramanmaraş Airport, • 75 for Hatay Airport, • 60 for Adıyaman Airport, • and 90 for Malatya Airport, and container cities were established within the boundaries of the airport. These container cities feature common areas such as classrooms/study centres, a laundry room, children’s playgrounds, a masjid, and a library. All guesthouses belonging to DHMİ were allocated free of charge to meet the accommodation needs of our citizens who suffered from the earthquake. 154 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Turkish Airlines (THY) Turkish Airlines mobilised all its resources to contribute as much as possible to alleviating the negative social and economic consequences of the earthquake. THY, in coordination with AFAD and in cooperation with the competent authorities, delivered humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and search and rescue teams to the earthquake zone from both domestic and international locations. THY also ensured that its personnel also participated in search and rescue operations and shipped tents to meet the disaster victims’ needs for shelter. THY carried out thousands of passenger and cargo flights as part of the efforts conducted throughout the process and quickly launched operations to evacuate our citizens from the region. Between February and May 31, 433,000 citizens and search and rescue and aid teams were transported to the area. 430,000 citizens were evacuated while 36,000 tonnes of aid were delivered to the disaster zones. Within the scope of the “Türkiye United as One Heart Campaign”, which started as a social aid campaign, a cash donation of 2,000,000,000 TL (100,000,000 USD) was handed over on February 23, 2023, by Prof. Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, to then Governor of İstanbul Ali Yerlikaya. Moreover, a protocol was signed with AFAD for the construction of 1,000 houses (100,000,000 USD) to reduce the devastating effects of the earthquake and alleviate the suffering of our citizens. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 155 Expenditures Made/To Be Made by the Directorate of Strategic Development of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye within the Scope of the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes Pre-earthquake Transportation Infrastructure in the Disaster Zone The total length of railways in the disaster zone is 1,275 km. There are conventional lines for freight and passenger transportation between Adana-Hatay-Osmaniye Gaziantep-Kahramanmaraş-Malatya. There are airports open to civil air traffic in Adana, Elazığ, Hatay, Adıyaman, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Malatya, Gaziantep and Kahramanmaraş. There are two heliports in Adana, one each in Hatay and Diyarbakır. Only the Diyarbakır Airport has an “emergency runway,” which serves as a backup runway. As of 2024, 17% (634 km) of Türkiye’s existing highway network (3,796 km) and 13% (8,542 km) of the state-provincial road network (64,754 km) are located in earthquake-affected provinces. A total of 9,176 km, corresponding to 13% of the overall road network (68,550 km), is located in the earthquake zone. In addition, 66 km (9%) of the 789 km of tunnels and 102 km (13%) of the 797 km of bridges are located in the earthquake zone. The northern and western regions are connected to the Mersin and İskenderun ports and the Habur border gate via land roads. Regarding maritime infrastructure, there are 13 ports operated by the private sector in the İskenderun Bay, as well as fishing ports and a water sports centre in Hatay province. Material Damages Caused by the Earthquake Upon the assessments carried out to improve physical conditions and ad- dress damages in the earthquake zone following the earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and its affiliated, related and associated institutions and or- ganisations were projected to spend a total of 78,700,000,000 TL. So far, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has spent approximately 39,300,000,000 TL of this amount. Of the 78,700,000,000 TL planned to be spent in the disaster zone, 67,300,000,000 TL was projected to be investment spending, of which 29,400,000,000 TL has been executed. The remaining 11,400,000,000 TL, of which 9,900,000,000 TL has been spent so far, will be utilised under the current budget. 156 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Financial Damages by Sector Railway Transportation: The railway network was affected by the Kahramanmaraş-centred earthquake along the Mersin-Adana- Osmaniye-Narlı, Toprakkale-İskenderun, Fevzipaşa-İslahiye, Köprüağzı- Kahramanmaraş, Nizip-Gaziantep-Narlı, Narlı-Malatya, Çetinkaya-Malatya, Malatya-Elazığ and Malatya-Yolçatı- Diyarbakır routes (1,275 km in total). Immediately after the earthquake, maintenance teams carried out initial inspections to determine the suitability of the lines and initiated the necessary arrangements for transition to limited operation. Following the maintenance and repairs, a total of 1,232 km of line was reopened for emergency cases and earthquake relief trains. Along with the efforts to ensure the fastest railway transportation to the zones, logistical support was provided in the initial phase for the transportation of fuel and living supplies to the earthquake zone. Under the coordination of AFAD and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, approximately 78,000 citizens were evacuated from the earthquake zone by railway. Accommodation services were provided to 6,000 people daily in passenger and staff service cars at stations, guesthouses, social facilities, and construction sites. Damage assessment having been completed, renovation and improvement efforts are underway on the Bahçe-Nurdağ-Narlı-Gölbaşı-Malatya, Köprüağzı- Kahramanmaraş, Fevzipaşa-İslahiye lines. An investment expenditure of 27,300,000,000 TL has been projected after the inspections carried out on deformations in tunnels and bridges, rock and stone debris fallen on the lines, deterioration in the superstructure, damages to electromechanical and signalling systems, and damages in buildings and facilities. Within the scope of the Earthquake Damage Recovery Project, which was included in the 2023 investment programme, an investment expenditure of 13,800,000,000 TL has been made so far, along with an additional current expenditure of 120,000,000 TL. In addition to the lines, operations were also affected by the earthquake. A current expenditure of approximately 29,000,000 TL has been incurred to repair the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), locomotives, and freight waggons damaged in the earthquake, and the vehicles were brought back into service. Moreover, a total current expenditure of 235,600,000 TL has been incurred for the removal of derailed railway vehicles, personnel costs, dormitory costs to meet accommodation needs of earthquake survivors, maintenance costs for passenger cars and train sets used for accommodation, fuel, other expenses, and transportation to the earthquake-affected region. In this context, the expenses of 450 passenger trains and 171 freight trains transported to the earthquake zone were also taken into consideration. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 157 Consequently, it is anticipated that a total of 27.7 billion TL will be allocated to rail transport. Air Transportation: The infrastructure, superstructure, and/or equipment of the airports in Hatay, Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya were all damaged by the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş. It is projected that 10.9 billion TL will be spent in total (based on 2024 pricing) to repair the damages. In 2023 and 2024, investments amounting to 4.5 billion TL (based on 2024 pricing) were made. In addition, a total of 18.4 million TL (based on 2024 pricing) was spent on current expenditures, including fuel costs and personnel recruitment. The tender for “Repair and Reinforcement Efforts for Kahramanmaraş Airport,” which encompassed the reinforcement works done at Kahramanmaraş Airport, was held on September 22, 2023. The reinforcement works at Malatya Airport are being carried out as part of the “Construction of New Terminal Building and Additional Facilities at Malatya Airport” project and are scheduled to be completed in 2025. The tender for the ‘’Repair and Improvement Works for Movement Areas (Runway, Apron, and Taxiway) at Hatay Airport,’ which includes the repair and reinforcement works to be conducted at Hatay Airport, was held on October 12, 2023, and 40% of the work has been finished. The construction is scheduled to be completed in 2026. Road Transportation: Numerous sections of the road network were affected by the earthquake. Among these roads are TAG (Tarsus-Adana-Gaziantep) Highway, İslahiye-Hassa-Kırıkhan Road, Antakya-Reyhanlı Road, Topboğazı- Kırıkhan Road, Antakya-Samandağ Road, Malatya-Çelikhan-Adıyaman Road, Çelikhan-Sürgü Road, Kahramanmaraş-Nurdağı Road, Kozan- Feke-Saimbeyli-Tufanbeyli Road, Pazarcık-Çağlayancerit Road, Elbistan-Nurhak-Kapıdere Provincial Road, Kahramanmaraş-Göksun Road, Gölbaşı-Adıyaman Road, and Şanlıurfa-Adıyaman Road (184 km in total). As a result of the earthquake, there are currently ongoing efforts to repair and reinforce these roads and their engineering structures. The most noteworthy efforts are as follows: 158 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • A 61 km section of the TAG Highway was damaged, and the repair of 0.5 km of bituminous hot mix asphalt pavement and the repair of a 2 km section of divided road with bituminous hot mix asphalt pavement was completed. Furthermore, roadworks were conducted on a critical section of the highway route, specifically between 220+500 km and 222+500 km, where the East Anatolian Fault Zone runs. • At the Nurdağı Viaduct, the decking damage on the left platform was repaired, and the steel reinforcement efforts were completed. Steel reinforcement efforts were implemented at seven of the nine elevations of the viaduct, while five of the nine elevations of the viaduct underwent small-diameter pile reinforcement. In addition, foundation jacketing and anchorage efforts are ongoing. • At the Başpınar Viaduct, the decking damage on the right transport platform was repaired, and sandblasting, injection processes, and steel reinforcement efforts were completed within the scope of strengthening works. In addition, FRP coating and small-diameter pile reinforcement efforts were initiated. • Retaining walls in the vicinity of the Atatürk Viaduct were completed, pile reinforcement and superstructure efforts on the highway were finalised, and the road was finally opened to traffic. • Steel reinforcement, FRP coating, and small-diameter pile reinforcement efforts were completed at 14 elevations of the Şehitler Viaduct, and foundation jacketing was initiated. Other significant road construction and maintenance projects are as follows: • Damages to culverts and bridges on Antakya-Reyhanlı Road are being repaired, and 1 km of DC-HMA repair was completed on the Demirköprü Bridge (2x100 m). • On İslahiye-Hassa Road, 0.8 km of DC-HMA repair was completed. • In accordance with geotechnical projects, the Hatay Airport Road’s DSM column and geo-wall reinforcements were finished, and the superstructure of the 4.2 km section was repaired. In addition, drilling, geological, and geophysical studies were completed in the damaged sections around the Erkenek Tunnel, and a repair tender was held. Construction work is ongoing to repair the damages to this tunnel. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 159 Among the works carried out on bridges are the reconstruction of the Dicle II and Hazar bridges, the demolition and rebuilding of the Bulam bridges, and repairs to the Cehennem Deresi Bridge on the Siverek-Şanlıurfa road. On the Gölbaşı-Adıyaman Road, the earthquake caused damage to the road superstructure, engineering structures, and embankments, and tem- porary repair works have been completed. In addition, a maintenance and control building was built on the Nissibi Bridge. The estimated total cost for infrastructure and superstructure works in the earthquake zone is estimated to be 23.3 billion TL. The total invest- ments to date have reached 10 billion TL. This major repair work on roads and bridges aims to rapidly improve the region’s transportation and ensure that citizens can travel safely. Maritime Transportation: According to post-disaster assessments, it is projected that a total of 3.2 bil- lion TL will be spent on the repair of damaged infrastructure and super- structure in maritime facilities, including monitoring stations, fishing shel- ters, accommodation buildings, and water sports centers. Of this amount, 843 million TL has already been spent. Communication, Transport, and Postal Services: In the 11 provinces located in the disaster zone, a total of 180.1 million TL has been spent on the maintenance, repair, strengthening, and renovation of buildings and workplaces owned by PTT A.Ş. that were damaged due to the earthquakes, as well as the purchase of new machinery, equipment, and devices; ATM maintenance and repair; and the procurement of generators, uninterruptible power supplies, air conditioning systems, CCTV cameras, and alarm system infrastructure. Additionally, a total of 137.4 million TL has been spent on current expenses (including provisions, clothing, shelter and other aid expenditures, fuel, allowances for assigned personnel, mobile vehicle rentals, money transportation costs, service containers, container branch and inventory expenses, transportation of free earthquake aid packages, transportation of aid packages with additional trips, manual labor, and other investment expenses). A total of 317.5 million TL has been spent for these works, and an additional 2.5 billion TL is expected to be spent. The Information Technologies and Communication Authority service building of the Diyarbakır Regional Directorate was also damaged. However, due to the building being located within a protected site area, repair works are ongoing. 160 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 161 5.4. Shelter and Safe Housing Services 162 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS On February 6, 2023, huge earthquakes occurred in southern Türkiye, resulting in a catastrophic tragedy that profoundly impacted human life and infrastructure. The earthquakes not only resulted in fatalities, but also rendered millions homeless, and inflicted extensive damage on thousands of buildings. The necessity for safe housing construction and the imperative to enhance building standards in Türkiye have once again become evident. The successful reconstruction process was facilitated through a combination of several factors, including the collaboration of local and central governments, the prompt and efficient delivery of post- disaster assistance, and the execution of social policies catering to the needs of earthquake victims. Furthermore, the resistant and sustainable housing initiatives planned for rapid construction to provide shelter for earthquake victims exemplify Türkiye’s commitment to disaster preparedness. President Erdoğan’s visit to the region 08/02/2023 AFAD data indicates that 1,000,000 tents have been distributed for temporary shelter since the onset of the earthquake. 645,000 tents were established in 350 tent city locations, providing temporary accommodation for nearly 2,500,000 disaster victims. As of September 20, 2023, the disaster victims residing in tent cities were evacuated and relocated to containers and residences. A total of 1,188,218 disaster victims were accommodated in facilities, comprising 477,952 individuals in KYK (Student Loans and Dormitories TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 163 Institution) dormitories and 710,266 individuals in MoNE (Ministry of Education) dorms, where temporary housing services were offered. As of September 8, 2023, disaster victims residing in KYK dormitories received rental and container assistance upon their requests, and their evacuation from the dormitories was facilitated. 707,000 disaster victims were accommodated in 220,000 containers established throughout 428 container cities in 11 provinces, which provided infrastructure, security services, social facilities (schools, masjids, playgrounds, mobile kitchens, psycho-social support service areas), and health centres. As of today, 397 container cities and 212,529 containers have been set up. 651,958 people are accommodated in containers. The containers are equipped with 105,000 fans and 149,305 air conditioners. In our container cities, additional infrastructure projects have been completed against flooding, and measures have been implemented to prevent roof leaks. In addition, precautions have been taken against leakage currents, and lightning rod installations have been completed against lightning. 14,485 workplaces have been constructed as part of attempts to normalise life in the region, with AFAD and governorships coordinating the process. 164 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Karaçay Container City in Osmaniye, home to thousands of disaster victims, who were left homeless in the February 6 earthquakes. February 6, 2024 As part of rental assistance payments that had begun in April 2023 under AFAD coordination, 3,000 TL paid to the tenant, was increased to 5,000 TL, and the 5,000 TL paid to the landlord was increased to 7,500 TL in January. To date, 177,819 landlords have received 24,005,595,500 TL, while 184,920 tenants have received 10,540,430,000 TL, corresponding to a total of 34,546,025,500 TL in rental assistance to 362,739 households. In June, the 15th and the last rental assistance payment was made to tenants. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 165 In addition, 1,995,978 households received 10,000 TL each and 19,959,780,000 TL in assistance payments; 568,624 households received 15,000 TL each and 8,529,360,000 TL in relocation assistance; relatives of 41,128 deceased citizens received 100,000 TL each and 4,112,800,000 TL in total; and a total of 57,201,000 TL was paid in evacuation support payments. To date, İlbank has provided a total of 65,000,000,000 TL in grants for infrastructure services in the earthquake zone. In this struggle, called the “Construction of the Century”, not only the destroyed cities, but also hopes and the future have been rebuilt. A total of more than 2,600,000,000,000 TL has been invested in the earthquake zone. In other words, approximately 75,000,000,000 USD has been allocated to these regions. It was reported that the Eid al-Fitr accelerated the return of citizens to Malatya. Increased activity was observed at the bus terminal. April 26, 2023 As part of the damage assessment by the MoEUCA (Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change) in the earthquake zone, 2,381,888 buildings and 6,612,685 independent units were found to be damaged. 311,440 buildings and 810,902 independent units (671,581 residences, 113,814 workplaces, 25,507 barns) were found to be in critical condition, heavily damaged, collapsed, or moderately damaged. The rubble of the buildings to be demolished urgently (60,763 buildings) was completely removed in 68 days (March 1 - May 7, 2023). The number of heavily damaged buildings to be demolished is 200,167, and the rubble of 182,773 heavily damaged buildings has been removed so far. In 18 provinces, rubble removal has been completed at 97% of the volume and 91% of the number of buildings. 166 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Demolition of buildings in Adana that were moderately damaged in earthquakes but for which retrofitting applications have not been made November 20, 2024 Currently, work continues on a 24/7 basis at 3,481 construction sites, including 1,900 construction sites in 174 different areas in 11 provinces and 1,581 village house construction sites. A total of 182,000 workers, labourers, architects and engineers work at these construction sites. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 167 Hatay, July 23, 2024 Ownership Verification The ownership verification, which started on May 30, 2023, for 18 provinces, 179 districts, 8,474 neighbourhoods and 2,472 villages, was completed in just 211 days on December 25, 2023. During the ownership verification process, 845,371 requests were evaluated. All requests (85,000,000 documents) were examined by the relevant commissions. 70,000 commission decisions were taken, totalling up to 15,000,000 pages. 65% of the applications were received via e-government and 35% via AYDES. The total number of beneficiaries in 18 provinces is 451,010, including the probable number after objections. On December 25, 2023, in all 11 provinces, the results of the 2-day additional application objections were announced, and the process was completed. By the end of the process, a total of 445,344 beneficiaries have been identified for 11 provinces, including 391,245 residences, 42,001 workplaces and 12,098 barns. 168 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Province Residences Workplace Barn Total HATAY 138,398 16,105 772 155,275 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 67,320 7,806 1,806 76,932 MALATYA 71,763 8,393 2,691 82,847 ADIYAMAN 37,457 3,437 3,409 44,303 GAZİANTEP 17,792 1,676 820 20,288 DİYARBAKIR 14,763 1,292 632 16,687 ELAZIĞ 13,223 756 1,176 15,155 OSMANİYE 11,443 1,410 120 12,973 ŞANLIURFA 9,568 669 450 10,687 ADANA 7,784 406 54 8,244 KİLİS 1,734 51 168 1,953 TOTAL 391,245 42,001 12,098 445,344 Province Residences Workplace Barn Total BİNGÖL 1,929 20 696 2,645 TUNCELİ 796 2 345 1,143 KAYSERİ 866 95 83 1,044 NİĞDE 216 55 0 271 SİVAS 176 16 10 202 MARDİN 194 4 10 208 BATMAN 138 6 9 153 TOTAL 4,315 198 1,153 5,666 Total of 18 Provinces 395,560 42,199 12,251 451,010 Lottery Ceremonies A total of 201,431 residences and 149 workplaces, including 169,171 houses in provincial and district centres and 32,260 village houses in rural areas, were delivered to beneficiaries through lottery ceremonies held as of January 2024. Keys to 61,957 residences were handed over, and families began to reside in 5,891 houses. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 169 • (February 3, 2024) With the 1st lottery ceremony, a total of 45,815 residences, including 41,332 residences in provincial/district centres and 4,483 village houses in rural areas, were delivered. • (March 19, 2024) With the 2nd lottery ceremony, a total of 30,627 residences, including 28,272 residences in provincial/district centres and 2,355 village houses in rural areas, were delivered. 170 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • (September 12, 2024) With the 3rd lottery ceremony, a total of 24,812 residences, including 20,324 residences in provincial/district centres and 4,488 village houses in rural areas, were delivered. • (October 26, 2024) With the 4th lottery ceremony, a total of 29,311 residences, including 27,220 residences in provincial/district centres and 2,091 village houses in rural areas, were delivered. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 171 • (November 30, 2024) With the 5th lottery ceremony, a total of 24,559 residences, including 22,341 residences in provincial/district centres and 2,218 village houses in rural areas, were delivered. • (January 24, 2025) With the 6th lottery ceremony, 46,307 residences in provincial/ district centres and additionally 49 workplaces were delivered. 172 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Housing Projects As of January 24, a total of 201,580 residences/workplaces have been delivered. Residences Village Houses Delivered Residences Delivered Workplace TOKİ Emlak Konut Total YİGM (Directorate General of) HATAY 39,410 1,176 40,586 5,554 46,140 27 MALATYA 20,116 96 20,212 6,093 26,305 20 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 23,197 1,223 24,420 10,180 34,600 30 ADIYAMAN 5,633 21,800 27,433 3,973 31,406 0 GAZİANTEP 19,428 0 19,428 2,995 22,423 52 DİYARBAKIR 7,665 0 7,665 255 7,920 0 ELAZIĞ 8,149 0 8,149 685 8,834 0 OSMANİYE 6,391 0 6,391 940 7,331 6 ŞANLIURFA 6,474 0 6,474 1,029 7,503 10 ADANA 6,700 0 6,700 117 6,817 0 KİLİS 1,713 0 1,713 439 2,152 4 TOTAL 144,876 24,295 169,171 32,260 201,431 149 201,580 INDEPENDENT UNITS (RESIDENCES and WORKPLACES) TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 173 Adana A total of 6,817 independent units, including 6,700 residences and 117 village houses, have been delivered. 174 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Minister of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change Murat Kurum visited the earthquake-resistant residences delivered to beneficiaries in the central Çukurova district of Adana. July 14, 2024 Adıyaman A total of 31,406 independent units, including 27,433 residences and 3,973 village houses, have been delivered. Construction of permanent residences in İndere, Adıyaman, described as the “biggest construction site in Türkiye.” November 13, 2024 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 175 154 permanent residences built for the disaster victims in Balkar town of Adıyaman’s Gölbaşı district. October 4, 2024 176 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Diyarbakır A total of 7,920 independent units, including 7,665 residences and 255 village houses, have been delivered. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 177 Elazığ A total of 8,834 independent units, including 8,149 residences and 685 village houses, have been delivered. 178 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Resistant residences built by the Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) in Elazığ March 1, 2024 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 179 Gaziantep A total of 22,475 independent units, including 19,428 residences, 52 workplaces and 2,995 village houses, have been delivered. 180 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Hatay A total of 46,167 independent units, including 40,586 residences, 27 workplaces and 5,554 village houses, have been delivered. Some citizens watched from their homes the Key Delivery Ceremony, Lottery Drawing and Opening Ceremony of TOKİ Residences in Hatay. October 26, 2024 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 181 182 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Kahramanmaraş A total of 34,630 independent units, including 24,420 residences, 30 workplaces and 10,180 village houses, have been delivered. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 183 Kilis A total of 2,156 independent units, including 1,713 residences, 4 workplaces, and 439 village houses, have been delivered. Earthquake survivors started to settle in the completed houses in Kilis. August 16, 2024 184 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Malatya A total of 26,325 independent units, including 20,212 residences, 20 workplaces, and 6,093 village houses, have been delivered. Delivery of the houses in Hacıderviş Neighbourhood of Malatya’s Darende District. January 9, 2024 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 185 Osmaniye A total of 7,337 independent units, including 6,391 residences, 6 workplaces and 940 village houses, have been delivered. 186 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Keys to 60 earthquake-resistant residences were delivered to beneficiaries by Governor Vali Erdinç Yılmaz in the Düziçi district of Osmaniye. August 14, 2024 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 187 Şanlıurfa A total of 7,513 independent units, including 6,474 residences, 10 workplaces and 1,029 village houses, have been delivered. Minister of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change Murat Kurum visited the TOKİ Earthquake-Resistant Residences in Şanlıurfa. July 19, 2024 188 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Number of Residences, Village Houses and Workplaces to be Delivered by the End of 2025 • By the end of 2025, a total of 452,983 independent units, including 358,859 residences, 31,307 workplaces, and 62,817 village houses, will have been delivered to their beneficiaries in 11 provinces in the earthquake zone. • Adana: A total of 12,522 independent units, including 11,899 residences, 89 workplaces, and 534 village houses, will have been delivered. • Adıyaman: A total of 43,573 independent units, including 30,835 residences, 2,580 workplaces and 10,158 village houses, will have been delivered. • Diyarbakır: A total of 17,577 independent units, including 16,027 residences, 251 workplaces, and 1,299 village houses, will have been delivered. • Elazığ: A total of 13,142 independent units, including 10,261 residences, 87 workplaces, and 2,794 village houses, will have been delivered. • Gaziantep: A total of 29,500 independent units, including 23,694 residences, 1,219 workplaces and 4,587 village houses, will have been delivered. • Hatay: A total of 153,248 independent units, including 133,382 residences, 9,103 workplaces and 10,763 village houses, will have been delivered. • Kahramanmaraş: A total of 74,187 independent units, including 53,976 residences, 6,397 workplaces and 13,814 village houses, will have been delivered. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 189 • Kilis: A total of 2,861 independent units, including 1,854 residences, 4 commercial and 1,003 village houses, will have been delivered. • Malatya: A total of 79,420 independent units, including 55,496 residences, 10,714 workplaces and 13,210 village houses, will have been delivered. • Osmaniye: A total of 12,218 independent units, including 9,366 residences, 760 workplaces and 2,092 village houses, will have been delivered. • Şanlıurfa: A total of 14,735 independent units, including 12,069 residences, 103 workplaces and 2,563 village houses, will have been delivered. On-site Transformation Initiated under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and the guarantee of the Housing Development Administration (TOKİ), the “On-Site Transformation” project, which provides grants and loan support to earthquake survivors, has offered citizens the opportunity to rebuild their homes on their own land under the Ministry’s oversight. With the decision of our President, the grant and loan amounts offered to the citizens as part of the project have been updated as follows: • 750,000 TL grant and 750,000 TL loan for residences, • 750,000 TL grant and 750,000 TL loan for village houses, • 750,000 TL grant and 1,000,000 TL loan for village houses with barns, • 400,000 TL grant and 400,000 TL loan for workplaces, These loans provided to the citizens are interest-free, with a 10-year maturity and a two-year grace period. The payment for grants and loans will be paid 10% upfront, with the remaining amount to be paid based on the progress of the construction. The licence process for the renovation of about 54,000 independent units has started in this context. In urban areas, 4,024 buildings and 20,252 independent units, and in rural areas, 11,283 buildings and 12,015 independent units have been licensed. Within the scope of the project, construction of a total of 32,267 independent units has started. In this framework, a total of 17,000,000,000 TL in grants and loan support has been provided so far for the independent units licensed under the “On- Site Transformation” project. 190 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS On-site Transformation Project in the Central Antakya District of Hatay, August 5, 2024 “On-site Transformation Project” implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change in Adıyaman, December 6, 2023 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 191 Of the 13,000 citizens who applied to the “On-Site Transformation Project” in Gaziantep, a province affected by the earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, about 1,300 have settled in their new houses. November 24, 2024 Village Houses Under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, a total of 32,260 village houses has been completed so far across 2,225 villages and 3,203 construction sites in 11 provinces that were hit by the disaster. These houses are designed to align with the local architecture and living conditions of the area, including infrastructure, superstructure, and social facilities. The target is to deliver 62,817 village houses in the earthquake zone by the end of 2025. • In Adana, 117 village houses have been completed. • In Adıyaman, 3,973 village houses have been completed. • In Diyarbakır, 255 village houses have been completed. • In Elazığ, 685 village houses have been completed. • In Gaziantep, 2,995 village houses have been completed. • In Hatay, 5,554 village houses have been completed. • In Kahramanmaraş, 10,180 village houses have been completed. • In Kilis, 439 village houses have been completed. • In Malatya, 6,093 village houses have been completed. • In Osmaniye, 940 village houses have been completed. • In Şanlıurfa, 1,029 village houses have been completed. 192 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Adana, Pozantı, Dağdibi Adana, Tufanbeyli, Çatalcam Gaziantep, Nurdağı, Çakmak Gaziantep, Nurdağı, Çakmak Gaziantep, İslahiye, Kozdere Gaziantep, Nizip, Günaltı Adana, Sarıçam, Kılıçlı Adana, Yüreğir, Akpınar TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 193 Hatay, Altınözü, Alakent Hatay, Hassa, Sapanözü Kahramanmaraş, Göksun, Kale Hatay, Kırıkhan, Balarmudu Hatay, Kırıkhan, Saylak-Taşoluk Kahramanmaraş, Nurhak, Tatlar Kahramanmaraş, Onikişubat, Döngelo Kahramanmaraş, Türkoğlu, Kadıoğluçiftliği 194 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Malatya, Akçadağ, Ören Malatya, Doğanşehir, Altıntop Şanlıurfa, Bozova, Arıkök Şanlıurfa, Haliliye, Yedikuyu Malatya, Akçadağ, Karapınar Malatya, Yeşilyurt, Kuyulu Şanlıurfa, Haliliye, Gürpınar Şanlıurfa, Bozova, Eskin TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 195 Osmaniye, Central District, Issızca Osmaniye, Central District, Kazmaca Kilis, Polateli, Yılanca Kilis, Central District, Yavuzlu Osmaniye, Düziçi, Bayındırlı Kilis, Polateli, Bağarası Kilis, Musabeyli, Karadut Osmaniye, Kadirli, Topraktepe 196 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Elazığ, Central District, Gümüşbağlar Elazığ, Central District, Aydıncık Elazığ, Alacakaya, Bakladamlar Adıyaman, Kahta, Akdoğan Adıyaman, Kahta, Cumhuriyet Elazığ, Arıcak, Kambertepe Adıyaman, Central District, Bozhöyük Adıyaman, Gölbaşı, Çatalağaç TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 197 Hatay, Altınözü, Alakent Hatay, Hassa, Sapanözü Kahramanmaraş, Onikişubat, Döngele Kahramanmaraş, Göksun, Kale Hatay, Kırıkhan, Balarmudu Hatay, Kırıkhan, Saylak-Taşoluk Kahramanmaraş, Türkoğlu, Kadıoğluçiftliği Kahramanmaraş, Nurhak, Tatlar 198 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 199 200 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 201 5.5. Uninterrupted Education 202 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The earthquakes epicentered in Kahramanmaraş that occurred on February 6, 2023, were one of the disasters that caused the greatest loss of life and property in the history of the Republic. The earthquakes, which occurred during harsh winter conditions and caused severe destruction over a large area, deeply affected all aspects of life, including educational institutions and activities. At the time of the earthquake, 21.4 percent of all students in Türkiye were enrolled in the 11 provinces where the earthquake occurred, and 19.1 percent of all teachers were employed in the region. In this scope, educational buildings were examined, severely damaged buildings were demolished and rebuilt, and moderately damaged structures were reinforced. The accommodation needs of earthquake survivors were met in undamaged buildings and facilities in provinces outside the earthquake zone; tents produced in vocational education and lifelong learning institutions were sent to the region, and accommodation areas were established by erecting tent and container cities. Many necessary supplies, including bread, daily hot meals and dry food, masks, hygiene products, clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, and heating devices, were produced and distributed to earthquake survivors by the Ministry of National Education’s central and provincial organisation. Volunteer teachers from across Türkiye assisted with search and rescue efforts, while psychosocial support was provided to help minimise the negative emotions experienced by earthquake survivors. Students were transferred to the provinces of their choice, and scholarship opportunities were provided to one hundred thousand students through additional quotas. Teachers’ requests for appointments to provinces outside the earthquake zone were granted, volunteer teachers working in provinces outside the earthquake zone were assigned to the earthquake zone, and relocation procedures based on health reasons and family unity were carried out, with assignments made at various times. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 203 Both students and teachers were provided access to education through transported education services. To compensate for learning losses, support and training courses and summer schools were established, as well as public education courses in areas such as clothing, handicrafts, embroidery, art design, visual arts, decorative arts, fashion design, and catering for citizens who did not attend formal education. The topics for the second semester were determined, and textbooks, as well as auxiliary resources and stationery sets, were printed and distributed to students. Tablets purchased with Ministry of National Education funds and donated by philanthropists were distributed to students so that they could follow educational materials in digital settings. 204 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The physical infrastructure of educational institutions in the earthquake zone was significantly improved, the quality of educational activities was improved, and efforts were made to meet all moral and material needs of earthquake-affected students and citizens, as well as mitigate the negative effects of the disaster of the century. Some activities are still ongoing in the region. Activities Carried Out by the Central and Provincial Units of the Ministry of National Education Search and Rescue Services Many AKUB (SAR - Search and Rescue Unit) personnel of the Ministry of National Education from various provinces of Türkiye participated in search and rescue operations. In addition, a large number of personnel were assigned to assist with mobile kitchen food service, tent coordination, civil defence services, and education and training in the earthquake zone. Approximately 5,000 people from the Ministry of National Education Search and Rescue Unit (MEB AKUB) participated in search and rescue efforts among the debris. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 205 Efforts were made regarding issues of monitoring the movement status and locations of 225 teams on duty in the earthquake region, overcoming the lack of provincial/district teams in response to the demands reaching the disaster and emergency management center that the earthquake region requires, material needs, monitoring notifications requiring operations in the debris area, and directing them to the site. 173 first aid instructors from the national education directorates of 81 provinces carried out support efforts in emergency interventions throughout the earthquake region. Shelter and Nutrition Services Tents set up in hostels, teacher’s lodges, practice hotels, and school yards affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in all 81 provinces of Türkiye were made available to earthquake survivors to meet their sheltering needs, and many citizens were accommodated. Cleaning and hot meal services were also provided by the staff working at the hostels and schools. 465 thousand people were accommodated, and 1.5 million people received hot meals on a daily basis in hostels, teacher’s lodges, in- service training institutes, and practice hotels in the earthquake region. 206 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Within the scope of Article 7 of Presidential Decree No. 127, a total of 754,180 earthquake survivors were provided with accommodation services, and a total of 1,325,976 meal services were offered to the earthquake survivors accommodated in the teachers’ lodges and evening art schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education between February 6 and September 27, 2023. Furthermore, these institutions provided earthquake survivors with 10,642,867 meals as part of their mass meal services. As of June 30, 2023, the Ministry of National Education allocated a total of 627,920,827.13 Turkish Liras to teachers’ lodges and evening art schools for the provision of these services. In order to determine and satisfy the accommodation requirements of teachers in the provinces affected by the earthquake, the quantity of containers required for teachers was determined on a district basis through individual interviews with both newly appointed and current teachers. Container requirements were planned to accommodate teachers and their families. The determined requirement for containers was relayed to AFAD and a total of 11,076 containers were shipped to the provinces by AFAD. Information on containers installed by province is given in the table below. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 207 Province Number of Containers HATAY 6,343 ADIYAMAN 1,278 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 1,500 MALATYA 893 ŞANLIURFA 51 GAZİANTEP 411 OSMANİYE 400 KİLİS 200 Total 11,076 Production Activities Teams comprised of voluntary qualified instructors, students, and teachers working at lifelong learning institutions, maturation institutes, public education centers, and vocational high schools produced many basic necessities, such as sleeping bags, tracksuits, vests, blankets, baby blankets, shoes, boots, slippers, scarves, gloves, shawls, berets, knitwear, quilts, duvets, foam mattresses, breads, cold sandwiches, cookies, warm meals, baby food, hygiene materials, masks, shrouds, wood-burning stoves, electrical stoves, etc., and these materials were distributed to earthquake survivors in the earthquake zone and in other provinces. In a production workshop, the installation of 375 textile manufacturing machines has been completed. A total of 12,007 products, primarily home textiles and loungewear items, have been manufactured. Throughout the entire process, the tailoring needs of citizens staying in tents and other areas have also been met. Additionally, an allocation of 388,306 TL was transferred to meet the region’s urgent needs and to ensure the continuation of production and supply of materials in 70 provinces outside the disaster area. 208 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS In order to ensure the continuation of non-formal education activities carried out by public education centers, vocational training institutes, and open education schools under the Ministry of National Education in the disaster zone, and to provide support to the local population, Support and Coordination Centers of the Directorate General for Lifelong Learning have been established in designated areas, based on the locations of container or tent cities set up by AFAD. A total of 8,771,039 TL was allocated for the establishment of these centers and to meet the urgent needs of the institutions in provinces located in the zone. A database has been established by the Ministry of National Education to monitor the activities of the Support and Coordination Centers. 93 support and coordination centres were opened in 10 provinces. Between February 6 and March 13, 2023, 329 personnel from 42 institutions in 23 provinces outside the region and 670 personnel from institutions within the region were assigned to these centers. Psychosocial Support Services In order to prevent potential psychological maladjustments and disorders following the disaster, to rebuild and strengthen relationships at the family and community levels, to help earthquake survivors recognise their own capacities and become empowered in the process of returning to “normal” life, and to enhance the society’s ability to cope with, recover from, and adapt to potential future disasters and TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 209 emergencies, psychosocial teams were established by provincial directorates of national education. These teams provided psychosocial support both to individuals in the earthquake-affected region and to those who relocated to other provinces. Specialist teachers in the teams formed by the provincial and district directorates of national education were deployed to the earthquake-affected provinces on a rotating basis, each serving for one week to provide psychosocial support. The Psychosocial Support Project was created to improve the skills of school counselors/psychological counselors who provide psychosocial support services and to distribute structured psycho-educational support materials and tools in order to increase the psychological resilience of students, teachers, and parents in the face of the challenging life circumstances and to help them cope with the traumatic effects of these events and to facilitate their adaptation to the normalisation process. The 1st period of the project covers the period between March 6, 2023, and June 2, 2023. The efforts made during this period are listed below: • It has been planned to deliver the “Post-Traumatic Group-Based Intervention Program (PTGBIP) Trainer Training” to guidance counselors/psychological counselors in the provinces, with the aim of equipping them to implement the programme for students who are considered to be severely affected. In this context, seven training provinces (Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Mersin, Antalya, Van, and Samsun) were identified, and 598 school counselors/psychological counselors from 81 provinces received training in these designated provinces. 210 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • Within the scope of the Psychosocial Support Project, a Support Education Kit was created to be used in student activities during and after challenging life events. 1,250 copies of each kit were produced and distributed, primarily in the earthquake zone. • “18 storybooks, one poster, five brochures, two information guides, two first aid application books for psychological counselors/school counselors, eight psycho-education programmes, and one post-trau- matic group-based intervention programme” produced within the scope of the Psychoeducation in Challenging Life Events Project (ZOYOP) for teachers, students, and parents affected by challenging life events were printed in 10,000 copies and distributed throughout the country, primarily in the earthquake zone. • In order to make the books prepared within the scope of ZOYOP ac- cessible to students with visual impairment, 12 psychological resil- ience storybooks were prepared. Each of these 36-page storybooks has been designed in both Braille and standard print formats to al- low students with visual impairments, as well as their sighted par- ents, teachers, and peers, to read them at the same time. The printed books were delivered to students at the beginning of the 2023–2024 academic year. • To support the normalisation process following challenging life events, psychosocial support activities provided by school guidance and counseling services and guidance and research centers are in- tended to be enriched, especially at the preschool and primary school levels, through artistic materials and/or activities such as games and storybooks. In this context, a total of 18 therapeutic children’s story- books (9 for preschool and 9 for primary school) and two therapeutic children’s game booklets, comprising 60 games in total (30 for pre- school and 30 for primary school), have been developed to help tailor the process according to individuals’ characteristics and needs. In order to carry out post-earthquake psychosocial support services in a more effective, efficient, and timely manner, a Psychosocial Coordination Unit consisting of 39 experts was established within the Ministry of National Education. Experts from the Ministry of National Education Psychosocial Support Team contacted provincial/district psychosocial support teams in the region, as well as guidance and research centers, to plan the psychosocial support activities that would be carried out in the region in the aftermath TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 211 of the earthquake, and the necessary coordination and information flow between the teams were ensured. In order to plan the psychosocial support activities to be carried out, the Psychosocial Coordination Unit held online meetings with directors of provincial national education offices and directors of counseling and research centres. A psychosocial support action plan for disaster-stricken provinces and other provinces that were not directly affected by the disaster was prepared and submitted to provincial directorates of national education. Documents to be used in psychosocial support activities were uploaded to the Ministry of National Education website and shared with mentors and psychological counselors. Activities were implemented within the framework of the Psychosocial Support Action Plan Implementation Principles. In 11 provinces, psychosocial support activities were carried out in 416 tents/units with 4,574 mentors and psychological counselors. In 11 provinces affected by the earthquake, psychological first aid (PFA) was provided by school counselors and psychological counselors to students, teachers, and parents. These efforts aimed to address basic physical and psychological needs, reduce potential post-traumatic stress symptoms as much as possible, and promote more adaptive functioning and coping both in the short and long term. 212 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Psychological first aid materials, books on psychological resilience in the family and school after traumatic experiences, and stories to assist children in comprehending and recovering from the experiences were distributed to be used in the services to be carried out in the acute period as part of psychosocial support services. In order to carry out psychosocial support activities more effectively, 4,267 psychosocial support kits were prepared and delivered to the provinces directly affected by the earthquake. The psychosocial support kits include materials such as activity books, drawing books, crayons, etc. Informative leaflets were prepared for families, teachers, and adults in the provinces of the earthquake region. In this regard, a total of 1,518,286 leaflets were distributed in the provinces in the earthquake zone. Data on psychosocial support services carried out by field coordinators assigned to the earthquake-affected areas were collected on a daily basis. Accordingly, psychosocial support services were provided to a total of 1,573,04 people, including 1,059,854 students and 513,650 parents, in 11 provinces in the earthquake zone until December 2023. In addition to the ongoing psychosocial support services in the regions affected by the earthquakes, psychosocial support activities were also provided for parents and students who had to move from the region to other provinces and were placed in institutions and organisations within the Ministry. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 213 An informative guideline text was prepared and shared with schools and institutions to support teachers who would be meeting with students on the first day of school in 70 provinces where schools reopened on February 20, 2023. In order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of field operations, a video was prepared to provide responses to potential questions. Mentors and psychological counselors conducted “earthquake trainings” for teachers and parents in 70 provinces that were not in the disaster zone from February 20 to 24, 2023, as part of the second stage of the psychosocial action plan on schools. As part of the second phase of the psychosocial action plan in 70 provinces outside the disaster zone, the earthquake psychoeducation program was implemented in schools between February 20–24, 2023. The program was delivered by guidance counselors and psychological counselors to a total of 4,379,916 individuals, including 954,414 teachers and 3,425,502 parents. The Ministry of National Education (MoNE) distributed leaflets to families affected by the earthquake to assist their children in overcoming psychological trauma. The Psychoeducation Programme on Earthquakes was implemented in 81 provinces to provide psychosocial support to 10 million 788 thousand 182 students at the preschool, primary, secondary, and high school levels. School counselors and psychological counselors provided training to parents and teachers regarding loss and grief. 214 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The “Psychoeducation Programme on Grief,” which was developed for students who have experienced loss and grief specific to their grade, began to be implemented by school counselors/psychological counselors. The “Training for Post-Traumatic Group-Based Intervention Program (TSGTM)” was prepared for school counselors and psychological counselors to reduce the symptoms caused by a traumatic event, develop skills to cope with traumatic stress and anxiety, create a perception of control, increase psychological resilience, reduce the risk of disorder, provide peer and parent support, and support the students who were severely affected by the earthquake and who were identified based on the observations of teachers and families. The aforementioned training programme was attended by 550 school counselors and psychological counselors. The school counselors and psychological counselors, who received the training programme, implemented the “Post-Traumatic Group-Based Intervention Programme.” Assistive services for workers as part of psychosocial support services are also implemented for the staff working in the field, if any need arises. In this context, in cooperation with the universities, academician support is provided. Within the scope of monitoring and evaluation activities, daily field data are followed up through the e-Guidance module. Based on their observations, school counselors and psychological counsellors referred the students who showed severe post-traumatic stress symptoms to the health institutions. Psychosocial support service units provided services during the school holidays and also continued to offer these services during the summer at 41 guidance and research centres in ten provinces heavily affected by the earthquake. Materials were developed to be used for psychosocial support during any possible disaster affecting Türkiye. These materials included books, psychoeducation programmes, animations, educational videos, storybooks, guides, presentations, brochures, and posters that were used in the studies conducted following the Kahramanmaraş- epicentered earthquake. With the beginning of the 2023–2024 academic year, academic training courses and psychosocial activities were carried out for 2,744 school counselors and psychological counsellors employed throughout 49 districts, including the Islahiye and Nurdağı districts of Gaziantep and the districts of Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya, and Adana provinces. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 215 A total of 1,370 teachers received information about “Developmental and Preventive Services” and “Reformative and Support Services” within the scope of guidance and psychological counseling services provided at the beginning of the 2023–2024 academic year. Public education centers in the earthquake zone and other provinces made several courses available in the fields of handicraft technology, religious education, clothing manufacturing technology, sports, music and performance arts, health, child development and education, litera- cy, foreign languages, personal development and education, information technologies, beauty and hair care services, art and design, traditional games and brain games, food and beverage services, teaching, security services, family school, office management, and secretarial services. A large number of participants attended these courses. Transfer Procedures for the Students in the Earthquake Zone The Ministry updated the e-School Management Information System in the second semester of the 2022–2023 academic year after the earthquake, with the option of “Transfer due to a Natural Disaster” for the students enrolled in the affected provinces. The updates of the e-School system also included measures so that address registration documents would not be required during enrollment and transfer procedures for the students of the 1st and 5th grades and transfers for intermediary grades to prevent any problems during the enrollment and transfer processes of the students since the address processes remained uncompleted for the citizens who returned to their place of residence in the earthquake zone in the 2023–2024 academic year. As a result, the students’ transfer procedures were completed promptly and without causing any grievance. The table below shows the number of transfers from eleven provinces to other provinces after the earthquake for all education levels as of September 7, 2023, including the data regarding the students returning to their home cities. 216 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Province Number of Students Prior the Earthquake Number of Transfers Number of Returns ADANA 505,454 6,256 3,528 ADIYAMAN 157,046 27,921 16,920 DIYARBAKIR 477,980 5,010 2,075 ELAZIĞ 115,919 562 360 GAZIANTEP 637,302 19,105 12,281 HATAY 451,150 95,832 42,113 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 290,889 62,570 40,630 KILIS 54,563 526 404 MALATYA 170,575 47,241 26,200 OSMANIYE 137,484 5,531 3,231 ŞANLIURFA 710,694 6,395 2,192 Transportation and Catering Services Students enrolled in schools destroyed or damaged by the earthquake were included in the Student Transportation Programme and received free lunch services as a result of the decision to transfer these students to other schools to continue their education, as outlined in Article 22 of the MoNE’s Regulation on Access to Education via Transportation. Within the scope of the Student Transportation Programme, free lunches were also provided to the students who continued their education and training at schools that offered lunch services but had not received lunch service before and to the teachers who participated in support and training courses. Support and Training Courses Support and training courses were also made available to minimise learning losses caused by the earthquake and to support the well-being of students, especially in the earthquake zone. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 217 Volunteer teachers were assigned to deliver support and training courses at temporary classrooms established in the earthquake zone for students preparing for LGS (High School Entrance Exam) and YKS (Entrance to Higher Education Institutions Exam) exams. The Ministry of National Education prepared, printed, and delivered the course materials to be used during support and training courses. In addition to this, summer schools were opened between August 1st and September 1st, 2022–2023, within the scope of support and training courses in line with the programmes that are based on the critical achievements determined by the Ministry of National Education for students from the 2nd-grade to the 12th-grade level to eliminate the learning losses for the second semester of the 2022–2023 academic year in eleven provinces affected by the earthquakes. Within the framework of the Cooperation Protocol on Educational Support Programme in the Earthquake Zone signed between the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of National Education, arts, sports, music, and technology courses as part of the support and training courses were held between July 24 and September 1, 2023, for students from 2nd grade to 12th grade receiving education in earthquake-stricken provinces. 218 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The chapters of the textbooks for the 2022–2023 academic year covering the second semester were reprinted and distributed to students to compensate for the learning losses caused by the earthquake. Additionally, programmes involving Turkish, mathematics, social sciences, religious culture and ethics, science, and English courses for students with learning losses from the second semester of the 2022–2023 academic year were prepared and put into effect on September 11, 2023. Support Efforts for Education and Training Activities for Students in the Earthquake Zone TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 219 • The “Amendment to the Regulation on Boarding, Scholarships, Social Aids, and School Dormitories at Public Schools Affiliated with the Ministry of National Education” was published in the Official Gazette with the signature of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. • The Selection Exam for Educational Institution Administrators (EKYS), which was scheduled to take place on March 3, 2023, was postponed and held on May 24, 2023, due to the earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 2, 2023, and affected eleven provinces in the vicinity. • Students enrolled in provinces under the state of emergency were permitted to take the Central Exam for Secondary Education Institutions Enrolling Students by Exam in any province of their choice. To avoid student grievances, the Ministry of National Education assigned students enrolled in provinces under the state of emergency who did not submit a province and district of their choice to schools where they will sit for their exams. • Within the scope of the state of emergency declared pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 6785, dated February 8, 2023, only the students who completed the 2023–2024 academic year in the provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Osmaniye, and the Nurdağı and İslahiye districts of Gaziantep were permitted to select the existing secondary schools within the vicinity of their residence in provinces where they completed the 2023–2024 academic year due to the earthquake that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, during the enrollment selection process of schools admitting students on the basis of local placements. Moreover, these students were also permitted to select schools that admit students on the basis of local placements in other provinces outside of these provinces under the “residence-based enrollment” category. • Students in provinces affected by the Kahramanmaraş-epicentered earthquakes on February 6, 2023—Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa—were provided with an additional 30,000 quota for the Scholarship Exam for Primary and Secondary Education Institu- tions. Students who completed the first semester of the 2022–2023 academic year in earthquake-affected provinces benefited from this quota. After reserving 30% of the total quota, the remaining quota for the 2023–2024 academic year was distributed. Within the scope of the 220 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS State of Emergency (OHAL), the regulation on the additional quota for addressing the grievances of students affected by the earthquakes remained effective for the next year, and students who completed the 2023–2024 academic year in the provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Osmaniye, and the Nurdağı and İslahiye districts of Gaziantep were also provided with an “additional quota.” • Students who selected schools that admit students on the basis of local placements during the selection period but were unable to be placed in any of them applied to the provincial and district student placement and transfer commissions in the province where they lived and had their placement procedures completed while taking classroom balance into account but regardless of quota availability at schools that admit students on the basis of local placements. In addition, under the “residence-based enrolment” category, they were also permitted to select schools that admit students on the basis of local placements in other provinces outside of the provinces under the state of emergency. • Students who preferred to be placed in schools that admit students with the central exam during the High School Transition System process and enrolled in provinces under the state of emergency due to the earthquakes were allocated an additional quota of 2 students for every 30 quotas. Additional quotas were distributed based on students’ scores and preferences within the framework of central placement principles. • New e-exam facilities were established. • In Germany, the cash donation of 31,967 euros raised through various cultural events organized by the Ludwigsburg School Parents’ Association, chaired by Güner Öztel and operating under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Stuttgart, for the benefit of earthquake victims and the affected region, has been deposited into an account opened with the Central Bank under the name of the Ministry of National Education Central Accounting Office. The donation will be used for the ongoing construction of the Yeşiltepe Kindergarten, located in Yeşiltepe Neighborhood, Yeşilyurt District, Malatya Province (parcel no. 4396, block 0), with the relevant school details indicated. • The table below contains information on the Support and Training Courses available in the 2023-2024 academic year for 8th, 11th, and 12th grade students and graduates from provinces in the disaster zone. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 221 Data on Available Course at Provinces in the Earthquake Zone During the 2023–2024 Academic Year Province Number of Course Centres Number of Students Number of Teachers Number of School Counselors 1 ADANA 106 4,582 551 45 2 ADIYAMAN 95 4,931 612 44 3 DIYARBAKIR 93 6,096 682 57 4 ELAZIĞ 22 938 104 5 5 GAZIANTEP 77 3,834 497 38 6 HATAY 183 7,946 1,065 55 7 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 130 6,431 810 32 8 KILIS 23 906 122 10 9 MALATYA 41 1,757 224 7 In the 2023-2024 academic year, summer schools were introduced for the first time across all 81 provinces, focusing on the well-rounded development of students—mental, social, emotional, physical, and moral—during the summer period in schools and institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. Courses in sports, visual arts, informatics, and music were offered to students in grades 2 through 12. The data for the provinces in the disaster zone are given in the table below. Data on Summer Schools Opened in Provinces in the Disaster Zone Province Number of Course Centres Number of Students Number of Teachers 1 ADANA 27 986 42 2 ADIYAMAN 9 305 18 3 DIYARBAKIR 25 2,071 62 4 ELAZIĞ 3 142 5 5 GAZIANTEP 31 1,395 57 6 HATAY 58 2,775 92 7 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 29 2,487 62 8 KILIS 8 365 16 222 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS 9 MALATYA 8 334 14 10 OSMANIYE 13 501 21 11 ŞANLIURFA 16 1,184 36 Data on the Support and Training Courses opened in the summer term of 2024 for 8th grade, 12th grade, and graduated students in provinces within the disaster zone are provided in the table below. Data on Summer Schools Opened in Provinces in the Disaster Zone Province Number of Course Centres Number of Students Number of Teachers Number of School Counselors 1 ADANA 31 1,572 144 9 2 ADIYAMAN 60 2,777 303 18 3 DIYARBAKIR 21 996 110 3 4 ELAZIĞ 5 257 33 0 5 GAZIANTEP 47 2,933 255 8 6 HATAY 100 4,626 468 14 7 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 70 4,044 339 11 8 KILIS 3 724 37 0 9 MALATYA 13 497 59 3 10 OSMANIYE 24 1,410 145 3 11 ŞANLIURFA 42 1,684 164 12 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 223 Preparing Auxiliary Resources In order to overcome the learning deficiencies of the students in the earthquake region, auxiliary resources were prepared in cooperation with UNICEF. Within the scope of the project, three workshops were organised, with 252 expert teachers participating. For 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students, 16 comprehensive subject reinforcement tests and 26 education resource books were prepared. The subject reinforcement test books and 26 auxiliary resources for 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade compensatory education were made available digitally to teachers and students at https://ogmmateryal.eba.gov.tr/. In this context, 5,280,846 auxiliary resource books were printed and distributed to students in the earthquake zone. 7.5 million textbooks, 5.5 million auxiliary resources, and 130,000 stationery sets were delivered to the students in the earthquake zone and to the students who were transferred from this zone to other provinces. 224 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Supply and Distribution of Tablet Computers Donors donated 27,000 tables and 112,051,757.62 TL in cash on the condi- tion of purchasing 38,000 tablets. From the allocated budget, 23,000 tab- lets were purchased, and 44,100,000 TL was spent for this purpose. The donated tablets, tablets purchased with the donated funds, and tablets purchased from the Ministry of National Education’s budget were sent to students in the provinces affected by the earthquake. Tablets were distrib- uted primarily to the 8th and 12th grade students affected by the earth- quake. The tablets distributed by province are shown in the table below. Provinces Number of Tablet Computer Sets ADANA 5,000 ADIYAMAN 12,000 DIYARBAKIR 5,000 ELAZIĞ 2,000 GAZIANTEP 5,750 HATAY 16,000 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 14,000 KILIS 2,000 MALATYA 12,000 OSMANIYE 4,000 ŞANLIURFA 5,000 Total 82,750 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 225 Television Purchase and Distribution From the allocated budget, 30,000 televisions were purchased at a total cost of 67,172,500 TL. In addition, 10 television sets were donated. The purchased televisions were intended to enable students in the provinces affected by the earthquake to follow lessons broadcast on TRT EBA channels. The televisions distributed by province are shown in the table below. Provinces Number of Televisions ADIYAMAN 6,300 GAZIANTEP 3,500 HATAY 7,010 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 2,900 MALATYA 7,800 OSMANIYE 2,500 Total 27,110 Internet Infrastructure Services Within the scope of the FATİH Project in Education, internet infrastructure works continued in 2024 for schools in the earthquake zone, with mobile internet access provided to 948 schools, VSAT satellite internet access to 97 schools, and fiber internet access to 22 schools. In addition, around 4,000 interactive whiteboards were installed in schools across these provinces. Mobile Science Centre (Science Bus) The Mobile Science Centre Project supported psychosocial support activities for students in the region following the earthquake. With the scientific experiment sets offered in the Mobile Science Centre activities, students were able to learn through hands-on experiences in a variety of disciplines, from astronomy and physics to mathematics, geography, biology, and chemistry, all while having fun. As part of the Mobile Science Centre’s activities in the earthquake zone, events were held in all tent cities, dormitories, and container areas where earthquake-affected citizens resided in the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, and Malatya. Approximately 25 thousand students in these regions benefitted from the services provided. 226 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Students affected by the earthquake learnt about the interaction between science and technology through activities that provided access to scientific knowledge. In line with the psychosocial support activities, the students were helped to partially forget their experiences through the healing effect of science. Interactive Whiteboard Installations Provincial appropriation requests for the transportation of interactive boards in damaged schools in the earthquake region were met. 15,000 interactive whiteboards were installed, with priority being given to the provinces in the earthquake zone. Assessment, Evaluation, and Examination Services Within the scope of the Support and Enhancement Courses, educational sessions were provided to earthquake-affected students preparing for the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS) and the High School Entrance System exam. Between April 24 and 27, classes were delivered by 14 teachers across various subjects aboard the Karadeniz Lifeship Rauf Bey, docked in İskenderun. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 227 A total of 24 test booklets were delivered to the earthquake zone: six for the High School Entrance Exam (LGS) trial exams, 12 practice tests for the Basic Proficiency Test (TYT), and six practice tests for the Field Proficiency Test (AYT). Under the coordination of the Ministry of National Education, practice tests were applied to students in the region by volunteer teachers. In the earthquake-affected provinces, spare examination halls were made available in 49 buildings in addition to the existing buildings for students who will take the Central Examination for Secondary Education Institutions, and 7,900 spare exam documents were sent to these halls. Furthermore, the number of booklets and answer sheets used in spare halls was increased from 12 to 20 to account for the attendance of earthquake- affected students in different provinces. Spare halls in 23 buildings, in addition to the existing buildings, were made available for students taking the Primary and Secondary Education Institutions Scholarship Examination in the earthquake-affected provinces, and 6,500 spare exam documents were delivered to these halls. Students who took the Central Examination for Secondary Education Institutions for the High School Entrance System and the Primary and Secondary Education Institutions Scholarship Examination were held accountable for the first-term topics, learning outcomes, and details of the courses they had received but were exempt from the second-term topics. 228 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Scholarship, Education Support and Free Boarding Services Students were placed in other student boarding houses in the same provinces or throughout the country as free boarders under Presidential Decree No. 131, dated March 3, 2023, on the Measures Taken in the Field of Education within the Scope of the State of Emergency. Within this scope, scholarships granted to eligible students were not suspended during the 2022–2023 academic year, in accordance with the provisions of the Decree, including those who transferred to private schools. Furthermore, during the 2023–2024 academic year, it was ensured that students falling under this category could be placed in the available quotas of boarding houses nationwide as free boarders if they so desired. Within the scope of Presidential Decree No. 131 dated March 3, 2023, on the Measures Taken in the Field of Education within the Scope of the State of Emergency, 820 students whose mother, father or guardian passed away due to the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, and who attend secondary schools were provided with monthly educational support from February 2023 until the end of the 2022-2023 academic year in the amount of the scholarship amount paid in accordance with Law No. 2684. Furthermore, on March 22, 2023, the Ministry of National Education, the Turkish Education Association (TED), and the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV) signed a Cooperation Protocol to provide scholarship support to students who lost one or both of their parents (parents/guardians were appointed) and are in financial difficulties due to the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, and afterwards, as well as students with moderate-advanced and very advanced special needs as a result of the earthquake. Practices for Students in Private Schools As of February 6, 2023, parents whose children were enrolled in private schools through the e-Government application were granted authorisation to transfer their children from private schools to other schools in the provinces most af- fected by earthquakes. In this context, during the second semester of the 2022- 2023 academic year, a total of 37 thousand 212 students, 24 thousand 226 at the primary education level and 12 thousand 986 at the secondary education level were transferred through the e-Government system in ten provinces in the earthquake zone. The free tuition quota in private schools for earthquake victims was increased from 3% to 10%. In the 2022-2023 academic year, a total of 21,894 students ben- efited from the increased quota, including 15,076 in primary education and 6,818 in secondary education. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 229 A total of 667,768.25 TL education support payment was made for 148 students studying in private schools in accordance with the provision of Presidential Decree No. 131 on the Measures Taken in the Field of Education within the Scope of the State of Emergency, which states that “regardless of whether they are placed in free boarding, students in preschool, primary school, and secondary school whose mother, father or guardian perished in earthquakes shall receive monthly education support up to the amount of scholarships paid in accordance with Law No. 2684 through the end of the 2022–2023 academic year provided that they continue their formal education.” It was ensured that students affected by earthquakes who did not fall under the scope of special rights recognised by law would retain their scholarship rights until the end of the 2022-2023 academic year, even if they transferred to private schools. In this regard, the Ministry of National Education granted scholarship payments to 1,200 students who transferred to private schools among the scholarship students affected by the earthquakes. According to Article 62 of the Regulation on Private Education Institutions, schools that were unable to hold the scholarship exam in January, February, and March, as well as students transferred from earthquake-affected provinces, can hold a scholarship exam on any date during the 2022-2023 academic year, provided they obtain permission from the Governorate, which is limited to these students. 230 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The Official Gazette dated November 29, 2023, and numbered 32384 promulgated the Communiqué on the Provision of Education and Training Support for Students Studying / Who Will Be Studying in Private Schools in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya provinces and İslahiye and Nurdağı districts of Gaziantep province in the 2023-2024 academic year. With its promulgation in the Official Gazette, students in the aforementioned provinces and districts that were impacted by the earthquake were granted the opportunity to receive education and training support from the appropriation funds allocated to the Ministry of National Education’s budget for this purpose. In this regard, the allocation of private schools and students in these provinces for education and training support was finalised, and 22,901 students in 357 private schools were made eligible for education and training support. In the 2023-2024 academic year, a total of 384 million 578 thousand 320 TL of education and training support payments were allocated to these students. The amounts of education and training support to be provided in the 2024- 2025 academic year were determined in the Communiqué promulgated in the Official Gazette on September 26, 2024, and numbered 32674. In this scope, as the first installment of the education and training support to be paid in three installments, 122 million 339 thousand 952 Turkish Liras for education and training support was paid to 12 thousand 744 students in November 2024. Activities for the Earthquake Zone at the Preschool Education Level Immediately following the earthquake, preschool classrooms were es- tablished in the tent cities, containers, and the public institutions where earthquake victims were accommodated, and educational materials, equipment, stationery materials, and story sets were sent to these tents to start educational activities. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 231 To assist children residing in households with unfavourable conditions and who lack access to preschool education in their home environment, “Benim Oyun Sandığım” (My Box of Games) material sets, containing 52 educational materials, were distributed to 12,000 children whose families were residing in tent cities, containers, or public institutions due to the earthquake. The aforementioned material set was delivered to the children in question through their preschool teachers and principals. 232 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS In the same vein, considering the needs of earthquake-affected children, 2,400 backpacks containing various toys, stationery, self-care and hygiene materials were distributed to children. As of February 6, 2023, the second academic year commenced in the 10 provinces that were affected by the earthquake. Food supply and other preparations were implemented to ensure that students in 5,632 public education institutions receive free nutrition support. In the aftermath of the earthquake, food services were provided to 435 thousand earthquake survivors who were residing in our schools. In the summer of the 2022-2023 academic year, all preschool children who were impacted by the earthquake, irrespective of their attendance at preschool education, were granted summer education. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 233 In the 2023-2024 academic year, children in all official preschool education institutions in earthquake-affected provinces were granted one free meal nutrition assistance. In the 2022-2023 academic year, monetary support was provided to 100 preschool education institutions in earthquake-affected provinces in cooperation with the PIKTES Coordinatorship (Project for Supporting Inclusive Education for Kids in the Turkish Education System). The statement “In preschool education institutions in 11 provinces affected by the earthquake epicentred in Kahramanmaraş on 6/2/2023, no contribution fee will be charged in the 2023-2024 academic year” was added to the Regulation on Preschool Education and Primary Education Institutions so that no contribution fee would be charged in these provinces. A total of 1000 mobile instructor classroom sets, which included a variety of preschool materials, were distributed to kindergarten classes in earth- quake-affected regions. A total of 104 two-classroom container kindergartens were established in Kahramanmaraş (15), Adıyaman (6), Gaziantep (8), Diyarbakır (28), Urfa (21), Adana (22), and Malatya (4) provinces. These classrooms, which were not damaged in the earthquake, became the first place of refuge for the earth- quake survivors. Container kindergarten classes continue to provide educa- tion and training services. Supports Provided to Gifted and Talented Students The physical conditions of 60 Science and Art Centres (BILSEMs) in the provinces affected by the earthquake were improved with a total budget of 65,189,915 TL, and this allocation was then utilised for building maintenance, repair, materials, workshop construction, workshop materials, and other needs. As part of the cooperation protocol with TURKCELL, a BILSEM Technology and Education Container was put into service in Hatay to enrich the educational environments of the gifted and talented students affected by the earthquake. In the container, BILSEM teachers conduct workshops on robotic coding, astronomy, educational games, sports, music, painting, and art. Local Trainings To ensure the continuity of educational activities and to enhance the quality of textbook reviews in the provinces affected by the earthquake, 234 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS namely Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Adana, Malatya, and Diyarbakır, local trainings were organised between September 26 and December 22, 2024, with the participation of 1472 panellists registered in our textbook review system, under the “Textbook Draft Review and Evaluation Seminar within the Scope of the Century of Türkiye Education Model.” Improvement of Special Education and Training Services in the Earthquake Zone Practices for Trainees/Individuals with Disabilities in Private Education Institutions It was ensured that trainees registered in private non-formal education institutions in the earthquake-affected provinces could continue their education in private non-formal education institutions in their new province/district of residence, if they so desired, and take the theoretical/ practical exams at the end of their education in these provinces/districts. In line with the sixth paragraph of the Article 62 of the Regulation on Private Education Institutions, among the private education institutions operating in the earthquake zone, the institutions that could not hold a scholarship exam in January, February, and March were given the opportunity to hold a scholarship exam on a date of their choice during the 2022-2023 academic year, and trainees transferred from earthquake- affected provinces were given the opportunity to take these exams, limited to these trainees only, provided that they obtain permission from the governorate. Pursuant to Article 21 of the Regulation on Private Education Institutions, the provincial/district directorates of national education of the institution to which the individual would be newly registered could delete the records of disabled individuals registered in special education and rehabilitation centres in earthquake-affected provinces upon request from the disabled individual or his/her parent/ guardian. To avoid disruption of the education of individuals with special education needs in the provinces affected by the earthquake, a joint effort was carried out to solve the issues by working in coordination with the relevant units of the Ministry of National Education and other ministries on issues such as the extension of the support education reports and obtainment of reports with the signature of a single physician instead of those signed by three physicians or obtainment of these reports more easily. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 235 For the theoretical and practical courses and exams that trainees who participated in search and rescue operations in earthquake-affected provinces and in operations carried out by voluntary aid organisations or non- governmental organisations could not attend during this period, trainees were made eligible to retake exams they were unable to attend, and absences during this period were written off, on the condition that the trainees make up for their education, if they apply to the institution or provincial/district directorate of national education within one month of the end of their duty or volunteer work period, along with the documentation that their units provided. If they applied to the institution or provincial/district directorate of national education within three months from the date of commencement of education activities in the province/district, trainees registered in different courses in provinces affected by the earthquake could freeze their unused rights to examination, provided their absenteeism during this period is written off and the education is made up for. Until the start of face-to-face education, university students who were enrolled in a variety of courses were permitted to preserve their educational and examination rights, provided that they submit an application to the institution within two months. The period specified in the third paragraph of Article 45 of the Ministry of National Education’s Regulation on Private Motor Vehicle Drivers’ Courses was extended by one year for those who completed private motor vehicle drivers’ courses within the earthquake region but did not convert their certificates into a driver’s license. In accordance with the cooperation protocol signed in 2022 between the Turkish Red Crescent Society and the Directorate General for Special Education and Guidance Services, special education classes are being standardised, and material support is being provided to meet the educational needs and developmental characteristics of the students. 236 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Within the framework of the aforementioned protocol, efforts to standardise special education classes continue in the provinces affected by the earthquake. In this context, 5 special education classes in the earthquake zone have been standardised and put into service to meet the needs of the students as of 2024. Post-Disaster Adaptation Activities Book The “Post-Disaster Adaptation Activities Book” was written to provide guidance and to ground the activities of special education teachers working in disaster areas on an educational basis. This book, which is based on the curriculum of special education and basic education, contains activities in a variety of subjects, including cognitive development, language development, motor skills, social- emotional development, Turkish, mathematics, life sciences, visual arts, music, and games. The book’s goal is to help students with their social and emotional well-being, make better use of their time, and adapt to school life. The book was completed in April 2023 and printed and distributed to all provinces in the earthquake region. Practices for Private Education Institutions Regarding the institutions operating in the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya, Hatay and the districts of Nurdağı and İslahiye in Gaziantep, institutions that could not document that their building was solid and durable could continue their activities with normal or double- shift education until the end of the 2023-2024 academic year in another institution building of the same type, which was documented to be solid and durable and belonged to a different founder, without considering the first paragraph of the 12th article of the Regulation on Private Education Institutions of the Ministry of National Education, provided that the TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 237 necessary measures were taken regarding the safety of the students/ trainees, and that classrooms and other sections where lessons were held were set up. However, due to the difficulty in locating an institutional building that complied with relevant legislation in provinces where earthquake disasters occurred, the conditions of “similar type” and “building classrooms and other sections for learning” were not sought until the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. It was decided that the period granted to private educational institu- tions and private student dormitories in the provinces affected by the earthquakes, which wish to suspend or have already suspended their ac- tivities, could be extended for up to two years. If the governorate determines that the training and exam areas are un- usable for various courses operating in the provinces in the earthquake zone, the practice areas of other institutions in the same province may be utilised for a maximum of one year. However, it was indicated that if this is not possible, the training and practice area should be changed according to the relevant legislation. The calculation of the time period regarding the sanctions to be applied to institutions that do not commence or suspend their activities within two years of receiving the institution opening permit specified in the first paragraph of Article 7 of the Private Education Institutions Law No. 5580 was suspended for three months due to the Presidential Decree No. 131 on Measures Taken in the Field of Education under the State of Emergency. It was stipulated that administrative fines would not be imposed on those who failed to deliver the books, files, papers, documents, and other items required by Law No. 5580 from closed institutions or institutions closed down by the state. The Directorate General for Private Education Institutions of the Ministry of National Education approved invoices for special education and rehabilitation centres that some provincial/district directorates of national education were unable to complete due to the earthquake disaster, ensuring that support education payments were made on time. The camera imaging system requirement, which serves as the basis for support education payments, was not sought from private education and rehabilitation centres operating in earthquake-affected provinces that could demonstrate that their buildings were unusable. It was indicated that other accounting units in the nearby region were authorised to replace the accounting units in the earthquake-affected 238 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS provinces that were unable to provide service, ensuring that payments to private education and rehabilitation centres were made on time. If the invoices for payments to the special education and rehabilitation centre for the trainings provided before the earthquake could not be presented, the payment could be made depending on the report to be produced by the spending authority and the assessment officer. For the support trainings made in February and March 2023 in special education and rehabilitation centres located in the provinces within the earthquake zone, the compulsory education personnel requirement stated in the first article of the “Explanations on Education Personnel and Practices” title of the Head Council of Education and Morality’s (TTKB) Decision No. 35 dated 14/09/2021, “A disabled individual who will receive training in a support education programme shall be given at least 2 (two) hours of training per month by the compulsory education personnel,” was not required. The practice of not requesting the building title deed and building use permit document, as required by subparagraph (h) of the second paragraph of Article 5 of the Regulation on Private Education Institutions, during the establishment and transfer phases of private education institutions was discontinued. Private education institutions and private student accommodation institutions in the provinces affected by the earthquake were permitted to commence operations with the provision of a certificate of soundness and durability, provided that their buildings were in a usable condition. However, a regulation was implemented that allowed private education institutions that documented that their building was unusable to operate in different buildings or temporary educational spaces (tents, containers, prefabricated, etc.) approved by the competent authority for a maximum of one year without seeking legislative standards. Procedures for Personnel Working in Education Institutions Visits to Earthquake Survivor Teachers In order to contribute to the resolution of the problems of education workers and teachers affected by the earthquake, as well as to help overcome the psychological and material damage caused by the earthquake, teachers who received emergency intervention and were referred to hospitals in the surrounding provinces were visited, and comprehensive information concerning the teachers’ treatment TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 239 processes was obtained from hospital administrations. The requests of 104 teachers who were still undergoing treatment were listened to and assistance was provided to meet their needs and resolve their issues. Psychosocial Support and Disaster Awareness Training in the Earthquake Region In-service training programmes were created for teachers who received their initial appointments to the provinces of Malatya, Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep and Hatay and who were currently on duty in these provinces to adapt to the region and to make them ready for education and training. Earthquake Memorial An earthquake memorial was built to commemorate the cherished memories of teachers and education personnel who passed away in the earthquake zone. Appointment Procedures During the March 2023 Contracted Teacher Appointment process, a total of 44,573 teachers were appointed, with 21,569 of them serving in ten provinces in the earthquake zone. Within the scope of the announcement of the relocation of contracted/ permanent teachers and other personnel working under the Ministry of National Education in the provinces where a state of emergency was declared with the Presidential Decree numbered 6785, the appointment procedures of 4,391 teachers, due to medical reasons and other reasons, were carried out at the order of the provincial directorates of national education, in line with their requests and regardless of the norm. Following the completion of the appointment procedures outlined in the announcement, the teachers working in the earthquake zone who documented their medical reasons with a health board report were assigned to the service of the district directorate of national education within the province they requested, in accordance with their written applications. The requests of the teachers who were appointed but wanted to return to the provinces in the earthquake zone that they had left were deemed appropriate; appointments of those who did not begin their duties were cancelled, and requests of those who began their duties were made to the district directorates of national education to which the institution they had left was affiliated, in order to avoid a teacher surplus for the permanent staff. 240 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS An announcement was published for the voluntary in-province reloca- tion of permanent teachers working in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahraman- maraş and Malatya provinces, independent of the voluntary in-province relocation in the summer semester of 2023, and 3,301 teachers were ap- pointed within the province. Voluntary inter-provincial relocations of contracted/permanent teach- ers working in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya provinc- es and İslahiye and Nurdağı districts of Gaziantep province, which were severely impacted by the earthquakes, were carried out within the scope of 22 provinces. All teachers were allowed to apply for this relocation process without any conditions and 1,618 teachers were relocated. The Regulation on the Amendment to the Ministry of National Education Regulation on the Appointment and Relocation of Teachers regarding the service regions of places severely affected by the earthquakes was published and entered into force. With the amendment, the provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya and the districts of İslahiye and Nurdağı in Gaziantep will be considered a third service region for three years starting from 1/9/2023. By temporarily elevating the service regions in the aforementioned places to third service region status, it was ensured that the teachers working in these places and the teachers who will start to work there would receive higher service points. 901 contracted/permanent teachers were temporarily assigned to the region to work in the teaching areas in need of their services in the provinces where a state of emergency was declared due to the earthquakes that occurred on 06.02.2023. Among the teachers who were located in-province/inter-provinces voluntarily or due to excuses that emerged after the earthquakes, for those who were reassigned to their old duty stations, the lengths of service in their old and new duty stations were evaluated together. Teachers employed in the provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya, as well as the districts of İslahiye and Nurdağı in Gaziantep province, submitted relocation applications in the event of the death of their spouse or child, the death of their spouse’s parents, or the certification that the building in which they resided was moderately or severely damaged or collapsed during the earthquake. In this context, 1,544 teachers who submitted their application were relocated. Among non-teaching services personnel working in Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa, and Elazığ provinces, where a state of emergency was declared TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 241 due to the earthquake, 277 were transferred to other provinces via appointment or assignment, while 173 personnel from other provinces were relocated to provinces in the earthquake zone. In addition, 1,360 personnel were employed through initial appointment. Within the scope of the “Announcement on the Voluntary Relocation of Teachers Who Were Working in Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa Provinces and Were Relocated Inter-Provincially After the Earthquakes That Occurred on February 6, 2023 to the Provinces Wherein They Worked Prior to the Earthquake”, 593 teachers were relocated to the provinces wherein they worked prior to the earthquake on May 7, 2024. Project on Improving the Well-Being of Teachers Working in the Earthquake Zone With the “Project on Improving the Well-Being of Teachers Working in the Earthquake Zone” carried out in collaboration with UNICEF, it was aimed to improve the well-being of teachers working in the earthquake zone, and according to the results of the needs analysis, to improve the teachers’ coping skills with stress, to increase their psychological resilience, to enhance their self-knowledge and self-confidence, to increase their empathy and communication skills, and to improve their professional development and openness to innovations. The project aims to reach a total of 30,000 teachers by training 1,000 school counsellors as trainers, preparing video content for the trainings, preparing a book for the training of trainers, conducting local trainings in the earthquake zone and making the video content available to all teachers via ÖBA (Teacher Informatics Network). Within the scope of the project, a book for the training of trainers was prepared, and a total of 659 school counsellors were trained in Erzurum and Aksaray at in-service training institutes on different dates. Video content was prepared for trainings. Project efforts are ongoing. Education Workers Who Lost Their Lives in the Earthquake In memory of those who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake centred in Kahramanmaraş on 6 February 2023, which affected 11 provinces and caused widespread destruction, two commemorative publications have been prepared by the Ministry of National Education. The first, titled In Memory of Our Colleagues Who Lost Their Lives 242 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS in the Earthquake, includes the biographies of our devoted education personnel. The second, Our Education Personnel Who Lost Their Lives in the Earthquake and Their Surviving Relatives, contains information about their surviving family members. In the provinces of Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa, a total of 904 dedicated education personnel, including 815 teachers and 89 non- teaching staff, lost their lives. The book ‘In Memory of Our Friends Who Lost Their Lives in the Earthquake’ was printed and distributed to unit supervisors, 81 provincial directorates of national education, and district directorates of national education in the earthquake zone. Construction and Real Estate Services Prior to the devastating earthquake centred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, students in the 11 affected provinces were continuing their education in 11,567 schools and 119,200 classrooms. Following the earthquake, 10,272 schools and 109,265 classrooms were found to be undamaged or only slightly damaged, while 1,295 schools and 9,935 classrooms were either destroyed or rendered unusable. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 243 NUMBER OF SCHOOLS/ INSTITUTIONS IN 11 PROVINCES DATES OF RECORDED DATA LEVEL OF EDUCATION 03.02.2023 11.06.2023 30.12.2024 Preschool Official 1,181 1,202 810 Private 313 312 320 Official (Non-Ministry Data) 807 814 982 Private (Non-Ministry Data) 346 340 327 Total Preschools 2,647 2,668 2,439 Primary School Official 5,362 5,362 5,332 Private 227 224 224 Total Primary Schools 5,589 5,586 5,556 Middle School Official 3,279 3,277 3,308 Private 268 266 250 Total Middle Schools 3,547 3,543 3,558 Upper Secondary Schools Official 1,588 1,601 1,621 Private 519 517 458 Total Upper Secondary Schools 2,107 2,118 2,079 Non-formal Education Official 241 241 231 Private 3,348 3,347 3,062 Total Non-for- mal Education Centres 3,589 3,588 3,293 Total Official 12,458 12,497 12,284 Private 5,021 5,006 4,641 Total 17,479 17,503 16,925 244 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Assessing the Safety of Buildings In the immediate aftermath of the first earthquake on February 6, 2023, the technical teams of the Ministry of National Education arrived in the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Adana, Hatay, Osmaniye, and Adıyaman to evaluate the instant availability of educational buildings in order to provide emergency shelter and heating to those affected by the earthquake. At this stage, it was determined that numerous educational buildings could be immediately utilised. Facilities such as schools, dormitories, boarding houses, and teacher’s lodges deemed safe for use were made available for the accommodation of earthquake-affected citizens in coordination with other institutions and organisations operating in the field. Following the decision to resume education gradually, evaluations were conducted to identify schools suitable for reopening. Once the damage assessments for the earthquake zone were completed, efforts for investment in the region began. Improvements to Existing Schools in Earthquake Zone In 11 provinces within the earthquake zone, all educational buildings that required post-earthquake restoration have undergone maintenance and repairs. In addition, structural assessments are ongoing for educational buildings identified as requiring further evaluation, and reinforcement works are being carried out for those found to need strengthening following these assessments. The construction schedule has taken into account the educational buildings identified for demolition following structural assessments. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 245 Reinforcement Efforts In 2024, reinforcement efforts for 113 educational buildings with 1,417 classrooms were completed in the earthquake zone. Repair Efforts Since February 6, 2023, approximately 63 thousand classrooms have been repaired and put into service. In 2024, the repair efforts for 1,282 educational buildings with 16,117 classrooms were completed. New Construction Projects for the Earthquake Zone In 11 provinces in the earthquake zone, a total of 2,691 classrooms with a project cost of approximately 6.1 billion TL were constructed and put into service in the next academic year. Investment Programmes In order to accelerate the resumption of education, which was interrupted by earthquakes, 2 billion TL was allocated to the 2023 Investment Programme for the construction of prefabricated schools in the earthquake zone. An additional budget of 1.3 billion TL was allocated for the Project for Reducing the Disaster Risk of Educational Buildings, 1 billion TL for maintenance, repair and reinforcement for schools and purchase of vehicles, machinery equipment, supplies and furnishings, and 6.2 billion TL for the construction of schools. In this context, a total of 10.5 billion TL additional budget was allocated to the Ministry of National Education for earthquake investments in 11 provinces in 2023. In this regard, approximately 14.4 billion TL was spent in 2023 for the construction, reinforcement and extensive repairs of schools. The 2024 Investment Programme covers school construction projects in the earthquake zone with a project value of approximately TL 62.6 billion, which are planned to be completed within three years. Within the scope of the 2023 State Investment Programme, in the provinces affected by the earthquake centred on Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, • There are 3 projects and 52 classrooms that have been tendered and finalised. The project cost is 155 million 227 thousand 800 TL. • There are 55 projects and 986 classrooms that have been tendered and are currently in progress. The project cost is 3 billion 443 million 306 thousand 24 TL. • Eighteen projects, comprising a total of 212 classrooms, have been granted tender approval, yet no action has been taken yet. The project cost is 1 billion 86 million 600 thousand TL. 246 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • There are 27 projects and 292 classrooms currently in construction. The project cost is 1 billion 909 million 800 thousand TL. The 2023 State Investment Programme encompasses a total of 103 projects (22 Anatolian high schools, five workshops, one science high school, three public education centres, 15 imam hatip high schools, 29 vocational and technical Anatolian high schools, eight teachers’ lodges, six special education and guidance and research centres, five dormitories, and nine sports halls) and 1,542 classrooms in earthquake provinces. As part of the 2023 State Investment Programme; • Ten projects in Ordu province were reassigned to the provinces of Şanlıurfa, Malatya, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, and Kahramanmaraş. • A total of 7 projects, including four vocational and technical Anatolian high schools, one imam hatip high school, one student boarding house and one public education centre, were reassigned to the provinces of Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Şanlıurfa and Hatay upon necessity. • The teacher’s lodge with 40 beds in the Aybastı district of Ordu province was reassigned as Şanlıurfa Siverek Teacher’s Lodge with 50 beds. New Construction Efforts In the earthquake zone, there are 1,241 projects, including 19,784 classrooms, with a total project cost of 82.2 billion TL. • The Provincial Construction Programme encompasses the construction of 13 thousand 78 classrooms as part of 700 projects, with a total project cost of 47 billion TL. • The State Investment Programme encompasses the construction of 1,602 classrooms as part of 129 projects, with a total project cost of approximately 14 billion TL. • The Steel and Modular Education Construction Programme encompasses the construction of 1,144 classrooms as part of 107 projects, with a total project cost of approximately 5.2 billion TL. • The construction of 1,911 classrooms under 110 projects with a total project cost of 11.5 billion TL is included in the Loan + Grant Construction Programme. • The construction of 2,049 classrooms within 195 projects with a total project cost of 4.5 billion TL is included in the scope of Philanthropic Contributions. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 247 Scope Number of Projects Number of Classrooms Project Cost (Billion) Primary Education Institutions 700 13,078 47 State Investment Programme 129 1,602 14 Steel and Modular Education Structures 107 1,144 5,2 External Loan+ Grant Construction Programme 110 1,911 11,5 Philanthropic Contributions 195 2,049 4,5 Total 1,241 19,784 82,2 As a result of all these efforts, with the completion of 1,241 schools and 19,784 classrooms, the existing classroom capacity in the earthquake zone will increase by 10%, exceeding the pre-earthquake capacity. By 2024; • 259 projects with 3,971 classrooms and a total project cost of 10 billion 937 million 420 thousand 215 TL have been completed. • 55 educational buildings with 872 classrooms were demolished and reconstructed within the scope of demolition and construction. • The construction of 430 projects with 7,377 classrooms and a total project cost of 32 billion 581 million 977 thousand 112 TL are currently in progress. • The bidding files of 287 projects with 4,910 classrooms and a total project cost of 33 billion 402 million 156 thousand 996 TL are being prepared. Construction Completed Construction in Progress Tender File at the stage of preparation Total Number of Projects Number of Classrooms Number of Projects Number of Classrooms Number of Projects Number of Classrooms Number of Projects Number of Classrooms Project Cost (TL) ADANA 33 474 16 168 28 664 77 1,306 5,364,939,453 ADIYAMAN 55 555 40 684 20 288 115 1,527 7,082,637,332 DİYARBAKIR 45 826 48 804 33 512 126 2,142 6,067,390,423 ELAZIĞ 20 287 8 124 15 250 43 661 2,520,722,166 GAZİANTEP 64 1,464 59 1,512 45 1087 168 4,063 13,548,473,794 HATAY 118 942 88 1,520 38 485 244 2,947 13,004,923,855 248 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS 524 schools and 7 thousand 497 classrooms have been completed in 11 provinces affected by the earthquake centred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023. Ongoing Projects and Studies Due to the February 6 earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş, temporary container schools, steel education structures, container dining halls, and container housing projects were developed primarily for use in the disaster area to quickly and safely meet the classroom needs of students in the region. In Adana, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and Osmaniye provinces, a total of 36 education buildings with 8 classrooms have been completed, and 43 education buildings with various classrooms are currently under construction. Steel Education Structures KAHRAMAN- MARAŞ 45 672 47 815 42 728 134 2,215 12,533,839,557 KİLİS 8 140 13 216 9 124 30 480 2,145,579,738 MALATYA 41 617 27 486 38 600 106 1,703 8,192,585,715 OSMANİYE 20 204 15 264 3 12 38 480 2,150,776,692 ŞANLIURFA 75 1,316 69 784 16 160 160 2,260 9,618,090,869 GRAND TOTAL 524 7,497 430 7,377 287 4,910 1,241 19,784 82,229,959,593 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 249 Reinforced Concrete Schools Diyarbakır Üçkuyular Kindergarten Kahramanmaraş Elbistan Primary School 250 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Osmaniye Central District School Construction Projects for the Earthquake Zone The Ministry of National Education, provincial and district directorates of national education, universities and TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye) prepared and carried out various projects for the students, teachers and parents affected by the earthquake. These projects include: All Together for Education The “All Together for Education” project was carried out in order to heal the wounds of the disaster of the century together and reach out to schools, teachers, staff, students and parents, with the goal of involving Anatolian Imam Hatip High Schools and Imam Hatip Middle Schools in 70 provinces as well as schools in 11 provinces as stakeholders. In this context, taking into account the school and programme types, 952 volunteer schools were matched with 876 schools in the region. In this way, the aim was to foster a sense of solidarity by strengthening commu- nication and interaction between schools, thereby promoting empathy within the spirit of fraternity, and to provide support to schools in the affected region. The programme framework includes efforts to improve academic success and enhance emotional well-being, in addition to psy- chosocial support. Furthermore, the temporary assignment of volun- teer teachers has provided on-site support to educational activities in the earthquake-affected region. The activities undertaken as part of the project are outlined below. • Survivors of the earthquake were visited in the locations to which they had been relocated. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 251 • Heating, shelter and other basic needs were met. • Motivational activities were carried out for school administrators and teachers in the earthquake zone. • Psychosocial and spiritual support services were provided. • During the 2023 Ramadan activities, a simultaneous Qur’an completion prayer programme was held across all 81 provinces. • As part of the High School Entrance System Exam (LGS) and the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS), a range of activities were organised to support students preparing for these examinations. • Efforts were undertaken to enhance students’ academic success, • Supported by the contributions of volunteer teachers. • A total of 1,480,650 TL was provided in the form of fitrah and zakat contributions, along with 6,985,995 TL in direct cash assistance. • 15 containers, 2,650 dry food parcels, 3,750 reading books, 3 photocopiers, 935 boxes of stationery, and 1,288 High School Entrance Exam sets were sent to the region. • As of the 2023–2024 academic year, the ongoing programme, guided by a new framework, includes not only inter-school academic initiatives but also joint projects and a range of social, cultural, artistic, and sporting activities. Furthermore, during mid-term breaks, schools with sufficient resources host camp programmes for exam preparation groups as part of inter-school exchange visits. Caring for My Environment, Committed to My Values” Project (ÇEDES) It is a project launched with the aim of nurturing students who embrace, preserve, and promote our national, moral, human, spiritual, and cultural values; who are equipped with the skills of the present and the future and able to use these capabilities for the benefit of humanity; who are passionate about science, curious, and sensitive about culture; who embody our core values in their own lives; and who grow into well- balanced individuals with sound reason, a kind heart, refined taste, and social and physical well-being. With the implementation of the project, 11 provinces and 70 cities were twinned as sister provinces. The following is a list of activities conducted as part of the project. 252 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • 63,079,400 TL in-cash aid was transferred to earthquake-affected provinces. • 554 containers and 8,236 tents, including heaters, were set up. • Visits to 1,147 sister schools were made with the participation of 2,834 students and 2,423 teachers. • 193,288 dry food parcels, 199,264 parcels of various food and water par- cels, 14,304 parcels of miscellaneous household goods, 76,716 parcels of clothing and hygienic products, 40,656 parcels of stationary prod- ucts and toys, 9 truckloads of school equipment support, and 1,910,228 TL in maintenance and repair support were provided to the region. • Values clubs were established at schools. These clubs have carried out values-based activities and provided both material and moral support for earthquake-affected students attending schools in their respective provinces. Support visits were also organised for families temporarily residing in various provinces and districts, and mutual visits were con- ducted between sister provinces and schools. The ÇEDES implemen- tation sites hosted activities aimed at boosting the morale of earth- quake-affected students, including games and recreational events. The Project for Empowering Teachers with Educational Scenarios, Escape Rooms, and Gamification in Times of Crisis This project was implemented to enhance the psycho-educational support skills that teachers need in order to consciously manage the emotional states of students that are observed primarily in times of crises - such as earthquakes and pandemics - including heightened anxiety, stress, a sense of insecurity, and worsening levels of success and motivation. Play Guide for Post-Disaster Adaptation The project was designed to minimise the perplexity and anxiety observed in students and teachers after the earthquakes through play- based activities. Games and activities that teachers can easily implement in their classrooms were compiled into a guide. Joyful Schoolyards Project The project was implemented in primary schools with the goal of mitigating the negative psychological and sociological impacts of earthquakes. Volunteer teachers were assigned to the activities within TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 253 the scope of the project. Schoolyards were prepared for students to play and engage in activities. 21st Century Skills Workshops Project The 21st Century Skills Workshop Project was implemented with the aim of introducing novel technology to children, facilitating the complete implementation of innovative educational programmes, enabling student clubs to operate actively, and achieving the programme’s goals. A Day at the Beşpınar Educational and Cultural Camp Project In order to minimise the psychological damage caused by the earthquake on the students living in these regions and to re-adapt them to life through socio-cultural activities, “A Day at Beşpınar Education and Culture Camp” was organised, which included various social and sports activities. Students of middle schools or high schools chosen on a daily basis participated in this event. Mending Wounds in Manufacturing Tents Project The Mending Wounds in Manufacturing Tents Project was implemented to meet the needs in the earthquake zone. In the 110-square-metre clothing manufacturing tent, clothes belonging to the earthquake survivors were repaired, and textile items such as clothing, underwear, bedding sets, pillows, sheets, knitwear, and curtains were sewn. In order to facilitate these efforts, courses for sewing, handicrafts, crochet, and knitting were offered in these manufacturing tents. Joyful in the Yard, Hopeful for the Future Project The project aimed to mend the wounds of the earthquake with science. Students participated in a variety of activities in this exciting workshop at the container city. Smile for the Future Science Fair Project The project was implemented within the scope of the 4007 Project for Special Support Call for Science Everywhere in the Disaster Zone to enable students in Elazığ to learn about basic concepts in science and scientific knowledge, acquire scientific literacy, and realise the importance of learning by experience. 254 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Flourishing Hope from the Euphrates Science Fair Project As part of TÜBİTAK’s 4007 Special Support Call for Science Everywhere in the Disaster Zone, the “Flourishing Hope from the Euphrates Science Fair” project was implemented to bring together students in Elazığ from the preschool level to the high school level with the unifying power of science. The project aimed to enlighten the children affected by the earthquakes with the guidance of science today to enable them to look into the future with hope. Starting Over as We Mend Our Wounds with Sports Project The project was implemented to provide the children in the disaster zone with various activities to enhance their physical and emotional skills, foster their social relationships, contribute to the improvement of their mental wellbeing, and ensure the improvement and development of the physical environments of damaged schools. The Earth-to-Space Science Project As part of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye’s (TÜBİTAK) 4007 Special Support Call for Science Everywhere in the Disaster Zone, the “Earth-to-Space Science Project” was carried out in the province of Hatay from June 6 to 8, 2023. Various activities were conducted with students in 24 workshops over three days: the first day at İskenderun İbrahim Çeçen Tent City and İskenderun Technical University Tent City, the second day at Ovakent Container City in the Antakya district, and the third day at the Orhanlı and Harbiye Tent Cities in the Defne district. Curious Explorers Malatya Project As part of the “TÜBİTAK 4007 Special Support Call for Science Everywhere”, the project was implemented by the Sultangazi District Directorate of National Education in İstanbul, with the aim of fostering the interests of students in Malatya in science and education while also contributing to the improvement of their psychosocial wellbeing. 850 students from five schools participated in the project. Within the scope of the project, workshops for developing various interests of students were established. Project for Strengthening Bayburt-Malatya Brotherhood through Science Festival The project was developed by Bayburt University as part of TÜBİTAK’s “4007 Special Support Call for Science Everywhere” and was implemented TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 255 in all participating schools in Malatya. The project was conducted with the participation of more than 2 thousand students temporarily residing in various tent and container cities in Malatya province, particularly in the Beydağı Container Area. As part of the project, 29 workshops, six seminars, and over 200 scientific activities were held across more than 20 fields, ranging from digital coding and astronomy to marbling art, traditional Turkic archery, music, and mobile application development. Project for Strengthening Preschool Education Institutions Affected by Disaster The main objective of this project is to ensure the sustainability of preschool education and to support students and teachers in becoming healthy individuals by mitigating the psychological damage caused by the earthquake. In line with this main objective, the repair efforts for the identified schools were urgently completed to ensure the efficient continuation of services in preschool education institutions, while efforts were made to support a healthy psychological recovery. Şanlıurfa Stronger Than Disasters: A Disaster Support Programme for Educators, Parents, and Students The Disaster Support Programme for Educators, Parents, and Students was implemented to help those affected by earthquake and flood disasters, including students, teachers, and parents, overcome the traumatic effects, raise awareness of post-disaster actions, and provide preparedness for future disasters. Project for Enhancing Quality and Access in Early Childhood Education As part of the project, it was planned to distribute a total of 870 travelling teacher sets to benefit students affected by the earthquake who were transferred to other provinces, as well as students in the provinces affected by the earthquake; to provide play-based learning training for preschool education teachers in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, and Osmaniye; and to distribute a total of 250 LEGO play sets to schools in these provinces. Project for Supporting Inclusive Education for Children in the Turkish Education System (PIKTES) As part of PIKTES activities in the provinces located in the disaster zone, Turkish language courses are provided to improve the Turkish language 256 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS skills of foreign students, make-up training is offered to students who have interrupted their education for various reasons, and support training is provided to ensure that students can follow the curriculum at the appropriate educational level for their age. Additionally, vocational and technical education scholarships and transport services are provided to increase the attendance of foreign students. Guidance and psychological counselling services are provided by psychological counsellors employed as part of PIKTES, and social cohesion activities are also carried out. Digital is My Business Project The project, which aims to enhance the digital skills of women studying in public education centres by providing training in digital literacy and vocational fields, is being carried out under a cooperation protocol signed in 2020 between the Ministry of National Education, Directorate General for Life Long Learning, and the Vodafone Foundation. As part of the project, a total of 15 container classrooms equipped with interior furnishings and electronic devices were installed in public education centres in Adıyaman, Hatay, and Kahramanmaraş after the earthquake, and materials were supplied for handicraft courses held in the containers. The “Introduction to the Digital World” seminars were developed in accordance with the needs and conditions of the earthquake region, reaching 7 thousand 985 female trainees. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 257 Starting from June 2024, the project implementation area was designated for 11 earthquake provinces (Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa) and a “Digital Classroom” was estalished in the public education centre in each province. 258 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The following course programmes have been developed for emergencies and disasters. No Course Domain Course Title 1 Social Services and Counseling Post-Disaster and Emergency Responses of Children: Suggestions for Families 2 Social Services and Counseling Loss and Grief Processes in Adults After Disasters and Emergencies 3 Social Services and Counseling Post-Disaster and Emergency Responses in Adults: Coping Suggestions 4 Social Services and Counseling Employee Support During Disasters and Emergencies 5 Safety of Life and Property Training on Disaster Awareness Customised Educational Materials for Children with Special Needs Project As part of the “Customised Educational Materials for Children with Special Needs Project”, a total of 102 parcels containing materials designed for students with mild, moderate, and severe intellectual disabilities, as well as autism spectrum disorders, were sent to the provinces in the disaster zone. Project for Strengthening Public Schools Affiliated with the Ministry of National Education In cooperation with UNICEF, the Ministry of National Education launched the “Strengthening of Public Schools Project” to support the continuation of education in provinces affected by the earthquake and in those that received migration. The project aims to ensure uninterrupted learning by carrying out minor repairs and providing essential equipment while also improving the physical conditions of schools and enriching students’ learning environments. As part of the project, UNICEF provided a total of 56 million 655 thousand TL in cash support to schools in earthquake-affected provinces for minor renovations and to supply school equipment materials. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 259 Project for Enhancing Quality and Access in Early Childhood Education As part of the Project for Enhancing Quality and Access in Early Childhood Education, 2 thousand “My Play Chest Education Sets” were provided to tent and container cities in earthquake-affected regions. In addition, 870 education sets were distributed to children who were affected by the earthquake and temporarily migrated to different provinces. Moreover, 1,850 teachers working in preschool education institutions in earthquake zones received “Learning Through Play Training”, and LEGO play sets were distributed to these schools to help children develop problem-solving, creative thinking, movement, coordination, cooperation, and communication skills through play, as well as to support their language development. In the second half of the 2023–2024 academic year, as part of the Project for Enhancing Quality and Access in Early Childhood Education, the “Healing Through Play Training Course” was organised for 5,000 classroom teachers employed in earthquake-affected provinces, and LEGO play sets were distributed to their schools. The project seeks to alleviate the effects of the earthquake by utilising the healing power of play while introducing activities to support children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive skills from a holistic perspective for teachers attending “Healing Through Play” courses. In student/teacher activity books, various examples related to earthquakes and natural disasters were included in various activities. 260 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Our Energy for the Future – Coding, Modelling, and Creating Project Container-based technology and design workshops were established at the middle school level in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş provinces with the goal of increasing students’ early access to technology and digital education by encouraging them to use their imaginations, as well as raising new generations capable of researching, thinking innovatively, solving problems, and producing. Compensating for Learning Losses and Strengthening Teaching in the Primary Education Project The “Compensating for Learning Losses and Strengthening Teaching in the Primary Education Project” was launched with the goal of addressing learning losses and improving the quality of teaching at the primary education level. The project, particularly in the earthquake- affected region, entails proactively compensating for learning losses using evidence-based practices and interventions. The project was implemented in 12 provinces that were heavily affected by the earthquake and received the highest number of people relocating after the disaster. Efforts focused on compensating for the learning loss that emerged, particularly after the earthquake. Education for Sustainable Living Project (SYEP) With the overarching goal of creating a society resilient to climate change, the Education for Sustainable Living Project aims to examine preschool, primary, and middle school curricula from the perspective of education for sustainable development in order to develop modules and materials suitable for the curricula and raise awareness among school stakeholders about this issue. As part of the project, courses on sustainable life skills, focusing on climate change, were provided to disaster-affected teachers and school administrators to develop sustainable living skills, particularly after earthquakes and other disasters. Project Information on Early Childhood Education for Syrian and Turkish Children in Need in Türkiye 120 kindergartens and 36 public education centres in eleven earthquake- stricken provinces and Ankara were selected as pilot sites for the project during the 2023–2024 academic year. Within this framework; • The pilot institutions were provided 240 sets of educational materials—i.e. toys, music corner, science corner, sensory corner, building blocks, etc. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 261 • The pilot institutions were provided 240 sets of stationery, including paint, paper, pens, scissors, and more. • The pilot institutions were provided 30 preschool furniture sets, including tables, chairs, teachers’ cupboards, material cupboards, classroom coat racks, puppet corners, bookshelves and carpets. • The pilot institutions were provided 700 sets of “My Play Chest.” • A two-day “in-service training” was scheduled for 120 education administrators. • 50 preschool teachers were trained as instructors. • Teacher instructors delivered “Training on Developing Skills for Working with Foreign Children in Preschool Education” to 750 local preschool teachers. Other Activities Activities Implemented with Aid from European Countries The Governor’s Office approved the proposal to establish four container libraries in Hatay by the Netherlands-based Uçurtma Foundation through its Turkish Representative Office for a total cost of 20,000 euros. The Turkish Representative Office informed the Netherlands- based Uçurtma Foundation of the suitable locations. The Dutch Giro555 organisation has planned to spend approximately 66 million euros in eleven earthquake-affected provinces in Türkiye. The Turkish Community in Almelo, based in the Netherlands, has proposed a project that focuses initially on repairing a primary school in Hatay, with the option to rebuild it if repairs are not possible. The Ministry of National Education prepared the project proposal for the school to be financed, which was then submitted to the relevant platform via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating the establishment of two modular schools in Hatay, which will be built by the Netherlands using modular units. 262 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Turkish language teachers of Turkish origin working in the jurisdiction of the Office of the Education Attaché in Cologne, Germany, prioritised repairing a village school damaged by the earthquake, or, if repair proved unfeasible, rebuilding it entirely. The heads of Turkish Parent–Teacher Associations (PTAs) in Heidelberg, Germany, and surrounding areas, as well as the regional coordinator teacher, oversaw the process of granting educational scholarships to students. The owner of the Schanzenbackerei bakery chain in Germany and the founder of the Gürol Gür Education Foundation shared the donation proposal and construction project proposals for constructing a school in Hatay, according to the needs, with the relevant parties. The officials of the Turkish Employee Network of Mercedes-Benz in Germany presented their project proposals to the relevant parties to build a kindergarten and daycare centre called “Star Children of the Future” in Hatay. Project proposals were shared with the relevant parties in line with the request of Turkish citizens living in the city of Sindelfingen and its surrounding districts in Germany to rebuild a destroyed school in Hatay. Efforts are currently underway to build a school in Hatay using the income generated from the football matches organised by Turkish associations in and around the city of Aachen, Germany. Authorities operating in Weinheim, Germany, shared their project suggestions with relevant parties in relation to the construction of a prefabricated school in Kahramanmaraş at an approximate cost of 250,000 euros. The process related to the donation of 2,000 euros by the Turkish Parents’ Association in Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, to the students in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş is still ongoing. Activities Implemented with Aid from Balkan Countries The Croatian government donated 1 million euros to be used in the construction of 3 prefabricated schools in Kahramanmaraş and Adıyaman, and 2.5 million euros to be used in the construction of a school in Hatay. This donation was sent to the relevant units. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 263 Activities Implemented with Aid From Middle Eastern Countries The Palestinian Turkish Businessmen Union continues its efforts for the repair of a school in Adıyaman. In Qatar, 2,160 aid boxes were prepared by Qatari citizens and Turkish citizens living in Qatar, and donations amounting to 65,290 Qatari rials, 3,120 dollars, 1,560 Turkish liras and 210 euros were transferred to the relevant units. The United Arab Emirates’ Dubai Turkish Language, Mother Tongue and Cultural Education Programme donated 340 bags and stationery items to a school in Hatay. Activities Implemented with Aid From Turkic States Kazakhstan continues its efforts to build social facilities in provinces affected by the earthquake and a school in the Nurdağı district of Gaziantep. Activities Implemented with Aid From African Countries The income generated from the sales of the stamps printed by the Djibouti Postal Services was donated to the relevant units. A philanthropic businessman from the Republic of South Africa donated two tents with a capacity of 1,200 people, and an industrial air conditioner was delivered to the Dörtyol district of Hatay. Activities Implemented with Aid From Asia-Pacific Countries Relief Singapore, an NGO, continues its efforts for the reconstruction of a school in Kahramanmaraş. The Blue Sky Rescue Team in China donated 735 kilogrammes of school uniforms to the students in Adıyaman. The Jeonnam Provincial Directorate in Korea continues its efforts to move high school students who are descendants of Korean veterans and who live in earthquake-affected provinces to Korea and provide them with vocational training opportunities. Japan, New Zealand, and Hong Kong sent wish cards, message cards, letters, and paper toys to students. 264 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Activities of the Council of Higher Education, Universities and TÜBİTAK There are a total of 18 universities in the earthquake zone, two of which are foundation universities. Approximately 70 per cent of the total indoor area stock in the region belongs to top universities, consisting mostly of old building stock. University Year Of Establishment Number of Units Campus Area (square metre)⁣ Number of Campuses Closed Area (square metre)⁣ Student Academic Staff Admin- Istrative Staff ADANA ALPARSLAN TÜRKEŞ SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY 2011 83 1,558,050 2 86,310 5789 415 365 ADIYAMAN UNIVERSITY 2006 142 1,266,113 6 16817 847 830 ÇUKUROVA UNIVERSITY 1973 416 7,968,947 11 659,835 49063 2050 5095 DİCLE UNIVERSITY 1973 343 6,137,038 7 473,637 44462 1650 4625 FIRAT UNIVERSITY 1975 459 5,264,574 6 42496 1853 3567 GAZİANTEP ISLAM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY 2018 34 616,001 1 85,111 5607 211 182 GAZİANTEP UNIVERSITY 1987 431 2,389,122 10 524,946 49696 1666 3704 HARRAN UNIVERSITY 1992 276 4,031,024 14 421,145 29675 1154 2122 HATAY MUSTAFA KEMAL UNIVERSITY 1992 259 1,227,196 8 262,645 21023 1059 1611 İNÖNÜ UNIVERSITY 1975 396 7,052,431 4 35059 1493 3909 İSKENDERUN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY 2015 143 883,359 3 112,318 13905 374 394 KAHRAMANMARAŞ İSTİKLAL UNIVERSITY 2018 44 210,070 4 39,980 3359 162 155 KAHRAMANMARAŞ SÜTÇÜ İMAM UNIVERSITY 1992 308 3,935,799 6 35571 1277 2250 KİLİS 7 ARALIK UNIVERSITY 2007 127 426,098 3 142,759 14015 461 374 MALATYA TURGUT ÖZAL UNIVERSITY 2018 128 980,388 7 103,968 10922 456 465 OSMANIYE KORKUT ATA UNIVERSITY 2007 165 529,179 4 17412 604 544 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 265 The reinforcement, maintenance-repair, reconstruction, and infrastructure renewal of earthquake-damaged structures at universities in the earthquake zone incurred a total expenditure of 826,400,000 TL. A total of 1,100,000,000 TL was allocated to these universities in the 2024 Investment Programme as part of the reconstruction, reinforcement, and maintenance-repair of earthquake-damaged buildings. In 11 provinces, five dormitory buildings of the Ministry of Youth and Sports with a covered area of 28,279 square metres were heavily damaged, 19 dormitory buildings with a covered area of 128,684 square metres were moderately damaged, and 52 dormitory buildings with a covered area of 320,802 square metres were slightly damaged. The reconstruction and reinforcement of dormitory structures accounted for 460,000,000 TL in 2023. And 2,500,000,000 TL was allocated within the 2024 Investment Programme to reinforce damaged dormitories and to conduct the necessary maintenance and repairs. Dormitories were unable to accommodate registered students as a result of the Council of Higher Education’s (YÖK) post-earthquake suspension of education. In 81 provinces, on-call dormitories were introduced to provide dormitory services for the students who were required to continue their education, such as those attending medical and dental faculties. Damage Assessment Status for University Buildings HASAN KALYONCU UNIVERSITY 2008 192 279,112 1 65,596 8295 270 247 SANKO UNIVERSITY 2013 33 9,657 1 23,794 1812 155 94 Total 3979 44764158 98 3002044 404978 16157 30533 University Number of Collapsed Buildings Number of Heavily Damaged Buildings Number of Moderately Damaged Buildings Number of Slightly Damaged Buildings Number of Buildings Rendered Uninhabitable (square metres) Number of Buildings Requiring Reinforcement (square metres) Adıyaman University 1 7 7 24 29,345 200,344 Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University - - - 3 - 51,426 266 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Source: Presidency of Strategy and Budget of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, 2023. Çukurova University 3 1 48 4,049 252,981 Dicle University 4 7 39 8,540 188,391 Fırat University - 11 2 47 8,127 122,076 Gaziantep Islamic Science And Technology University 6 73,390 Gaziantep University - - 1 48 289,734 Harran University - 4 1 26 999 35,037 Hatay Mustafa Kemal University 7 24 2 1 35,982 2,211 İnönü University 1 26 21 32 113,451 292,567 İskenderun Technical University - 2 2 10 12,287 96,833 Kahramanmaraş İstiklal University - 11 - 5 17,600 16,184 Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University - 2 1 30 9,871 214,205 Kilis University - - - 9 60,693 Malatya Turgut Özal University - 17 - 15 40,756 42,287 Osmaniye Korkut Ata University - - 5 20 180,245 Sivas Cumhuriyet University - - 1 - - 4,230 Sivas Cumhuriyet University 9 111 51 358 281,007 2,122,834 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 267 Province University Type of Asset/ Structure Number of Units Total Investment Amount (TL) Total Amount Spent in 2023 (TL) ADANA Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University Classroom/ Service Building - 20,000,000 20,000,000 Çukurova University Post-Earthquake Repairs - 19,927,771 19,927,771 ADIYAMAN Adıyaman University Classroom/ Service Building - 408,260,716 58,260,716 Machinery Equipment - 55,200,000 5,200,000 DIYARBAKIR Dicle University Major Repair 23,000m² 144,430,000 18,496,500 Post-Earthquake Performance Analysis 117,000m² 3,118,740 2,183,000 Post-Earthquake Repairs 125,000m² 101,800,000 11,800,000 Machinery Equipment 131,500,000 16,500,000 ELAZIĞ Fırat University Post-Earthquake Repairs - 24,702,828 24,702,828 Post-Earthquake Major Repairs - 150,000,000 50,212,000 Faculty of Theology – Faculty of Economics - 182,000,000 67,000,000 GAZIANTEP Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University Post-Earthquake Repairs - 12,657,992 12,657,992 Gaziantep University Classroom/ Service Building 50 Bina 42,102,667 21,523,416 Machinery Equipment - 229,491 229,491 Earthquake-Related Investments in Universities 268 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Source: Presidency of Strategy and Budget of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, 2024. HATAY Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Classroom/Service Building 10,000m² 275,000,000 40,943,728 Post-Earthquake Major Repairs - 129,413,109 99,413,109 Campus Infrastructure - 88,810,612 3,810,612 İskenderun Technical University Classroom/Service Building 15,113 m² 40,000,000 37,557,934 K. MARAŞ Kahramanmaraş İstiklal University Classroom/Service Building 48,755 m² 115,510,555 23,404,663 KİLİS Kilis 7 Aralık University Classroom/Service Building/Repair 40,000 m² 11,483,716 11,483,716 MALATYA Malatya Turgut Özal University Classroom/Service Building/Repair 23,800 m² 45,576,706 45,576,706 Machinery Equipment - 50,699,757 50,699,757 Campus Infrastructure - 11,841,000 11,841,000 İnönü University Post-Earthquake Major Repairs 196,308 m² - 124,205,921 General Repairs - - 15,484,309 Campus Infrastructure - - 6,594,412 Shelter Container- Railcar House - - 5,462,356 OSMANIYE Osmaniye Korkut Ata University Classroom/Service Building - 111,000,000 32,477,000 ŞANLIURFA Harran University Machinery Equipment - - 8,750,000 TOTAL 2,175,265,660 826,471,166 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 269 Education and training activities were suspended throughout the country during the initial phase following the earthquake. Depending on the structural integrity reports of the schools, education resumed on different dates in the provinces in the earthquake zone. The Council of Higher Education decided that education and training activities would initially be conducted online. Subsequently, a reassessment was made to shift to hybrid/blended learning methods as of April 2023. In compliance with the Framework Regulation on Applied Education in Higher Education, it was determined that students who were about to graduate and whose internships were incomplete could complete their mandatory internships in person at workplaces. Certain universities in the earthquake-affected provinces were paired with universities in other provinces, enabling them to carry out academic and administrative assignments and cooperation activities among themselves. No pairing was made with universities that did not face any challenges in the provision of education and training services. It was decided that students enrolled in programmes under the Framework Regulation on Applied Education in Higher Education who were registered at universities in the earthquake-affected provinces or students whose first-degree relatives resided in the earthquake zone while they themselves were enrolled at universities located in other provinces could benefit from the special student status. Upon request, university students were given the opportunity to freeze their registration for the spring semester, and make-up exams were made available for those who were unable to attend the exams. It was decided and communicated to higher education institutions that students enrolled in universities in an earthquake-affected province may, due to arising necessities, be allowed to attend universities located in the earthquake zone—where their relatives reside and where applied training continues— with special student status. The Council of Higher Education decided to allocate an additional 25 per cent quota for earthquake survivors during the placement of candidates residing in earthquake-affected provinces at universities located in the earthquake zone, without reducing the general quota. It was also decided that a one-person quota for earthquake-affected students would be allocated in each programme at foundation universities. 270 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS As of the first day of the earthquake, indoor and outdoor facilities of higher education institutions that were not damaged by the earthquake, particularly those constructed of steel, were made accessible to earthquake survivors, and their needs, including food and beverage, shelter, heating, and clean water, were met. Numerous earthquake-themed conferences, symposiums, and workshops were organised at universities both in the earthquake zone and in various provinces of Türkiye, and many books, articles, papers, and reports were written. Approximately 404,978 students and 46,690 academic and administrative staff continue their academic studies at 18 universities in the region. In relation to higher education, TÜBİTAK also carried out various activities for both students and academics after the earthquakes that occurred on February 6. TÜBİTAK opened a call for the 1002-C Natural Disasters Focused Fieldwork Emergency Support Programme to support field research, such as assessing the impact of earthquakes on structures and damages that occurred, as well as conducting seismic observations. The applications received were evaluated within 24 hours. In this context, 119 projects were supported. 552 researchers from 59 universities and research institutes conducted research in the region. A support of 2,800,000 TL (at 2024 constant prices) was allocated to these projects. Within the scope of the TÜBİTAK scholarship and support programmes for scientists, the following special calls were opened, and a total of 113 support decisions were made, including: • To enable TÜBİTAK researchers, who continue their research on the earthquakes, to collaborate with international researchers, the 2221-Fellowships for Visiting Scientists and Scientists on Sabbatical Leave Programme – Earthquake Special Call, • To support researchers who wish to participate in scientific events to be held abroad on earthquake-related topics, the 2224-A Grant Programme for Participation in Scientific Meetings Abroad – Earthquake Special Call, • To support researchers who want to participate in scientific events to be held nationwide on earthquake-related topics, the 2224-B Grant Programme for Participation in Scientific Meetings within the Country – Earthquake Special Call, TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 271 • To support scientists who would like to organise face-to-face or online scientific training events on earthquake-related topics, the 2237- Grant Programme for Scientific Training – Earthquake Special Call. Additionally, within the scope of TÜBİTAK supports; The TÜBİTAK-BİÇABA scholarship programme was initiated to enable undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers directly affected by the disasters to take part in research projects run in TÜBİTAK Centres and institutes or supported by TÜBİTAK. Following the disasters of the century, approximately 32,000 TÜBİTAK scholarship recipients were contacted, and urgent efforts were launched to fulfil their requests. All scholarship recipients’ funds were promptly credited to their accounts. In addition, the deadlines for scholarship recipients benefiting from support programmes to submit progress and final reports according to the scholarship and support programme they benefit from, as well as their maximum education terms, were extended by two semesters. Scholarship recipients who were studying or residing within the earthquake zone received lump sum payments for their three-month scholarships. In some research programmes, the fellowship start date was extended by six months. Researchers supported by the International Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Programmes were allowed to extend their stay in Türkiye from 20 days to three months, with one month being on scholarship. The deadlines for applying to programmes and supports of the Research Support Programmes Directorate (ARDEB) and Technology and Innovation Support Programmes Directorate (TEYDEB) as well as submitting progress and final reports, were postponed. Contact was established with TÜBİTAK project coordinators (170 academics and 74 company researchers) from regional universities and companies, as well as more than 500 TÜBİTAK scholarship recipients. The TÜBİTAK publications were introduced to children affected by the earthquake. The TÜBİTAK Meraklı Minik and Bilim Çocuk periodicals were distributed during activities aimed at supporting children to overcome their negative experiences. 272 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜBİTAK launched special calls (BİNBİRÇABA and TEKNOÇABA) for universities and the private sector, resulting in 594,000,000 TL in support for 483 projects (at 2024 constant prices). The BİÇABA scholarship programme, established after the earthquake, granted scholarships worth 514,000,000 TL to 2,483 scholars, including 1,317 undergraduates, 648 graduate students, 419 doctoral students, and 99 post-doctoral researchers studying at universities in the earthquake- affected provinces. 52 projects were supported under the Disaster Region “Science is Everywhere” Special Support Call, and over 50,000 people participated in the activities organised under these projects. These projects received 4,400,000 TL (at 2024 constant prices) in support. Training Programmes for Public Employees The Distance Learning Gate is a digital training platform offered to all public institutions by the Presidential Human Resources Office to increase the knowledge, skills and competencies of public employees. After the earthquake disaster on February 6, various training programmes were offered to public personnel via the Distance Learning Gate. The first of these programmes is the training programme that consists of five courses titled “Children’s Reactions and Suggestions for Families After Disasters and Emergencies”, “Adults’ Reactions after Disasters and Emer- gencies”, “Grief Reactions in Children and Suggestions for Families”, “Loss and Grief Process in Adults”, and “Supporting Employees in Disasters and Emergencies”. A total of 125,809 public personnel participated in these trainings, which were put into practice on March 15, 2023. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 273 In addition, the “Earthquake Awareness Training Programme” was established with the contributions of 17 ministries and relevant public institutions under the coordination of the Human Resources Office and was made accessible to all public personnel on September 28, 2023. The Training Programme consists of four interrelated and complementary courses under the titles “General Information Regarding Earthquakes and Türkiye’s Seismicity”, “Before the Earthquake”, “During and After the Earthquake”, and “Post-Earthquake as a Volunteer/On-Duty Personnel”. The programme aimed to improve the knowledge of all public employees regarding the issues they need to pay attention to, both as individuals and as on-duty personnel or volunteers in earthquake zones. The training programme, spanning approximately four hours, was compiled from 15 educational contents produced by seven institutions (Ministry of Family and Social Services, Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of National Education, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, Anadolu University and Red Crescent). 1,328,049 public personnel participated in the “Earthquake Awareness Training Programme”. The survey conducted at the end of the training programme was filled out by 277,195 participants, and the overall satisfaction rate for the training programme was determined to be 96%. In addition, on February 22 and 24, the Ministry of Family and Social Services implemented the “Training for Psychosocial Support Personnel Going to the Earthquake Region” programme, which was coordinated by the Presidential Human Resources Office. The programme utilised the Distance Learning Gate Platform Webinar ap- plication to provide training for personnel who were supposed to go to the disaster zone in order to provide psychosocial support to disaster victims. 274 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS 10,102 personnel underwent training sessions on “Preparedness in the Di- saster Zone”, “Services and Guidance Mechanisms in the Disaster Area”, “Psychological First Aid”, and “Ethics and Rules of Conduct in the Field”.  Furthermore, the Ministry of National Education launched online training courses via the HEMBA platform to raise citizens’ awareness of appropri- ate behaviour before, during, and after disasters, particularly earthquakes, which are the most frequent in our country, and to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills. Sequence No Course Title Number of Course Participants 1 Training on Disaster and Emergency Awareness 34,989 2 Training on Disaster Awareness 11,268 3 Earthquake Literacy 13,070 Total 59,327 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 275 5.6. Continuity of Justice Services 276 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS February 6, 2023, stands as one of the darkest days in the history of the Republic of Türkiye, etched in public memory as the “Disaster of the Century” due to the immense destruction that occurred. This section explores the roles the Ministry of Justice assumed after the disaster and highlights their critical importance in various areas, such as judicial continuity, evidence collection, as well as death and burial procedures. Since the first hours of the disaster, the Ministry of Justice has taken a highly active approach to fulfilling its legal and humanitarian responsibilities. Assuming key roles within its capacity in search and rescue efforts, the Ministry undertook key efforts in the post- quake period, especially in evidence collection and management of death-related procedures. These efforts are critically important for documenting and evaluating the extent of destruction and consequences of the disaster within a legal framework. The Ministry also established courts on duty to ensure judicial continuity and the effective functioning of the justice mechanism. This step is essential for safeguarding the rule of law and upholding the rights of survivors following natural disasters. The Ministry of Justice promptly established courts on duty, initiated the court pairing system, and reactivated the National Judiciary Informatics System (UYAP). These measures are crucial for ensuring that justice operates even during extraordinary circumstances like earthquakes and for safeguarding human rights. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 277 This section will provide an in-depth discussion about the significance of the post-earthquake efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Justice, specifically in managing legal processes following destruction and safeguarding the rights of survivors. The post-earthquake efforts by the Ministry of Justice serve as a role model for the entire world in terms of maintaining judicial continuity. Earthquake Survivors in the Ministry of Justice Facilities in Yozgat The Significance of Maintaining the Continuity of the Justice System Following Natural Disasters The effects of natural disasters on legal systems play a key role in the continuity of the justice system. Major earthquakes can severely disrupt justice systems and threaten the rule of law and social order. The Turkish justice system encountered an unprecedented challenge due to the unique nature and impact of the earthquakes that struck on February 6. The earthquake had a profound effect on the operation of the legal system and the safeguarding of human rights, in addition to damaging physical infrastructure. In such cases, prompt action by the Ministry of Justice and its related institutions plays a critical role in ensuring the continuity of judicial services and rebuilding trust within society. Ensuring the sustainability of the justice system involves safeguarding essential legal functions and the fundamental rights of citizens, particularly amidst the chaos and unpredictability brought on by natural disasters. This extends beyond merely setting up temporary courthouses to substitute for destroyed buildings. 278 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS It also necessitates a “multifaceted approach” that includes processes such as evidence collection, continuity of judicial processes, forensic investigations, and crisis management. In such challenging situations, the resilience of the justice system strengthens trust in the rule of law and enhances individuals’ sense of social justice. Accordingly, the efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Justice following the February 6 earthquakes hold significant value, serving both as a model of crisis management and as a clear demonstration of a justice system that continues to operate effectively during the most difficult circumstances. The initiatives undertaken by the Department of Education within the Ministry of Justice concerning judicial services in the regions impacted by the Disaster of the Century, as well as the living conditions of the Ministry of Justice staff, are especially noteworthy in the context of “crisis intervention.” These interventions are good examples of the Ministry’s efforts to protect the well-being of public personnel and their family members in the wake of natural disasters and, most importantly, to fulfill its obligation to “provide an effective support mechanism” as quickly as possible in emergencies. To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Justice established a range of permanent and temporary shelters, along with health, education, and psychosocial support initiatives for its employees across 11 affected provinces. With the Ministry’s decision dated February 7, 2023, the process was initiated for moving Ministry staff and their families working in earthquake-hit provinces to the staff training centres in Ankara, Rize, and Yozgat affiliated with the Department of Education of the Ministry of Justice. Training centres and open penal institutions affiliated with the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses and social facilities under the Foundation for Strengthening the Organisation of Justice (ATGV) were also made available for use with the organisation of the Department of Education. The accommodation offered at these centers included employees of the Ministry of Justice impacted by the earthquake along with their families, totaling 7,000 individuals who were housed from February 2023 to August 2023. The services offered at these centers are some of the best examples of an “interdisciplinary” approach. The periodic health examinations for Ministry of Justice personnel, along with their referral to appropriate health institutions in the event of health emergencies, were carefully overseen by the Department of Education within the Ministry of Justice. This reflects the Ministry of Justice’s sensitivity towards its personnel. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 279 Earthquake Survivor Children at the Ministry of Justice Facilities The fact that the Ministry personnel and their families, who were accommodated in the training centers, had survived an earthquake was kept in mind, and they were often visited by the psychological counseling and guidance teams. Earthquake Survivor Children at the Ministry of Justice Facilities 280 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The provision of school supplies, clothing, and other essential items for the students affected by the earthquake, who were sheltered and attending school, was prioritised to ensure uninterrupted education. Special study rooms and preschool education infrastructure were provided as part of educational activities to assist the affected students in their studies. An Activity Organised for the Earthquake Survivors at the Rize Educational Facility of the Ministry of Justice TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 281 A team of psychologists, pedagogues, and social workers planned and implemented psychosocial support activities tailored to the age groups of the children. Such post-disaster interventions serve as important indicators of the state’s capacity to be vigilant and respond effectively in the face of disasters. This humanitarian approach of the Ministry of Justice can be considered a key example of “social protection” strategies for affected public employees and their families in disaster management literature. 282 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Families of Earthquake Survivors at the Ministry of Justice Facilities The Cornerstone Sustaining the Functioning of Justice: The National Judiciary Network Project (UYAP) UYAP is an e-justice platform that allows citizens and legal system employees, such as judges, prosecutors, and lawyers, to quickly complete all judicial procedures using informatics systems in order to adapt to modern technology. In the face of the devastating effects of natural disasters, it is crucial to ensure the continuity of judicial services, prevent the disruption of information management, and provide the necessary technological infrastructure for the staff to continue their operations. The capacity of the state’s judicial system to react “promptly and efficiently” following disasters stands as a fundamental pillar of governance. The earthquakes of February 6 highlighted the significance of this approach. The earthquake caused a major shock that could potentially disrupt the functioning of the judicial mechanism, but the measures taken by the Ministry of Justice prevented any potential disruptions. UYAP played a critical role in allowing judicial staff in earthquake-affected areas to continue their work effectively. UYAP facilitated uninterrupted judicial processes by moving judicial services to the electronic environment. This is critical for the state to fulfill its responsibilities towards its citizens, especially in times of TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 283 disaster. This technological infrastructure provided by the Ministry of Justice allowed its staff to manage the process properly by using the system, even if they could not be physically present in the buildings for judicial procedures. With this technological innovation, the Ministry of Justice acted as a “rock” against the devastating effects of the earthquake, ensuring the continuity of judicial services, the rule of law, and the accessibility of justice. The rapid restoration of the infrastructure is a strong indication of the state’s disaster management capacity. The system also highlights the importance of technological adaptation and governance skills within the Ministry of Justice, even in times of crisis. Other Measures to Maintain the Continuity of the Justice System and the Ministry of Justice Crisis Centre In the wake of the profound depression triggered by the disaster of the century on February 6, the Ministry of Justice maintained its commitment to a people-centered approach, diligently working to uphold the continuity of the justice system and “minimising grievances.” The crisis center, which was established immediately after the earthquake, served 24 hours a day despite the level of destruction to prevent disruptions in the justice system. From the first hours of the disaster, the establishment of the crisis center played a major role in the coordination of justice services and became “critically important” for the balanced, fair, and rapid functioning of justice mechanisms. To prevent disruptions in the justice system, measures such as temporary suspension of processes and enforcement proceedings, except for specific situations, were taken with the publication of Presidential Decree No. 284 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS 120 and the implemented judiciary measures. These measures proved to be a significant step in preventing the grievances experienced by citizens due to the disaster. The decision of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) to postpone hearings, deliberations, and inspections, except for urgent and compulsory matters, paved the way for the justice system to develop a decision-making mechanism by adapting to the new conditions after the earthquake. Earthquake-related crimes were prioritised for investigation, leading to the establishment of special investigation offices within the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Offices, where public prosecutors were assigned by the HSK (Council of Judges and Prosecutors). The implementation of these steps facilitated effective crime scene investigations within damaged structures, thereby promoting justice and expediting judicial processes. In addition to these efforts, multiple coordinating Chief Public Prosecutors were appointed to the courts in the earthquake zone by the Council of Judges and Prosecutors in order to strengthen the legal infrastructure and ensure the smooth functioning of the justice system. This measure ensured that administrative and judicial proceedings were handled with special consideration for the extraordinary circumstances created by the disaster. Additionally, the assignment of nearly 1,000 judges and prosecutors by the HSK, along with the assignment of 8,951 employees by the Ministry of Justice to disaster-affected areas, facilitated the delivery of justice services in a robust, resolute, and thorough manner. Regarding the sustainability of the legal profession, numerous initiatives have been undertaken and successfully completed concerning the compensation of lawyers for services like statutory advocacy and mediation. This decision was critical in terms of preventing lawyers’ economic grievances and maintaining legal support services without interruption. Temporary housing solutions, such as tents and containers, were quickly implemented to address the housing needs of courthouse staff who had been exposed to the devastating effects of the earthquakes, and temporary prefabricated buildings were built to replace the courthouses that were no longer operational. This arrangement also met the accommodation needs of the staff required for the sustainability of judicial services. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 285 A First Time Practice in Türkiye: Court Pairing One of the most innovative practices implemented immediately after the earthquake by the Ministry of Justice to ensure that judicial services continue without interruption is the “Court Pairing” system. This system allowed judicial processes to proceed as efficiently as possible by pairing earthquake-damaged courthouses with those outside the disaster area. This pairing system allowed courts outside the earthquake zone to temporarily take on the workload of the damaged courthouses. This was a critical step in terms of preserving the functionality of the courts and ensuring the sustainability of the services provided to citizens. The “Court Pairing” initiative aimed to guarantee justice and the swift delivery of judicial services. This system secured a solid ground for the judicial system in combating the consequences of the destruction caused by the earthquakes and created a model of solidarity and cooperation in the execution of justice services. The potential delays in access to justice resulting from the closure or limited operations of the courts in earthquake-affected areas were prevented, ensuring that citizens could continue to seek their rights with both continuity and agility. This practice not only ensured continuity in existing cases but also offered a highly effective solution to emerging legal needs. The courts within the “Court Pairing” system offered legal support to individuals in the earthquake-affected area and collaborated to reduce any potential disruptions in these processes. This solidarity fostered unity at both regional and national levels in the execution of judicial processes, allowing judicial services to be conducted effectively, even during challenging times. The “Court Pairing” system has established itself as a remarkable advancement in the realm of justice services, even in extraordinary circumstances like earthquakes. This practice has enhanced the flexibility of justice mechanisms, ensured the sustainability of judicial processes, and provided a concrete solution for maintaining access to justice. 286 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Forensic Medicine and Evidence Detection Efforts Beyond causing destruction, earthquakes also disturb social and administrative order. Consequently, the management of post-disaster processes by the Ministry of Justice is essential for upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of the survivors. The process of identifying the deceased became urgent in the chaos that followed the earthquakes on February 6. This was a critical step to expedite legal processes and ease the suffering of bereaved families as much as possible. The Ministry of Justice promptly dispatched 538 forensic medicine experts to the earthquake zone to address this requirement. This initiative also served as an indicator of the flexibility and agility of the administrative capacity in the field of forensic medicine. The Hatay Forensic Medicine Branch Office has been transformed into a Group Head Office, and specialised departments along with the Emergency TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 287 DNA Laboratory have been established. These serve as examples of adopting an “interdisciplinary” approach in disaster management. Strengthening the forensic medicine units in Diyarbakır, İskenderun, Kırıkhan and İslahiye not only accelerated the judicial processes but also rendered them more effective and transparent. These steps played a decisive role in protecting the rights of the survivors and provided momentum for the legal representation and compensation processes. The measures implemented by the Ministry of Justice demonstrated that the determination and ability to respond swiftly in post-disaster legal processes were essential to the recovery of affected communities. Moreover, it is clear that these processes had a profound impact in terms of strengthening the judicial infrastructure and building resilience against disasters. These future-oriented initiatives can be considered concrete examples of the Ministry’s dynamic approach to disaster management and legal processes. Transfers The General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses, like the Ministry of Justice and its associated institutions, undertook significant efforts in light of the exceptional conditions that arose following the earthquake. Following the earthquake, the Ministry of Justice acted swiftly to maintain the legal order, while the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses, an affiliated institution, also took on significant responsibilities of a comparable nature. The General Directorate set up “emergency accommodation points” in the earthquake-affected areas and maintained security for the prisoners. The prisoners were transferred from the penal institutions located in the earthquake zone to more secure facilities to protect them from the current and potential dangers posed by the disaster. After the earthquake, public order incidents led to the transfer of 169 convicts and detainees from 10 penal institutions to 28 different facilities. This demonstrates the commitment of the Ministry of Justice and the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses to keep the justice system operational and protect human rights in the aftermath of a large- scale natural disaster like the February 6 earthquakes. “These efforts demonstrate that even under extraordinary circumstances, there is an effective ‘coordination’ and a ‘decisive crisis management mechanism’ between different levels of the state and the Ministry.” 288 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS ITEM NO PENAL INSTITUTIONS EVACUATED DUE TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND SECURITY CONCERNS CAPACITY REASON FOR EVACUATION 1 Türkoğlu No. 1 L-Type Closed Penal Institution 1,322 Earthquake 2 Türkoğlu No. 2 L-Type Closed Penal Institution 1,322 Earthquake 3 Elbistan E-Type Closed Penal Institution 608 Earthquake and Public Order Incidents 4 Hatay T-Type Closed Penal Institution 1,400 Earthquake and Public Order Incidents 5 Malatya E-Type Closed Penal Institution 590 Earthquake and Public Order Incidents 6 Kahramanmaraş E-Type Closed Penal Institution 696 Earthquake and Public Order Incidents 7 İskenderun M-Type Closed Penal Institution 570 Earthquake 8 Gölbasi K1 Closed Penal Institution 60 Earthquake and Public Order Incidents 9 Hatay Juvenile Closed Penal Execution 288 Earthquake and Public Order Incidents 10 Adıyaman Open Penal Institution 640 Earthquake 11 Ceyhan Open Penal Institution 450 Earthquake 12 Kırıkhan Open Penal Institution 300 Earthquake 13 Doğanşehir Open Penal Institution 150 Earthquake 14 Şanlıurfa E-Type Closed Penal Institution 600 Building has reached the end of its service life 15 Diyarbakır D-Type High Security Closed Penal Institution 688 Earthquake and Building has reached the end of its service life 16 Ceyhan M-Type Closed Penal Institution 668 Earthquake and Building has reached the end of its TOTAL 10,352 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 289 The pride of the Ministry of Justice: CEKUT The “General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses Search and Rescue Team (CEKUT)”, established in 2000 following the deployment of the personnel from the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses of the Ministry of Justice after the 1999 earthquake, worked in shifts for 17 days following the earthquake on February 6, 2023, which affected 11 provinces. Coordinated by AFAD, the team consisted of 326 personnel and 33 vehicles, including 271 initial members and 55 additional personnel who joined later. CEKUT conducted round-the- clock search and rescue operations in the region using specialised equipment; it also participated in establishing AFAD tent cities and distributing humanitarian aid supplies. As a result of the search and rescue efforts in the region, 219 deceased individuals and 41 survivors were recovered from a total of 54 debris sites. Through CEKUT, they actively participated in search and rescue operations and persisted in their “human rights-orientated” approach even under very difficult conditions. 290 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS In this respect, to meet the institutional needs and to support the response process to other emergencies that may be experienced at the societal level in the event of possible disasters, the training, disaster preparedness and accreditation efforts for volunteer personnel working in the central and provincial organisations are continuing rapidly. In addition, the Embassy of Japan and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) were contacted, and preliminary discussions were held on the possibility of CEKUT teams taking part in joint projects with Japanese disaster recovery experts. Planning will be undertaken in this regard. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 291 Rehabilitation and Reintegration Efforts for Convicts Following the February 6 earthquakes, the measures taken by the Ministry of Justice for convicts in penal institutions are part of a “multifaceted, people-oriented and highly strategic” approach developed in response to the challenges posed by this disaster. The standards for determining the good behaviour of convicts in prisons in earthquake-affected regions were revised, and in this context, the minimum threshold score requirement (45) set for the evaluation score and the progress score was abolished to increase the chance of rehabilitation for convicts and provide them with access to psychological support. This change was implemented via a circular letter sent to the relevant institutions. In the field of education and psychosocial support, within the framework of the cooperation protocol between the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses and Koruncuk Foundation, educational scholarships were increased for children in need between the ages of 12 and 18 staying in Juvenile Prisons. After the earthquake disaster, the number of children benefiting from these scholarships was increased from 40 to 60, indicating an effort to minimise the possible negative impact of the disaster on education. Newly opened institutions, such as the Kavak Closed Juvenile Prison, which received transfers after the earthquake, were strengthened by the appointment of experienced psychosocial assistance service experts from other institutions and execution and protection officers trained in group leadership. These appointments aim to support the post-traumatic recovery processes of individuals affected by the earthquake. The “Online Psychosocial Support Project”, developed to address the shortage of expert staff, aimed to provide support by enabling the staff working in the institutions in the pilot regions to make online individual interviews from the centre in Sincan Open Penal Institution. This project also covers the ongoing online psychosocial support efforts for convicts and detainees in the L-type closed penal institutions in Gaziantep and Alanya. 292 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Earthquake Investigations and Permanent Construction A total of 984 experts, consisting of architects, civil engineers, and geological engineers, were assigned to the earthquake zone for earthquake investigations requiring technical knowledge and expertise. The work of this team of experts enabled the collection of concrete data through the examination of damaged structures and the analysis of core samples in the laboratory. As a result of the analyses conducted to enhance the effectiveness of justice services, a total of 131 new courts were opened in the earthquake zone, thereby increasing the number of existing courts. These include judicial and administrative courts of appeal. In addition, efforts are underway to establish 505 new courts, which are expected to play an important role in managing the workload in the zone. The structural integrity of the courthouses and the sustainability of their services were ensured through necessary repair and restructuring works. Measures taken for severely and moderately damaged buildings and renovations in less damaged buildings made it possible to provide judicial services in new and safe spaces. Investment plans envisaged the construction of new courthouses, lodgings, and penal institutions in the zone for 2023 and 2024. These plans were made taking into account the damage and needs resulting from the earthquake, thus laying the foundation for the future sustainability of judicial services. Psychosocial assistance service experts working outside the earthquake zone provided interventions related to post- traumatic stress disorder and the grief process for individuals staying in the institutions affected by the disaster. In this regard, between February 6, 2023, and February 22, 2023, a total of 25,521 individual interviews, 1,163 crisis interviews, 2,765 family interviews and 90 group counselling sessions were conducted for convicts and detainees affected by the earthquake. Lastly, in cooperation with the Presidency of Religious Affairs, arrangements were made for spiritual counsellors working in penal institutions to provide support to convicts and detainees regarding earthquake- related issues. In this framework, a total of 8,744 individual interviews, 3,007 room/ward visits and 51 suicide prevention interviews were carried out for convicts and detainees in earthquake zones and those who were transferred. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 293 5.7. Support and Measures for Economic Stability 294 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The Disaster of the Century had a far-reaching impact not only on the area it affected but also on our entire country and society in many areas. Experts described the scale of the disaster as unprecedented. In the same vein, the 2023 Earthquake Assessment Report, prepared by the Presidency of Strategy and Budget along with relevant public institutions and organisations to determine all damages, losses, and needs, stated that the cost of the disaster of the century to our country could amount to 103.6 billion USD, which shows significantly greater material damage and loss compared to the 1999 Marmara Earthquake. To address the severe damage caused by the earthquake and to build a resilient economy, our state, with its relevant institutions, immediately planned and implemented measures to strengthen economic stability. Thanks to its high growth performance and fiscal discipline, Türkiye has the will, determination, and resolve to heal all the wounds inflicted by this great disaster in the fastest way possible and continues its reconstruction and recovery efforts with all relevant institutions to restore economic stability. Financing Opportunities Provided by the Treasury As part of the treasury-backed guarantee system for the earthquakes, the February 6 Earthquakes Operating Expenses Support Package, with a total guarantee limit of 20 billion TL, and the February 6 Earthquakes Investment Support Package were put into effect. With the regulation dated April 26, 2024, the guarantee limit of the February 6 Earthquakes Operating Expenses Support Package was increased by 5 billion TL to 20 billion TL, and the guarantee limit of the February 6 Earthquakes Investment Support Package was increased by 2 billion TL to 7 billion TL. Moreover, the beneficiary group of the 2 support packages was revised on April 26, 2024, to include only the regions with severe damage and low utilisation of existing support packages —namely, “Adıyaman and its districts, İslahiye and Nurdağı districts of Gaziantep, Hatay and its districts, Kahramanmaraş and its districts, and Malatya and its districts”. One of the efforts made as part of the support provided by the Treasury for economic security and financial stability in response to the earthquake was the introduction of various regulations in foreign exchange legislation. The regulations implemented in this direction are listed below: TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 295 • For notifications due until July 31, 2023, the notification periods will begin to run as of July 31, 2023, • For export transactions required to document advance foreign currency payment or potential foreign currency income, the deadline for transactions where the prescribed maximum periods have expired or would expire by July 31, 2023, including any extensions, will be set as July 31, 2023, • Branches of intermediary banks operating in the specified provinces will not report the open accounts due for reporting to the relevant tax offices or directorates due to a failure to bring the amounts to the country in due time until August 14, 2023, • Tax offices or directorates will not send notices to exporters regarding open export accounts reported or to be reported by banks until August 1, 2023, • Deadlines indicated in notices sent by tax offices or directorates prior to February 6, 2023, will be set as July 31, 2023, • For accounts that, following the notice, are at the stage of either time extension or notification to the prosecutor’s office, tax offices or directorates will grant exporters, ex officio and in a single instance, an additional period until August 1, 2023, without any conditions or notification requirements. Support Provided to Producers and Tradespeople Providing financial support to agricultural producers whose products were damaged by the earthquake and helping rural areas recover and get on a stronger footing have been among the key issues addressed as part of economic stabilisation efforts. In this context, the efforts carried out by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance include the Treasury interest-supported loan payments to agricultural producers affected by the earthquakes. Under Law No. 5570 and the decisions issued pursuant to the said Law, Treasury interest/profit share-supported loans/financing are provided to tradespeople and craftspeople by Halkbank and to agricultural producers by Ziraat Bank, Agricultural Credit Cooperatives of Türkiye and Ziraat Katılım Bank. As part of the aforementioned efforts, Decision No. 6816 regarding the postponement of the repayments of the Treasury interest-supported 296 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS loans extended by Ziraat Bank and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives for 1 year without interest entered into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette dated February 22, 2023, and numbered 32112. Moreover, with Decision No. 6920 dated March 9, 2023, the scope of the aforementioned postponement decision was expanded to include all areas declared as disaster zones. In addition to the support provided to agricultural producers, repayments of the Treasury interest-supported loans extended to the tradespeople and craftspeople affected by the earthquakes were postponed as well. Accordingly, Decision No. 6789 regarding the 6-month postponement of the repayments of the Treasury interest-supported loans without interest extended by Halkbank to the tradespeople and craftspeople whose activities and businesses were affected by the earthquakes entered into force after being published in the Official Gazette dated February 14, 2023, and numbered 32104 (bis). Additionally, Decision No. 6884, dated March 2, 2023, expanded the postponement decision’s scope to include all areas designated as disaster zones. Within the context of the aforementioned 6-month postponement decision, the repayment of loan balances of approximately 150,000 tradespeople and craftspeople, amounting to 23.6 billion TL, was deferred interest-free, without any application requirement. In some provinces and districts severely damaged by earthquakes, this period was extended for another 6 months with Decree No. 7470 dated August 3, 2023. The repayment of loan balances totalling 3 billion TL for approximately 13,000 tradespeople and craftspeople operating in the provinces and districts severely damaged by the earthquake was postponed for an additional six months without interest. In this period, to facilitate access to funding for tradespeople and craftspeople, amending Decision numbered 6883, dated 2 March 2023, granted tradespeople and craftspeople who had received interest/grant support of up to 75 thousand TL from other public institutions and organisations in the past three years the opportunity to benefit from Treasury interest-supported loans. Furthermore, to provide financial assistance for the working capital needs of tradespeople and craftspeople affected by the earthquake, the “Hayata Dönüş Kredisi” (Return to Life Loan), with Treasury interest support featuring a limit of 250 thousand TL, a grace period of up to 12 months, and a maximum term of 60 months, was launched on March 10, 2023. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 297 For agricultural producers, repayments of Treasury interest-supported loans for agricultural producers affected by the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, were postponed for one year without interest with Decision No. 6816 dated February 21, 2023. Furthermore, Decision No. 6920 dated March 9, 2023, expanded the scope of the above-mentioned postponement decision to cover all places declared as disaster zones. In accordance with the said postponement decision, the repayment of loan balances totalling approximately 34.2 billion TL for 91 thousand agricultural producers was postponed. To facilitate the rapid recovery of economic activities and ensure economic stability following the earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş, the Ministry of Commerce provided various forms of support to tradespeople and craftspeople for their professional activities. The Central Union of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen Credit and Guarantee Cooperatives Associations (TESKOMB) enabled tradespeople and craftspeople to restructure their overdue debts to cooperatives. In this regard, the interests on the debts were eliminated, and principal repayments were postponed for 6 months. Per Article 12/B, Paragraph 5 of the Regulation on Principles and Rules to be Applied in Retail Trade, to provide economic support to the consumers affected by the earthquakes and facilitate the continuation of trade, retail businesses were temporarily granted the authority to determine the instalment periods for the sales of goods and services to the consumers residing in the regions affected by the earthquakes. With Presidential Decree No. 132 of March 10, 2023, it was ensured that, in the provinces where a state of emergency was declared, the tradespeople 298 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS and craftspeople operating within the scope of Law No. 5362 on Professional Organisations of Tradesmen and Craftsmen and were affected by the earthquakes will not be charged any fees for the documents to be issued by professional organisations during the state of emergency. The same decree enabled professional organisations of tradespeople and craftspeople, cooperatives and their higher unions to provide in-kind and cash aid in regions where a state of emergency was declared and in this time period. In addition to the aforementioned legislative regulations, the following opportunities were provided under Law No. 7440: • In relation to the debts that were due as of December 31, 2022, but were not paid until the promulgation date of this Law, the collection of secondary receivables such as interest, default interest and delay interest is waived provided that the first instalment of the unpaid portion of the original debt in regard to the debts due of tradesmen and craftsmen to their chambers in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 5362 on Professional Organisations of Tradesmen and Craftsmen dated June 7, 2005, the participation fee payable by the chambers to the relevant unions and federations and the participation fee payable by the unions and federations to the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen, and the fund for developing and supporting vocational education of tradesmen and craftsmen is paid until the end of the third month following the date of entry into force of this Law, and the remainder is paid in monthly periods and in a maximum of nine equal instalments. • In order to facilitate the transactions of tradesmen and craftsmen affected by the earthquakes and provide temporary financial exemption, the following provision was promulgated: “For the tradesmen and craftsmen affected by the earthquakes operating in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 5362 in areas where force majeure was declared within the scope of Article 15 of the Law No. 213 by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance due to the earthquakes that occurred in the Kahramanmaraş province on February 6, 2023, the fee stipulated in the aforementioned Law or any other fee will not be charged for the registration, amendment and deregistration transactions, as well as registry certificate transactions, within the borders of the same province, nor the fee for the announcements to be published in the Trade Registry Gazette regarding the said registration, amendment and deregistartion transactions until July 31, 2023 (including this date).” TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 299 In addition to the conveniences made available within the scope of the legislation, application periods for projects were facilitated during the process of revitalising the local economy. To this end, the application period for the KOOP-DES (Cooperative Support) Programme, which is carried out by the Ministry of Trade in the earthquake zone and aims to support investment projects that will contribute to the production and employment of cooperatives and their parent organisations, ensure effectiveness and efficiency in their activities and contribute to their use of technology and new production techniques, was extended until October 31, 2023. The cooperatives located in the earthquake zone were also allowed to postpone their ordinary general assemblies until December 31, 2023. The extension period for housing cooperatives was announced as June 30, 2024. In addition to the work carried out by the ministries, the cash support to be provided by the Turkish Red Crescent as part of the Small-Scale Tradesmen Support Programme to small-scale tradesmen with damaged workplaces in Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Malatya, Gaziantep and Osmaniye, the provinces most affected by the earthquakes, is expected to revitalise workplaces, strengthen them socio-economically, supply the equipment and materials that can be used in their business, ensure their re-integration into economic life, and re-establish their contributions to the local economy. Measures Regarding Unfair Price Increases Having experienced the Disaster of the Century, our country has shown a remarkable example of solidarity. Meanwhile, our state has carried 300 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS out various efforts with the relevant institutions to prevent all kinds of opportunism aiming to exploit our citizens affected by the earthquakes. In this context, the Ministry of Trade carried out inspections of unfair price increases and price tags in the earthquake zone and on the routes. Additionally, detailed investigations were carried out on e-commerce marketplaces and advertising sites regarding the prices of products such as containers, tents, and shower-toilet cabins that were urgently needed after the earthquakes, and administrative fines were imposed on the companies and facilities that made exorbitant price increases. As a result of the inspections carried out by trade inspectors to determine whether 131 companies operating in the ready-mix concrete and cement industry in the earthquake zone made exorbitant price increases, a total of 27 companies were referred to the Unfair Price Assessment Board on the grounds that they made exorbitant price increases in their ready-mix concrete and cement sales. Regulations Regarding Tax Practices In order to mitigate the adverse effects of the Disaster of the Century on economic stability, certain tax practices and regulations were imple- mented to alleviate the challenges taxpayers in the region experienced and help them return to their normal lives. On the date of the earthquakes, force majeure was declared in the provinc- es of Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa and Elazığ and the Gürün district of the Sivas province, which were heavily affected by the earthquakes. The obligations of the taxpayers in these provinces and districts to be fulfilled between February 6 and July 31, 2023, were postponed, and the deadline for submitting the declarations and notifications and the payment period for the taxes accrued upon the declarations and notifications were extend- ed. In addition, it was announced that no provisional tax returns would be required for the first provisional tax period of 2023. The declarations and notifications required to be submitted during this period, the taxes accrued on these declarations and notifications, and the payment periods of the motor vehicle tax were postponed. Addition- ally, all kinds of taxes, fines and delay interests that accrued before the date of the earthquakes and whose maturity coincides with the period in which the force majeure was declared, and all kinds of taxes, fines and delay interests that were assessed by way of completion, ex officio TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 301 or by the administration before the date of the earthquakes and whose maturity coincides with the period in which the force majeure was de- clared were evaluated separately as of each maturity date, and it was de- termined that they must be paid by the end of the 1-year period starting from the initial maturity dates, and by the end of December 31, 2024 if the 1-year period extends to a date later than December 31, 2024. A total of 2,166,685 motor vehicle taxpayers in the 11 provinces and the Gürün district of Sivas benefitted from the postponement regulation under the force majeure. The debts to the tax offices in areas where force majeure was declared were allowed to be paid in instalments for a maximum of 24 months without interest, provided that the debtors meet the necessary conditions. Considering the potential economic and financial effects of the earthquakes, the practice of issuing a letter showing that there is no debt, subject to the payment of 10% of the deferred debts, required in installment applications made due to having difficulties within the scope of Law No. 6183, was removed up until July 31, 2023, not only in the earthquake zone but across the whole country. It was announced to the public that the donations and aid made against receipts to the aid campaigns initiated by the President in order to eliminate the conditions negatively affecting daily life after the earthquake disaster and meet the urgent needs of our disaster-affected citizens could be deducted from the tax base for the relevant year within the scope of the tax legislation. Accordingly, the “Donations and Aids Guide in terms of the Tax Legislation” was prepared and made available to taxpayers to explain the tax treatment of donations and aids. Within the scope of informative activities, a general letter was sent to all revenue units stating that businesses that provide free accommodation services to people affected by the earthquake under the coordination of provincial AFAD directorates would not be charged VAT and Accommodation Tax for these transactions, and the expenses made for these services would be considered expenses in determining their income tax and corporate tax base. In addition, measures were taken to facilitate the documentation system for State Supply Office sales in the provinces affected by the earthquakes and were announced on the Revenue Administration website. Under Presidential Decree No. 6790, the value-added tax rate on prefabricated structures and containers (including installation and 302 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS assembly works) delivered to earthquake-affected citizens or relevant institutions and organisations for use in the ten provinces where a state of emergency was declared was reduced to 1% until the end of 2023. Additionally, under Presidential Decree No. 6830, the VAT rate on the delivery of prefabricated structures and containers (including installation and assembly works) was determined as 1% as of February 23, 2023, until December 31, 2023, regardless of the receiving party and without being subject to any provincial restrictions. On the other hand, the communiqué regulation issued on the subject allows taxpayers who make sales at the reduced rate to receive their refund claims in cash within the same year. Within the framework of the principle of ensuring the continuity of tax services, tax office directorates that were unable to provide services due to the collapse or severe damage of the buildings they serve as a result of the earthquakes were enabled to provide services in another province or district for a temporary period. In order to increase the accessibility of services, it was announced to taxpayers that all tax transactions could be carried out electronically using the Interactive Tax Office. In order to support the economic continuity of the taxpayers holding fuel/LPG distributor and dealership and lubricant oil licenses operating in the provinces where force majeure was declared due to the earthquake, the proportional guarantees required to be provided based on the total gross sales of the previous year, along with the fixed guarantees required from taxpayers who obtained their licenses for the first time before the earthquake and whose guarantee submission deadline fell after the earthquake date, were not collected during the force majeure period. In accordance with Presidential Decree No. 120 on Measures Taken in the Judiciary under the State of Emergency, regulations were made in the provinces where a state of emergency was declared to ensure that certain deadlines regarding procedural and enforcement laws were not implemented, and certain transactions were suspended to prevent any loss of rights. Since the issue was closely related to the legislation and procedures implemented by the tax offices, the necessary announce- ments were made—through the Implementation Circular issued—to the relevant units of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance regarding the tax- payers falling within the scope of the Decree, the suspended time peri- ods, and the procedures that would not be carried out, thereby ensuring that the necessary measures were taken. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 303 General Communiqué on Collection Serial A, No. 1, promulgated in the Official Gazette of February 17, 2023, concerning the practice of requiring a certificate indicating the absence of overdue public debt pursuant in Law No. 6183 on the Procedure for the Collection of Public Receivables was amended to stipulate that, until July 31, 2023 (inclusive), institutions and organisations obligated to request such certificate shall not require a “no tax debt” certificate from beneficiaries in relation to payments to be made within the scope of the earthquake disaster across the country. With another regulation, the VAT Circular dated March 2, 2023, and numbered KDV-70/2023-1, the period was extended for another three months due to force majeure without the requirement of an application to the tax office for an additional period for taxpayers who were registered as taxpayers on the date of the earthquake and who had export registry between February 6, 2023, and July 31, 2023, in places where force majeure was declared due to the earthquake. Furthermore, through the amendment of the VAT General Implementa- tion Communiqué, the taxpayers who fell under force majeure because they had a taxpayer record in an area where it was declared but who were still able to carry on with their regular business could request the administration to terminate the force majeure. The termination of the force majeure would depend on the results of the assessment, and with- in the parameters of standard procedures, VAT withholding could be ap- plied to these taxpayers’ purchases and sales. As a result, a new measure was implemented to alleviate the financial burden on taxpayers (partic- ularly in the iron and steel sector) who were no longer required to pay withholding on their purchases due to force majeure. In addition, due to the earthquakes that occurred in Kahramanmaraş province on February 6, 2023, with Presidential Decree No. 127 promul- gated on March 3, 2023, a regulation was implemented to annul the sei- zures that were put into effect by banks, the Central Registry Agency and the PTT (General Directorate of Post and Telegraph Organisation) prior to the earthquake on the debtors in the areas that were declared under force majeure by the tax offices. With this regulation, citizens were given the opportunity to save their liquid assets in difficult times. Within the scope of the legislative regulations, collection provisions were amended for receivables that met certain conditions, and it was decided to waive the collection of small receivables up to a certain limit. Accordingly, Law No. 7440 on the Restructuring of Certain Receivables 304 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS and Amendments to Certain Laws was promulgated in the Official Gazette dated March 12, 2023, and numbered 32130, and entered into force. With the aforementioned Law, a special regulation was implemented with respect to the applications and payment periods that must be submitted to the offices (creditor administrations) in locations where the Ministry declared to be under force majeure and the conditions persisted for the application period specified in the Law; the period for applications to be made within the scope of this Law to offices in places where force majeure was declared and where this situation continued for the application period specified in the Law was extended until the end of the third month following the end of force majeure (including this date); the first instalment of the amounts due under the law could be paid until the end of the month following the end of the application period (including this date), and the remaining instalments could be paid monthly after this instalment. In addition to the restructuring provisions, the collection of receivables by the collection offices affiliated with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance in accordance with Law No. 6183, whose due date was before December 31, 2022 (including this date) but which had not been paid as of January 1, 2023, and whose total principal and secondary receivables accrued on behalf of a public debtor did not exceed 2,000 TL before all collection offices, was waived. Law No. 7440 also included special regulations for provinces where force majeure was declared in order to reduce the economic burden on individuals and employers affected by the earthquake. • For service personnel whose spouses, children, or parents were affected by the earthquake in places where force majeure was declared, it was ensured that income tax and stamp duty would not be collected on in-kind aid provided by employers in addition to their existing wages, premiums, bonuses, and other payments between February 6, 2023, and July 31, 2023 (including these dates) and on cash aid that did not exceed 50,000 TL in total. To prevent homeowners who made their residential properties available free of charge to earthquake victims (individuals residing in areas where a state of force majeure was declared as of February 6, 2023) from incurring a tax liability under the tax legislation, it was ensured that no arm’s length rental value would be applied to such properties in determining their income for the year 2023. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 305 • It was ensured that no income tax withholding would be applied to the payments, considered as income from movable capital under the Income Tax Law, which have been made as of February 6, 2023, by pension funds and relief funds with legal personality, insurance and pension companies, and under the individual pension system to the heirs of those who died during the earthquakes or subsequently due to injuries sustained in the earthquakes. • The property inherited by the heirs of those who died in the earthquakes or at later dates due to earthquake-caused injuries, as well as the aid provided by employers to the spouse, child, mother, and father of the deceased service personnel between February 6, 2023, and July 31, 2023, including these dates, was made exempt from inheritance and transfer tax. No inheritance and transfer tax declaration is required for these transfers, and transactions can be completed in institutions such as land registry offices and banks without requiring a certificate of clearance. • Regarding buildings destroyed or heavily or moderately damaged in earthquakes and vehicles that were heavily damaged and were rendered unusable, a regulation was introduced stipulating that property tax, the contribution to the preservation of immovable cultural property, environmental cleaning tax, and motor vehicle tax—accrued before February 6, 2023, and remaining unpaid as of the promulgation date of Law No. 7440—along with the associated tax fines, delay interest, and default interest, shall be cancelled, and that any liens placed on vehicles by tax offices shall be lifted. • For vehicles within this scope, administrative traffic fines issued prior to February 6, 2023, administrative fines imposed due to unlawful crossing of highways, tolls related to the imposition of these fines, and the accessory receivables applied to these receivables were also cancelled. • Various regulations were put into effect regarding commercial enterprises, trading companies, and branches registered in trade registry directorates located in places where force majeure was declared. In addition, regarding the tradespeople and craftspeople who were affected by the earthquake, no charges, fees, and announcement fees for the announcement of the transactions made in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette were collected for the registration, amendment and cancellation transactions and registry certificates within the borders of the same province until and including July 31, 2023. 306 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • The conditions regarding allowance for doubtful receivables within the scope of Article 323 of the Tax Procedure Law No. 213 were eased due to the difficulties encountered in the collection of the receivables of taxpayers who had economic and commercial relations with the people operating in the areas where force majeure was declared as a result of the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş. By enabling an allowance for doubtful receivables in the case of such receivables based on the declaratory judgment arguing that the debtor who was obliged to pay such receivables lost at least one-third of their assets due to the earthquake, it was made possible to provide an allowance for doubtful receivables without requiring the debtor to be sued or subjected to execution proceedings. In addition to these regulations, the deadlines for the submission of financial statements and reports required to be submitted by tax-exempt foundations that had headquarters, branches or economic enterprises in places where force majeure was declared due to the earthquake were extended, and it was made possible for the expenditures to be made by these foundations outside their fields of activity due to the earthquake to be considered as “expenditures on purpose.” Moreover, counter-verification reports were rendered as non-mandatory for attestation reports to be issued by sworn financial advisors for taxpayers who were based in places where force majeure was declared and whose files and documents were lost. On the other hand, in places where a state of force majeure was declared, vehicles registered as of the date of the earthquake, vehicles belonging to the owners of buildings which were destroyed or heavily or moderately damaged due to earthquakes, vehicles that were heavily damaged in the earthquakes and rendered unusable, and vehicles belonging to taxpayers who lost their spouses or first-degree relatives due to the earthquake were exempted from the “Additional Motor Vehicle Tax” introduced by Law No. 7456 to compensate for the economic losses caused by earthquakes. The provinces within the scope of force majeure were evaluated periodically within the framework of the requests submitted to the Ministry of Treasury and Finance and the general course of life, and it was deemed appropriate for the force majeure to end as of July 31, 2023, for places other than Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and İslahiye and Nurdağı districts of Gaziantep. For the taxpayers in the aforementioned provinces, the state of force majeure continued until the end of Saturday, November 30, 2024, and was not extended again. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 307 However, with the provisional article 36 added to the Tax Procedure Law No. 213 by the Law No. 7537 dated December 25, 2024, on the Amendment of the Law on Civil Servants and Certain Laws and Decree Laws, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance was granted the authority to extend the state of force majeure for taxpayers residing in the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Adıyaman, Hatay and the İslahiye and Nurdağı districts of Gaziantep where a force majeure had been declared due to the earthquakes that occurred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, and registered as liable to tax as of the date of the earthquake and whose force majeure period had ended as of November 30, 2024, for up to one year, in intervals not surpassing six months, beginning from December 1, 2024, within the framework of Article 15 amended by the Law establishing this article. In this context, with the Tax Procedure Law Circular No. 180/2025-1 dated January 10, 2025, among the taxpayers who had a taxpayer record as of the earthquake date in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya provinces and İslahiye and Nurdağı districts of Gaziantep province and whose force majeure status ended as of November 30, 2024; • For those whose value added tax return for the last period of 2022 (last month of the special accounting period ending in 2022 for taxpayers subject to the special accounting period) had a cumulative amount 2,500,000 TL for the deliveries and services included, • For those who started to work between January 1, 2023, and February 6, 2023, and whose force majeure status ended as of November 30, 2024; • For those who do not engage in commercial, agricultural or professional activities and are solely income taxpayers in terms of real property income, wages, returns on stocks and bonds, other earnings and income in the calendar year 2022, the force majeure status of the taxpayers whose force majeure status ended as of November 30, 2024, has been extended until May 31, 2025. Accordingly, from the date of the beginning of the force majeure status until the date of the end of the force majeure status; ° Income tax withholding declarations, withholding and premium service declarations, stamp duty declarations and other monthly and quarterly declarations and notifications are required to be submitted by July 31, 2025, ° VAT declarations and declaration of receivables and payables forms are required to be submitted by June 30, 2025, 308 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS ° Annual income and corporate tax returns are required to be submitted by July 31, 2025, and taxes accrued based on these returns and declarations are required to be paid on the dates specified in the aforementioned Circular. Furthermore, other declarations and notices other than the above- mentioned declarations and notices that are required to be submitted within the force majeure periods are required to be submitted by June 30, 2025, and the taxes accrued based on these declarations and notices must be paid within the same period, and the motor vehicles tax (MTV) whose payment periods have been extended due to the force majeure declared as of February 6, 2023, and the first instalment of MTV for 2025 are required to be paid by June 30, 2025. Taxpayers whose force majeure status has been extended shall not submit their advance tax returns for the years 2023 and 2024, and advance tax returns for the first advance tax period of 2025. In addition, various arrangements have been made regarding the instalment payment periods of the restructuring laws numbered 7256 and 7326, the instalment payments of which are ongoing as of the earthquake date. With the Presidential Decrees numbered 6831, 7405, 7918, 8515 and 9078, the payment period of the first instalment (including the instalments whose last day of the payment period falls within the period of force majeure), which is due to be paid within the scope of the aforementioned Laws and which falls within the period of force majeure (including the instalments whose last day of the payment period falls within the date of the end of the state of force majeure), has been extended to be paid in the month following the date of the end of the state of force majeure, and the payment periods of the subsequent instalments have been extended to be paid in monthly periods following this month. Measures Taken in Banking The measures taken by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency to facilitate the repayment of citizens’ debts following the earthquakes that occurred in February are listed below: • Abolition of the previously stipulated periods regarding the maturities of vehicle and consumer loans to be extended to the residents of the earthquake zone or to be subject to restructuring, and allowing the banks to implement the grace period, • Increasing the instalment periods of credit cards up to one time in the sales of goods and services to be carried out with credit cards by merchants located in these provinces, TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 309 • Setting the minimum payment amount as 20 per cent of the term debts of credit cards, regardless of the limit, • Determining the total card limit by banks not exceeding 4 times the average monthly net income of the person concerned for the first year and 8 times for the second and subsequent years by increasing the limits taken into account by banks when determining the card limit, • Enabling the banks to exercise their discretion regarding the blocking and cancellation of credit cards whose minimum amount is not paid for cash, purchase of goods and services, and not issuing new credit cards until the debt is paid in full, and allowing banks to define grace periods by not demanding their receivables, including the minimum amount, during the period when card debts are deferred, • Increasing the total limit of credit cards that natural persons could acquire from 2,000 TL to 5,000 TL if their monthly or annual average income level cannot be determined, • In case the principal and interest payments of consumer and vehicle loans extended by banks, financial leasing, factoring and financing companies are deferred upon the request of the customers, the deferral period shall not be taken into account in the maturity limits determined in the relevant legislation, • Leaving the provision of credit rating scores and additional documents required from loan customers to the discretion of banks, • Deferral of the periods related to the valuation of the real estate collaterals of the loans provided to the customers affected by the earthquake disaster, • Extension of the periods for the information and documents to be submitted to the banks by the companies subject to independent audit in relation to credit utilisation for the companies in the provinces in the earthquake zone, • Increasing the daily transaction limit to 5 thousand TL, the weekly transaction limit to 10 thousand TL, and the monthly transaction limit to 15 thousand TL in “mobile transfer” transactions, • Performing the verification process in mobile banking transactions using especially the PIN code as well as security questions, the customer’s demographic information or other information with the bank, instead of the asset owned by the customer, for a period of 30 days in cases where two-step verification is not possible, without restrictions on transactions between the customer’s own accounts and registered accounts, and allowing transactions with a daily 310 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS limit of 5,000 TL for transfers/EFTs to newly defined accounts, the implementation of the identity verification process, and the extension of this flexibility for another 30 days with a second regulation, • Requiring a password in the first contactless transactions made with a card, continuing the existing practice for subsequent transactions in order to prevent unauthorised card use, and expanding the scope of this regulation, which is only enforced in the provinces where the state of emergency has been declared, to the rest of the country, • Extending the flexibility provided regarding loan maturity limits and credit card instalment limits until January 1, 2024. Other measures included deferring loan payments for a minimum of 6 months upon the request of customers affected by the earthquakes, not seeking customer requests, avoiding potential disadvantages, and providing all kinds of convenience, including additional financing if the deferment is made without demanding interest/dividends. In addition, with the Board Decision No. 10656 dated August 24, 2023, it was decided that in loans to be granted to consumers for the purpose of purchasing a home and loans with housing collateral, excluding vehicle loans, the ratio of the maximum loan amount determined in the Board Decision No. 10525 dated February 24, 2023, to the value of the house taken as collateral would be reduced by 75% if the consumers had at least one residence owned by themselves, their spouses or their children under the age of 18. Accordingly, in the evaluation of the housing ownership status of the consumers, their spouses or their children under the age of 18, it was decided that the buildings in the “Disaster Areas Affecting Daily Life” with moderate or higher damage would not be taken into consideration in order to help the people of the region and avoid any disadvantages caused by the earthquakes that occurred on and after February 6, 2023. Regulations on Insurance and Private Pension The proactive efforts of our public institutions and organisations contributed to taking swifter action in the construction and restoration of the buildings destroyed by the disaster of the century. Accordingly, various efforts were carried out in the field of insurance and private pensions before the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes on February 6, 2023. Firstly, the DASK Emergency Management Centre was opened in Ankara on November 22, 2022, and DASK’s technological infrastructure was renewed. Notification systems were accelerated to meet the conditions TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 311 of the time, enabling the receiving of unlimited damage notifications and the issuing of 96,000 damage files within 24 hours. In addition, the Main Data Centre was moved to the Ankara region, where the earthquake risk is lower, and thanks to the catastrophic modelling product CATMOD, which is the first of its kind in Türkiye and the third of its kind in the world, modelling could be made according to our country’s specific building inventories and local conditions, and the damage compensation and protection amounts that could be required in case of major earthquakes in our country could be calculated. Following the planning carried out with a proactive approach after the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, the teams quickly took action. To serve this end, the following efforts were carried out: • With İstanbul teams joining the teams in the Ankara Emergency Management Centre, they started to work with a full staff. Due to the intensity of the damage notices of the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, the Alo DASK 125 hotline, IVR, e-Government and www.dask. gov.tr worked on a 24/7 basis throughout the incident. With the implementation of the new reporting structure, uninterrupted processing was carried out in the systems for approximately 628,491 notices. Following the actions taken in 2023, the damage compensation process has largely been completed, and the current figures regarding the aforementioned earthquakes are as follows: As of December 27, 2024 Number of Notices 628,491 Total Number of Files Paid 523,137 Total Compensation Paid (TL) 39,641,387,756 Number of Insured Requesting Advance 27,313 Total Number of Notices DISTRIBUTION OF NOTICES Damage Extent Amount Percentage% COLLAPSED 417,734 66% Moderate 55,877 9% Minor 154,880 25% Grand Total 628,491 100% 312 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Monthly Number of Notices Source: Ministry of Treasury and Finance • In line with the findings of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, damage assessments and payments were processed quickly without even waiting for any notification from the insured, and the first damage payment was made less than 24 hours after the earthquake. • DASK trucks and a group of damage teams located in the Ankara Emergency Management Centre were transferred to the region on the same day, and DASK Contact Offices were established in containers in the provinces of Malatya, Iskenderun, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Hatay, Gaziantep, Elazığ and Kahramanmaraş in order to serve the entire region. Contact offices continued to operate in the region until October 31, 2023. Distribution of Payments Made by DASK PROVINCE AMOUNT AMOUNT (TL) HATAY 86,996 10,789,300,627 MALATYA 75,211 7,981,820,247 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 79,555 5,900,999,597 GAZİANTEP 78,411 3,749,419,162 ADIYAMAN 30,781 3,308,416,012 OSMANİYE 26,864 1,799,943,427 ŞANLIURFA 41,890 1,683,022,949 ADANA 41,711 1,668,799,156 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 313 ELAZIĞ 21,557 1,248,768,467 DİYARBAKIR 18,011 809,120,451 KAYSERİ 10,783 339,868,522 KİLİS 5,211 166,283,517 MERSİN 2,441 52,281,295 NİĞDE 781 44,583,071 BİNGÖL 391 24,294,516 SİVAS 556 21,905,643 BATMAN 548 18,765,240 MARDİN 498 16,172,788 SİİRT 333 4,908,389 AKSARAY 74 2,441,534 TUNCELİ 57 2,320,500 Other 477 7,952,649 Grand Total 523,137 39,641,387,756 • On February 27, 2023, 21 days after the earthquake, as per the “Circu- lar on Advance Payments to be Made by the Directorate of Natural Catastrophe Insurance Pool (DASK) within the Scope of the Manda- tory Earthquake Insurance (2023/10)” issued by the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Authority, 20% of the insured value of buildings identified as collapsed, to be demolished immediately, or heavily damaged and 10% of the insured value of moderately damaged buildings were paid in advance to the insured in order to meet the cash needs of our citizens. • “DASK Payment Password Service” has been added as a new ser- vice in addition to the “DASK Damage/Payment Inquiry” service on e-Government due to the insured being unable to access the payment information when the mobile phone information on the insurance policy is incorrect or inactive. • Due to the large number of applications, the “I Have a Message for DASK” application was launched on www.dask.gov.tr, which is readily accessible to citizens. Citizens are able to easily submit their requests, complaints, and suggestions through this application. 314 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • The “Contact Information Update” service was implemented on e-Government for the policyholders who wish to update their contact information in the DASK. • It is planned to strengthen field operations through regional liaison offices in order to manage natural disaster risks across Türkiye, increase the number of policyholders, and raise the awareness of society on insurance. Regional liaison offices will play a strategic role in enabling DASK to act more effectively and promptly at the local level, establish close cooperation with relevant stakeholders, and reach citizens directly after potential disasters. Within this framework, the first regional liaison office was opened in Gaziantep province on December 9, 2024, with efforts underway for the establishment of our physical offices in other provinces. • Following the earthquakes, the collaboration between the Banks Association of Türkiye and the DASK provided facilities to the policyholders with mortgage loans. • The technological infrastructure was further developed, introducing new services related to DASK on the e-Government. Public institutions and organisations exerted tremendous efforts and conducted a manifold of activities in cooperation to expedite the payment process of claims and ensure that policyholders receive their compensation as soon as possible. The following is a list of activities undertaken in this context: • A parametric payment method was adopted to ensure the coverage of the existing 628,491 claims. The parameters of 15% for the slightly damaged, 50% for the moderately damaged, and 100% for the collapsed and heavily damaged, which were identified by the damage surveys of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, were used for compensation payments, with 97% of the claims being compensated within six months. • On February 7, 2023, data of the ten provinces was retrieved from the Spatial Address Registration System (MAKS) and integrated into the DASK systems. The damage surveys of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change and the DASK insurance policies were matched with high accuracy (a rate of 90%) with this integration, and payments were expedited through this process. The remaining 10% was subjected to the standard process, and procedures were concluded. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 315 • The Directorate General of Land Registry and Cadastre was contacted to share the coordinate and attribute data of the deeds/parcels of the relevant provinces in bulk with the DASK to expedite the process of determining the compensation of the claimant citizens to finalise procedures regarding the insurance claims promptly. • The systems have been improved multiple times for earthquakes of various magnitudes that have struck over the years. In the Kah- ramanmaraş-epicentred earthquakes, necessary actions were also promptly designed according to needs and implemented. 482,325 claims were compensated within a short period of four months through these improvements. • In the provinces under the state of emergency, the Mandatory Earth- quake Insurance policies were automatically renewed to ensure that the policyholders were provided with coverage. The regulation on the payment of mandatory insurance premiums in at least six in- stallments went into effect four days after the earthquake, with pre- mium payments postponed for three months. • With the collaboration between the Banks Association of Türkiye and the DASK following the earthquakes, policyholders with mort- gage loans (those with the loss payee clause within their policies) were provided with damage compensation payments without a let- ter of consent from their banks, with payments up to 50,000 TL be- ing made via Vakıfbank offices directly to the policyholders by send- ing them a password via SMS and payments over 50,000 TL being made to the central accounts of the banks that were submitted to the DASK by the banks. • The Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Au- thority issued “Sectoral Announcement on Life Insurance Practices in the Provinces Under the State of Emergency” no. 2023/6, dated March 16, 2023, after the earthquakes. A notice was issued to keep the amount of documents to be requested from the beneficiaries to a minimum and avoid requesting additional information and docu- ments that would extend the process in order to avoid aggrieving the relatives of the policyholders who lost their lives during the earth- quake in the provinces under the state of emergency. The proce- dures that can be made in favour of the borrower to comply with the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency regulations regarding the loan payments of the citizens in the earthquake zone in terms of insurance were listed. 316 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • The Regulation on Partial Payment in the Private Pension System was published and went into effect on July 1, 2024. The regulation enabled clients to receive a partial payment of up to 50% of the amount accu- mulated in their portfolio without voiding their membership to the system in times of natural disasters such as earthquakes, as well as a state contribution payment equal to 25% of the amount of partial pay- ment that they received. • The Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Authority provided flexibility in favour of equities in the restrictions on the funds in the State Contribution in the Private Pension System portfolio. Sustainable Development The Ministry of Trade has received requests from private sector representative NGOs, such as the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM), and Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), regarding potential actions within the scope of developing the earthquake-stricken region, including tax regulations, grant arrangements, and more. In-kind aid of 30.5 million TL was authorised to TİM and Exporters’ Associations to be used for the earthquake zone. Grants were provided to public institutions and organisations, nongovernmental organisations, and real and legal persons to ensure sustainable development for the region affected by the disaster. The Regional Development Orientated Recovery Emergency Action Programme (BOTAP) was implemented under the coordination of the Directorate General of Development Agencies of the Ministry of Industry and Technology in order to rapidly improve the infrastructure and quality of life, take measures for economic recovery and growth, and increase the resilience of the region to disasters in the regions affected by the February 6 earthquakes. In accordance with the Programme Resource Table in the annex of the Regional Development-Orientated Recovery Emergency Action Programme Procedures and Principles, which entered into force based on Article 2 of the Presidential Decree on Measures Taken Regarding Regional Development and Investment Incentives within the Scope of the State of Emergency No. 134 published in the Official Gazette No. 32130, dated March 12, 2023, resource transfers were made to the project accounts by the West Mediterranean Development Agency. In addition, resources were transferred to agencies in the earthquake zone under BOTAP. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 317 Moreover, various projects continue to be carried out within the scope of the Regional Development Orientated Emergency Action Programme (BOTAP) developed by the Directorate General of Development Agencies of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, locally coordinated by Çukurova Development Agency, and within the scope of the Social Development Support Programme (SOGEP). Similarly, within the scope of BOTAP, the Karacadağ Development Agency provided resource support to various projects in Diyarbakır. All coordination of the temporary bazaars planned to be established for the tradesmen whose workplaces were destroyed or heavily damaged in Malatya, one of the provinces affected by the earthquake, was assigned to the Fırat Development Agency by the Governorship of Malatya, and the workplaces in the marketplaces built as a result of the efforts suc- cessfully carried out by the Agency were allocated to the beneficiaries determined by the established commission. Significant projects were implemented by the Fırat Development Agen- cy within the scope of BOTAP to support the industrial sector affected by the earthquake in Malatya province. The marketplace projects im- plemented as part of the programme helped sustain the province’s com- mercial and economic life by swiftly constructing workplaces for manu- facturers and tradespeople whose companies were destroyed. The Directorate General for Development Agencies of the Ministry of Industry and Technology provided a total of 1.216 billion TL in finan- cial support to 51 projects with a budget of 1.501 billion TL on March 28, 2023, as part of the Regional Development Orientated Recovery Ur- gent Action Programme (BOTAP). In the aftermath of the earthquakes, a total of 2.5 billion TL support was provided to 1,595 projects in Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elâzığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa provinces through development agen- cies and regional development administrations. Additionally, as part of the Social Development Support Programme, 13 projects with a total budget of approximately 75 million TL were sup- ported with an incentive of 56.7 million TL after the earthquakes in 2023 in 11 affected provinces through five development agencies—Silkroad, Eastern Mediterranean, Fırat, Karacadağ, and Çukurova. As part of the Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Cohesion in Refugee and Host Communities in Türkiye (SEECO) Project, 24 million euros in sup- port were provided to the provinces in the earthquake zone. 318 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS 53 projects received 211 million TL of support in Elazığ and Malatya, which are under the responsibility of the Eastern Anatolia Project (DAP) Administration. 67 projects received 538 million TL of support in Adıya- man, Gaziantep, Kilis and Şanlıurfa, which are under the responsibility of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration. The Ministry of Trade has been conducting a comprehensive project including training and support models within the scope of electronic commerce to increase and develop the economic activities of provinces located in the earthquake zone. The aim of this project is to inform the citizens about the advantages of e-commerce, which allows easy access to national and international markets at low costs, without the need for a physical sales store. Efforts were coordinated between the governorships and AFAD to use all vehicles and warehouses belonging to the State Supply Office (DMO) to deliver all kinds of supplies needed in the earthquake zone to the region immediately. As part of the logistical support operations, bread, water, blankets, heaters, clothes, hygiene kits, haemodialysis solution, baby and patient nappies, masks (Surgical/N95/FFP2), overalls, sanitation products, legumes, provisions, and food parcels were delivered to the region through 106 shipments. Supply and routing operations were conducted promptly and in coordination with all relevant units to prevent any disruption in the supply of fuel required for needs such as heating and lighting, as well as vehicles and construction equipment travelling to and operating in the earthquake-affected region. Additionally, it was decided to consider the earthquake disaster a force majeure event in order to protect suppliers’ rights in orders already placed through the DMO, making arrangements to promptly assess and finalise requests from businesses, including requests for mutual termination of contracts and additional time. Petrol Ofisi A. Ş. granted 5 million litres of fuel oil to be provided to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) in the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Adana, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Hatay, Osmaniye, Kilis and Elazığ, which were deeply affected by the back-to-back earthquakes on February 6, 2023, through the State Supply Office Public Fuel Vehicle Automation System (KamuTOS). TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 319 Activities for Customs Affairs and Procedures Following the February 6 earthquakes, customs procedures for vehicles and materials to be used in search and rescue efforts from abroad were facilitated and completed immediately. Statistical data on humanitarian aid and supplies received in Türkiye in response to the crisis were trans- mitted to AFAD as part of the inter-agency coordination. In addition, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Ministry of Trade, the procedures for inspecting foodstuffs and health supplies transferred to our country as crisis goods were expedited. In the absence of the relevant address- ees to whom the crisis goods can be delivered, the procedures for deliv- ering them to the Ministry of Trade were accelerated. Furthermore, it was ensured that there are no problems with the transfer of crisis goods from bonded warehouses to public institutions and organisations, as- sociations working for the public benefit, foundations granted tax ex- emption by the President, and the delivery of goods in free zones to the mentioned institutions. Relief supplies sent from abroad were quickly delivered into the country in accordance with customs legislation and were exempt from customs duties, with no foreign trade measures or policies. In this context, a total of 7,909 shipments were made by land, air, sea, and rail; various clothing, food, and health supplies, medical devices, search and rescue equipment, and construction machinery sent from 120 countries were allowed to pass through customs gates. Other efforts undertaken concurrently with these efforts are listed below: • The implementation of some customs penalties in the customs leg- islation in all customs administrations of liable persons in the prov- inces where the state of emergency was declared, as well as in the transactions of liable persons in other provinces from these provinc- es’ customs administrations, was postponed until July 31, 2023. • Since the Antakya, Adıyaman, İslahiye, and Kahramanmaraş cus- toms offices’ service buildings in the earthquake zone were rendered unusable, other customs offices began taking on the operations pre- viously handled by the mentioned customs offices. Meanwhile, Kah- ramanmaraş, Adıyaman and Antakya customs offices were immedi- ately put into operation. 320 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • The construction of new service buildings for the Eastern Med- iterranean Customs and Foreign Trade Regional Directorate (Hatay), Antakya Customs Office (Hatay), Öncüpınar Customs Office (Kilis), Şanlıurfa Customs Office and Mersin Liquidation Management Office, which were damaged after the earthquake, is underway, and the construction of the new service building of İncirlik Customs Of- fice (Adana) was completed. Activities in the Field of Foreign Trade and International Service Trade On March 15, 2023, an online meeting was held with the participation of the Trade Facilitation Coordination Committee and NGO representatives to minimise the negative effects of the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, on the usual conduct of trade and to discuss measures that could contribute to the improvement of economic and commercial life in the region in the medium and long term. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the measures implemented in response to the earthquake disaster, as well as potential next steps in this regard. Meetings were also held at the Ministry of Trade on March 2-3, 2023, March 7, 2023, and March 21, 2023, with officials from leading companies in the sector, umbrella organisations, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), and relevant units of the Ministry of Trade, particularly the Housing Development Administration of the Republic of Türkiye (TOKİ), to ensure timely delivery of inputs used in TOKİ’s housing projects and to facilitate procurement processes. Consideration of post-earthquake sectoral risks, including the balance of foreign trade, is critical for economic stability. As a result, in order to avoid supply deficits that might arise by shipping abroad in the face of a sudden substantial increase in the need for temporary housing, between February 15, 2023, and May 14, 2023, the entire production capacity of containers was directed primarily to our earthquake-affected regions by prohibiting exports, and the resulting temporary housing need was met. In addition, an e-mail group was established to control price fluctuations in procurement processes with the participation of relevant producers, user associations and companies within the scope of AFAD’s efforts to provide containers to citizens in need of emergency shelter due to the earthquake. Efforts were made to ensure that the process ran smoothly, and by keeping track of developments, it was ensured that sheet metal and panel products were supplied at reasonable prices for the containers to be used in the earthquake zone. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 321 Furthermore, in order to quickly meet the region’s shelter needs, customs duties and additional customs duties on prefabricated buildings were set at zero until July 31, 2023, according to a regulation issued on March 10, 2023. This date was later extended to December 31, 2023, due to the region’s ongoing need. Various activities were carried out to prevent victimisation as a result of commercial activity in the earthquake-affected region. Legislative amendments were made to extend the exemption periods for inward processing authorisation certificates, inward processing permits, tax, duty, and fee exemption certificates, and undocumented export credits. Accordingly, the relevant deadlines were extended up to and including December 31, 2023, taking into account the anticipated disruptions in the production processes in the provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya—all of which were devastated by the earthquakes. This additional time was granted ex officio or upon application to mitigate the risk that companies in the situation specified in the amendment to the legislation would not be able to fulfil their obligations under the inward processing regime and the tax, duty, and fee exemption laws on time, provided that other additional time rights are reserved. Furthermore, the duration of authority entitled to the Ministry of Trade to grant permission to import used goods required for the debris removal and reconstruction activities undertaken in the region was extended, regardless of the customs value specified in the notification for importation. Companies and organisations with headquarters or production activities in one of the eleven provinces in the earthquake zone were provided with several support regarding time extensions and flexibility in the application procedures to prevent any grievances that may arise when benefiting from the support for fairs provided by the Ministry of Trade. Time extensions and support area expansions were also implemented to help businesses and earthquake survivors within the zone recover economically and continue their export operations. Approval was granted for beneficiaries with production facilities to enjoy the same rights as those with headquarters in the mentioned provinces, including Elazığ, the eleventh province to be designated within the disaster zone, as part of the expansion efforts. On February 24, 2023, arrangements were made for companies and cooperation organisations with active support periods that had headquarters or manufacturing facilities in the eleven provinces. The scope of arrangements included additional time for support periods, time extensions for the International Competitiveness Development (UR-GE) projects carried out through cooperation organisations conducting the 322 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS projects or delegations in which they are involved, and time extensions for design and product development projects of companies. Furthermore, the support application and completion deadlines of the beneficiaries with headquarters and production facilities in the eleven provinces affected by the earthquake and the cooperation organisations that conduct the projects and their affiliated delegations in which companies with headquarters and production facilities in one of these provinces are involved were extended under the relevant legislation, as were the deadlines for preliminary examination efforts. An additional regulation was enacted to ensure that the export conditions outlined in the relevant documents are not required in 2023. Policies regarding product safety inspections in imports for product groups such as radio products, medical devices, and personal protective equipment needed by earthquake-affected provinces were reviewed to avoid any delay in the supply of urgently needed products to the market. The following is a list of additional efforts made: • International surveillance corporations were given time extensions to submit applications. • Necessary arrangements were made by Eximbank to restructure the existing loans of our exporters in the zone. • Additional time was granted for applications and projects in the funding legislation. • The customs tariffs were changed for steel products under 210 Sta- tistical Provisions for Customs Duties (GTİP) codes. • However, due to disruptions in flat steel production in the earth- quake zone, the customs tariff increase on flat steel products was de- layed, and the new tariffs became effective on May 1, 2023. Measures for the Protection of Consumers and Trade The protection of consumer rights and the sustainability of trade are crit- ical in Türkiye, which was struck by the Disaster of the Century. Accord- ingly, various measures were implemented to resolve consumer disputes, prevent loss of rights, and address any earthquake-related grievances. To prevent any loss of rights and any grievances in consumer disputes in the provinces under the State of Emergency (OHAL) following the earth- quakes that struck on February 6, measures and regulations were imple- mented regarding all the procedures and transactions of the consumer TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 323 arbitration committees operating in these provinces. Pricing inspections were conducted according to the Regulation on Price Tags to prevent any grievances to consumers. Moreover, a crisis desk was established at the Command and Control Centre of the Ministry of Trade under the coordi- nation of the Directorate General of Customs Enforcement. Support for Free Zones Certain exceptions were made to the special account fees implemented in the free zones to eliminate the effects of the earthquakes that struck on February 6. These regulations were made to relieve the zone affected by the earthquake. Accordingly, it was stated that the special account fee of nine per thousand charged pursuant to Article 41 of the Regulation on the Implementation of Free Zones shall not be collected for “goods dispatched to those affected by crisis situations such as natural disas- ters, (...)” upon their dispatch to Türkiye to help the zone affected by the earthquakes that struck on February 6. Furthermore, 73 enterprises from 14 free zones donated in-kind and financial assistance to the earth- quake-affected area. Support for Enterprises The following is a list of benefits that were offered to enterprises through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organisation (KOS- GEB) as part of the economic reconstruction and recovery efforts in provinces affected by the earthquakes: • Fast financing of up to 1.5 million TL for earthquake-affected enter- prises depending on their scale, • Interest-free KOSGEB Emergency Support Loan Programme, • The 300,000 TL in support for SMEs and industrial tradesmen in the earthquake zone for up to 10 containers at 30,000 TL each, • Complete debt write-off of all enterprises in the earthquake zone to KOSGEB for the year 2023, as well as the debts of the business own- ers who lost their lives in the disaster, • The deferral of a 2.5 million TL reimbursable debt for 29 firms in Ad- ana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Hatay, Malatya, and Şanlıurfa, impacted by the earthquake, to 2024, • Cancellation of the 11 million TL debt owed by 347 enterprises across 11 provinces., 324 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • Limit increase for entrepreneurship support specific to the earthquake zone, • The Traditional Entrepreneur Support Programme, which provides non-refundable assistance of up to 130,000 TL to entrepreneurs who establish enterprises, • The Advanced Entrepreneur Support Programme, which offers non- refundable assistance of up to 750,000 TL in total to entrepreneurs who establish enterprises, • Empowering the Private Sector to Foster Social and Economic Cohesion in Türkiye Project, • Provision of various facilities for applications made from Adana, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis and Şanlıurfa provinces within the scope of the Employment-Committed SME Financial Support Programme. In addition to these efforts, as part of the projects “Formal Employment Creation in Türkiye,” implemented with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and “Empowering the Private Sector to Foster Social and Economic Cohesion in Türkiye,” managed by German Development Bank (KfW) and funded by the European Union (EU), a non-refundable support is provided for up to 60% of the interest expenses of the working capital loans that SMEs would borrow from banks within the scope of the Employment- Committed SME Financial Support Programme to ensure the continuity of employment in Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa, which were affected by the earthquake. Campaigns and Projects To heal the wounds caused by the Disaster of the Century and to ensure the continuity of economic and social life, our state has carried out projects and campaigns within the scope of reconstruction and recovery efforts with the relevant institutions and organisations. The efforts made during this period are listed below: Earthquake Relief Mobilisation “Earthquake Relief Mobilisation” was organised in e-commerce. E-commerce marketplaces and e-commerce sellers operating in our country, as well as cargo and logistics businesses, participated in TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 325 e-Mobilisation, which was carried out voluntarily. During e-Mobilisation, sellers incurred no commission fees for the sale of priority need products related to the earthquake through exclusive e-commerce marketplaces, and sellers provided their products at reduced costs. The total number of products sold as part of the “Earthquake Relief Mobilisation” coordinated by the Ministry of Trade reached 4,718,201, with a total value of 397,337,898 TL. In this context, the Earthquake Relief Mobilisation campaign met its objectives and was concluded on August 23, 2023. Bazaar Project for Earthquake-Damaged Workplaces The project, which is being conducted by the Çukurova Development Agency, has a 25 million TL budget and intends to create a bazaar with 40 stores that the tradespeople who were impacted by the earthquake can use. After deciding on two locations for the bazaar, the Yüreğir Municipality, the project partner and executor, issued a tender for the construction work. The tender was completed, and the tenderer was invited to contract. It is envisaged that the contract will be signed with the contractor and the ground delivery will be made before the end of December. Cumhuriyet Square Parking Lot Jewelry Bazaar Project The project is implemented by the Fırat Development Agency within the scope of the Regional Development-Orientated Recovery Urgent Action Programme. This project aimed to create a jewellery bazaar for 88 jewellers whose businesses were destroyed or seriously damaged by the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, by partitioning the parking garage under Cumhuriyet Square using prefabricated building materials. The project, which created 200 jobs, was finished successfully, and the designated workplaces have begun operations. Fırat Development Agency Tekstilpark Project (Nation’s Park Parking Lot Project) Within the scope of the Regional Development Orientated Recovery Urgent Action Programme, 20 workplaces of 150 square metres were created in the indoor parking lot of the Nation’s Park next to the Battalgazi Municipality for ready-to-wear garment manufacturers whose workplaces were damaged after the earthquakes on February 6, 2023. With the project, the necessary construction works were completed, and temporary workplaces were established in the municipal parking lot in the city centre for ready-to-wear garment manufacturers operating in the textile sector in Akpınar Square, whose workplaces collapsed or 326 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS were severely damaged after the earthquakes. Within the scope of the project, an employment capacity of 240 people has been created. Silk Road Bazaar Projects in Nurdağı and İslahiye Within the scope of the Regional Development-Orientated Recovery Urgent Action Programme (BOTAP) carried out by the Silk Road Development Agency, the Silk Road Bazaars project, which was built on an area of 52,000 square metres in the Nurdağı and İslahiye districts of Gaziantep, was completed. The distribution of keys to 329 establishments in bazaars built with earthquake-resistant steel has begun. Tradespeople who had migrated to neighbouring provinces due to the earthquake returned to the district after the completion of the bazaars and started to work. Workshop and Entrepreneurship Centre Projects in Nurdağı and İslahiye The Silk Road Development Agency provided approximately 200 million TL of support in the Nurdağı and İslahiye districts of Gaziantep due to the earthquake. Bazaars, workshops and social entrepreneurship centres have been built as part of the support. The aim is to create one thousand jobs in the bazaars, the turnkey delivery of which has started. The region’s trade ecosystem is expected to strengthen with the completion of the bazaars, leading to a significant increase in investment, production, and employment. In addition to the bazaars, Silk Road Entrepreneurship Centres and textile and shoe workshops were built under the Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Cohesion Project with the coordination of the World Bank. In addition to entrepreneurship training, the entrepreneurship centre organises activities to reduce the effects of the earthquake and strengthen communication skills. The centre, where young people study and spend their free time, offers intelligence games, robotic coding, and computer training. Hatay Antakya Gastronomy Bazaar Project Hatay is among the provinces in UNESCO’s “Creative Cities Network” in the field of gastronomy. The Antakya Gastronomy Bazaar, which includes restaurants selling local foods, has reunited earthquake- stricken tradespeople with their customers. The bazaar, established in the Odabaşı neighbourhood under the coordination of the Governorship and the Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency for tradespeople whose businesses collapsed in the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, was put into service on September 27, 2024. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 327 My Business is Better Than Ever Project “My Business is Better Than Ever Project” was carried out by the Karacadağ Development Agency within the scope of the Regional Development-Orientated Recovery Urgent Action Plan (BOTAP). The project aimed to prevent migration to cities and contribute to sustainable animal husbandry by ensuring the continuity of livestock enterprises affected by the earthquake. Farmers and Tradespeople Support Program The region, which has a large share in the production of fruits and vegetables for both national and international markets, is an important location for the food industry. Accordingly, the Turkish Red Crescent launched an aid programme for small and medium-sized enterprises and farmers. This initiative aims to provide cash assistance to farmers in the six most affected provinces, helping them recover and regain their livelihoods. This support is vital to revitalising the agricultural sector and mitigating the significant economic impact of earthquakes. With this project, financial support was provided to small-sized businesses affected by the earthquakes to revitalise and recover local economies. Better Together with Electronic Commerce e-Solidarity Campaign On March 15, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye launched the “Better Together with Electronic Commerce” (e-Solidarity) campaign in 11 earthquake- affected provinces (Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, 328 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa, and Elazığ). Approximately 12,000 enterprises participated in the three-month campaign, which provided around 21 million TL in support to local tradespeople and merchants. Project on Updating the General Conditions for Building Completion The importance of insurance in the construction industry for risk management has been reaffirmed by recent disasters and the resultant loss of life and property in our earthquake-prone country. Following the earthquake on February 6, the acceleration of urban transformation projects presented potential risks to the sector. To mitigate these risks and avert possible grievances, it was planned to update the existing General Conditions of Building Completion Insurance and include urban transformation projects within its coverage. The activity “amplification of the building completion insurance” was incorporated under action number 13 of the “Financial Insurances will be amplified” inside the Financial Architecture Action Plan executed by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. Similarly, the policy and measure of “Studies on amplifying building completion insurance will be carried out” was included under the title numbered 7 Disaster Management” of the Medium Term Program (2024-26), which entered into force after being published in the Official Gazette on September 6, 2023, under the number numbered 32301. Building Completion Insurance (BCI) is an insurance product that protects the landowner/consumer, known as the beneficiary, from potential grievances as outlined in the General Terms and Conditions. While BCI is not a compulsory form of insurance, • for prepaid housing sales projects with thirty or more housing units within the scope of the Law on the Protection of Consumers dated November 7, 2013, and numbered 6502 (Law No. 6502), the seller is obliged to have BCI before starting the sale of the housing, • and with the amendment made on November 29, 2018, to the Law No. 6306, dated May 16, 2012, on the Transformation of Areas Under Disaster Risk (Law No. 6306), the building contractor is obliged to have BCI before obtaining the building permit, • They must also meet the remaining assurances and requirements imposed by the relevant ministry. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 329 The abolished BCI General Terms and Conditions dated March 11, 2015, is a guarantee that provides assurance against the risk that the seller cannot deliver the residence he is obliged to deliver to the consumers on a future date specified in the contract due to various reasons (bankruptcy, death or failure to deliver within 12 months following the delivery date) and is one of the various types of guarantee that must be provided by the seller under Law No. 6502 to eliminate the grievances experienced in this field. With the new General Terms and Conditions approved by the Insurance and Private Pension Regulatory and Supervisory Authority and entered into force on June 13, 2024, in addition to prepaid housing sales con- tracts, urban transformation projects and all other construction projects that gained momentum after the February 6 earthquake were included in the scope of BCI. Thus, it was ensured that landowners as well as con- sumers can be protected by demanding this insurance from the contrac- tors.With the BCI, the insured/insuring seller/contractor’s bankruptcy, death, and failure to deliver the residence within 12 months following the delivery date are covered. In the event that the residence cannot be delivered within 12 months following the delivery date, the protection provided to landowners/consumers has been increased by including the transactions in violation of the legislation or the licensed project within the scope of the guarantee. Furthermore, with the regulation governing the payment of rent to the beneficiaries, which is calculated in accor- dance with the precedent during the insurance company’s delay, the beneficiaries’ potential grievances in the event that the housing is com- pleted by the insurance company have been avoided. Moreover, it is all designed in a way to respond to the needs of both the seller/contractor and the beneficiaries. In this regard, a financial alter- native was created by enabling access to the collateral that the owners/ developers are legally obligated to provide, while also safeguarding the beneficiaries’ savings, without necessitating the use of bank loans or let- ters of guarantee. Finally, by providing administrative, technical, and financial risk super- vision to the project through the risk assessment to be carried out by in- surance companies on the seller/contractor, the risk management func- tion of insurance is also put into effect, creating a secondary supervision mechanism in the construction sector. Thus, a significant stride has been made to prevent any grievances, which can occur in any building project, particularly in urban transformation and prepaid house sales programmes. 330 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 331 5.8. Efforts on Work and Community Life 332 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The February 6, 2023, earthquakes centred in Elbistan and Pazarcık, which stand as the greatest disaster in the history of our Republic, have become one of the most significant challenges faced by our country. In fact, the disaster of the century has had its impact in 11 provinces and resulted in economic, social, physical, and psychological setbacks re- verberating on a vast scale and in both the short and long term. Earth- quake-affected provinces are strategically important to the national economy. According to the Kahramanmaraş and Hatay Earthquakes Reconstruction and Development Report prepared by the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, in the 2022 data, 4,075,000 people were employed in these 11 provinces, and the area made up 13.3% of the country’s total employment figure. Supporting employment and labour in these prov- inces has become mandatory after the earthquake. Restoring our earthquake-affected provinces by mobilising all institu- tions and capabilities of our state has become a key priority. The efforts of all relevant institutions still continue today with the aim of quickly healing the wounds and ensuring the continuity of work life in the area. The efforts of our state and institutions were not only limited to emer- gency response. The processes of improvement, redevelopment, and en- suring economic sustainability still continue uninterruptedly. Community Benefit Programme The Community Benefit Programme (TYP) is implemented with the pur- pose of preserving employment and ensuring the continuity of the labour market in provinces, particularly in the 11 earthquake-affected provinc- es, where services are provided for earthquake victims. In order to imple- ment the TYPs in a more flexible manner, an exception was made for the 9-month rule on the benefit period and the 24-month prohibition rule, limited only to the provinces where a state of emergency was declared. With the amended regulation published in the Official Gazette dated Au- gust 16, 2023, the effective period of these rules was extended to December 31, 2024. Furthermore, as part of the project, a protocol was signed with the International Labour Organization (ILO) on organising TYPs in the provinces hit by the earthquake, and the programmes were launched by allocating a total quota of 258 for Adıyaman, Hatay and Kahramanmaraş. Additionally, programmes for 77,442 people and 17,370,000,000 TL of funds were allocated to be jointly implemented by the governorships of the provinces affected by the earthquake, Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Authority (AFAD) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Secu- rity. Part of the programmes pertaining to 64,652 people was reintroduced TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 333 for a period of nine months. In this scope, a programme for 5,616 people and 326,000,000 TL of funds were allocated to the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, and governorships of 37 provinces, excluding the 11 earthquake-affected ones. A programme of a total of 83,058 people and 17,711,000,000 TL of funds were allocated due to the earthquake. Moreover, to support the normalisation of the la- bour market in the earthquake zone, customised services were offered to the programme graduates, such as counselling, referrals to courses, and connections to private sector job openings. Table of TYP’s Allocated Due to Earthquake Province Quota Funding (TL) ADANA 3,428 815,758,543 ADIYAMAN 10,556 2,366,149,540 AĞRI 30 2,263,200.00 ANKARA 414 23,113,340.00 ANTALYA 345 18,134,300.00 ARDAHAN 30 2,263,200.00 AYDIN 200 15,088,000.00 BALIKESİR 60 2,843,000.00 BİNGÖL 60 4,647,093.61 BİTLİS 50 3,772,000.00 BURDUR 45 3,394,800.00 BURSA 55 4,149,200.00 ÇORUM 35 2,640,400.00 DİYARBAKIR 5,034 1,168,007,900.00 ELAZIĞ 2,690 659,217,560.00 ESKİŞEHİR 25 1,886,000.00 GAZİANTEP 6,507 1,510,639,510.00 HATAY 16,863 3,587,908,620.00 IĞDIR 350 43,246,000.00 ISPARTA 250 9,430,000.00 İSTANBUL 55 4,149,200.00 İZMİR 225 9,568,351.64 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 13,143 2,742,643,820.00 334 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS KARAMAN 25 2,004,089,63 KARS 30 2,295,479,28 KASTAMONU 35 2,640,400,00 KAYSERİ 402 30,326,880,00 KIRŞEHİR 27 2,036,880,00 KIRIKKALE 350 19,000,000,00 KİLİS 1,221 299,169,450,00 KOCAELİ 60 4,526,400,00 KONYA 422 23,943,180,00 KÜTAHYA 35 2,640,400,00 MALATYA 9,454 2,226,432,130,00 MARDİN 30 2,263,200,00 MERSİN 1,380 54,722,700,00 MUŞ 25 1,886,000,00 NEVŞEHİR 55 4,389,138,74 NİĞDE 50 3,803,234,95 OSMANİYE 3,597 860,182,090,10 SİVAS 45 3,394,800,00 ŞANLIURFA 4,949 1,133,860,790,00 TRABZON 66 4,979,040,00 TUNCELİ 145 11,440,984,22 UŞAK 55 4,295,307,91 VAN 25 4,295,307,91 YOZGAT 25 1,886,000,00 ZONGULDAK 100 3,772,000,00 TOTAL 83,058 17,711,099,460,57 Source: General Directorate of Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) Short-term Working Allowance and Cash Wage Support during the State of Emergency for the Earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş The earthquakes of February 6, 2023, centred in Kahramanmaraş, have caused wide-ranging economic, social, and physical adversities in Ad- ana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 335 Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa provinces. Due to the widespread geo- graphical impact of the earthquakes, a state of emergency was declared in 10 provinces hit by the earthquake by Presidential Decree No. 6785, dated February 8, 2023. With Presidential Decree No. 125 dated Febru- ary 22, 2023, a comprehensive set of measures was implemented in the fields of labour and social security. In this regard, the practices of short- term working allowance and cash wage support have been rearranged with policies specific to the earthquake zones. In support of the decla- ration of the state of emergency and Presidential Decrees, the Board of İŞKUR announced a “Regional Crisis” for the provinces impacted by the state of emergency, as per Decision No. 14, dated February 10, 2023. Within this framework, the practices of short-term working allowance and cash wage support were implemented for the 10 provinces affected by the earthquake. Short-term Working Allowance Pursuant to the provisions of Additional Article 2 of the Unemployment Insurance Law No. 4447, dated August 25, 1999, “a short-term working allowance was granted to employers who submitted applications to the Turkish Employment Agency due to the regional crisis arising from the earthquakes; for workplaces in provinces or districts designated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; and for workplaces documenting that their buildings have collapsed, are listed to be demolished urgently, or are severely or moderately damaged due to the earthquake, -pending the conclusion of the eligibility assessment during the state of emergency,. In line with this provision, payments were disbursed pending the conclu- sion of the eligibility assessment process for applications from Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay and all districts of these provinces, as well as Araban, İslahiye, Nurdağı in Gaziantep; Polateli in Kilis; Akçadağ Doğanşe- hir, Yeşilyurt and Battalgazi in Malatya. The Presidential Decree No. 7410, dated July 28, 2023, extended the duration of short-term work until August 7, 2023 for workplaces that had applied for short-term work by May 8, 2023, without requiring eligibility determination provided that it is applied to the same employees and does not deviate from the same conditions. Furthermore, the same decree prescribed that the duration of short-term working allowance paid shall not be deducted from the period of unemployment benefit. In this regard, roughly 992 million TL was disbursed to 110 thousand people including extensions. 336 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Data on Short-Term Working Allowance Disbursed after Kahramanmaraş Earthquake (as of December 3, 2024) Provinces Number of Workplaces Number of Workers Short-Term Working in Regional Crisis Payment Amount Extension Number of Workers Extension Payment Amount Adana 807 4,143 20,771,887 -  -  Adıyaman 2,299 7,793 68,116,280 503 2,286,286 Diyarbakır 114 425 3,236,515 5 15,614 Elazığ - - - -  - Gaziantep 1,140 6,145 33,574,860 42 252,991 Hatay 12,158 33,840 328,431,196 3,301 24,521,973 Malatya 4,944 20,276 163,850,844 871 5,865,075 Kahramanmaraş 6,960 35,398 314,626,683 1,402 10,105,932 Şanlıurfa 106 1,157 4,109,843 - - Kilis 11 29 167,955 - - Osmaniye 393 1,868 11,915,140 17 84,479 Grand Total 28,932 111,074 948,801,202 6,141 43,132,350 Source: General Directorate of Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) Cash Wage Support In accordance with Presidential Decree No. 125, measures have been tak- en to protect employment in the earthquake zone. One of these measures is a provision that prohibits employers from terminating employment contracts in provinces where state of emergency has been declared, save under specific conditions. A provision was made to reintroduce cash wage support, which was successfully implemented during the pandem- ic. Cash wage support was implemented in the earthquake zone in order to prevent the victimisation of individuals who were unable to receive short-term working allowance, and/or unemployment benefit due to notsatisfying the premium requirements. In this context, in the provinces where the state of emergency has been declared, among the workers having an employment contract by Feb- ruary 6, 2023, those who do not have a new entitlement arising from the short-term working application made by their employer, and those whose employment is terminated due to the closure of the workplace as a result of the effects of earthquakes on and after February 6, 2023 with no entitlement to unemployment benefit, were provided with a cash wage TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 337 support of 133,44 TL per day from the Unemployment Insurance Fund during the period of short-term working allowance or for the duration of their unemployment, limited to the duration of the state of emergency. İŞKUR conducted transactions regarding cash wage support ex officio, without requiring any additional applications from individuals who did not satisfy the premium requirements for both short-term working al- lowance and -unemployment benefit. Within the context of cash wage support applied after -Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, 700 mil- lion TL was disbursed to approximately 82,000 people. Data on Cash Wage Support (OHAL) Paid after Kahramanmaraş Earthquake (as of December 3, 2024) Source: General Directorate of Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) Activities Related to Active Labour Market Practices Various activities were conducted in the active labour market to expedite development in the disaster region, increase employment, and heal the wounds of the disaster as soon as possible. Various activities were conducted in the active labour market to expedite development in the Provinces CWS - UA CWS - SWA TOTAL Not Eligible for Unemployment Benefit Not Eligible for Short-Term Working Allowance Number of Workers Payment Amount Number of Workers Payment Amount Number of Workers Payment Amount Adana 48 393,971 3,551 17,939,655 3,599 18,333,627 Adıyaman 198 1,908,542 7,974 71,030,672 8,172 72,939,214 Diyarbakır 24 120,774 344 2,470,298 368 2,591,072 Gaziantep 33 238,502 6,988 35,680,391 7,021 35,918,892 Hatay 180 1,602,503 24,092 234,915,882 24,272 236,518,385 Malatya 90 781,056 14,121 126,052,870 14,211 126,833,927 Kahraman- maraş 94 701,070 21,046 192,525,924 21,140 193,226,995 Şanlıurfa 20 150,702 1,639 4,024,859 1,659 4,175,562 Kilis 1 5,032 70 324,844 71 329,876 Osmaniye 12 66,081 1,328 8,906,128 1,340 8,972,209 Grand Total 700 5,968,235 81,153 693,871,524 81,853 699,839,758 338 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS disaster region, increase employment, and heal the wounds of the disaster as soon as possible. In this context, for the on-the-job training programs of İŞKUR, regardless of the attendance and status of the participants for the months of January, February, March, and April, a provision has been made for the payment of essential expenses over a full month, at least at the level of minimum wage. In addition, employers were granted the option to suspend their attendance in the programmes during the State of Emergency, and provisions were made to make payments to participants during this time. During this period, participants that have a request in this direction were removed from the programme without any sanctions, and their participation in the programme was not included in the number of beneficiaries. The following are additional studies that have been conducted for the provinces covered by the State of Emergency within the context of active labour market practices: • An amendment has been made for the workplaces benefiting from the short-term working and pay guarantee fund applications in the state of emergency provinces for the continuation of their pro- grammes in their workplaces located in other provinces as well as for the reception of new programme -applications. • Employment obligations of employers were postponed provided that it does not exceed the duration of the state of emergency. • The calculation procedure for the employment obligation has been changed to make it more convenient for employers in the region. The deadline for notifying the employment obligation and the monthly checks under the programme have been postponed until the end of the state of emergency. • In order to train qualified labour force in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahra- manmaraş, and Malatya provinces and İslahiye and Nurdağı dis- tricts of Gaziantep province, where supply in the labour market was relatively more negatively affected, a new on-the-job training pro- gramme with more flexible conditions was implemented. At the same time, with an amendment dated January 20, 2024, on the legislation on active labour services; • The employment commitment rate in courses/programmes imple- mented until December 31, 2024, was set as 30%, and the employ- ment period was set as no less than the duration of the courses/ TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 339 programmes in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and Gaziantep (İslahiye and Nurdağı districts) provinces. • The employment commitment rate in courses/programmes imple- mented until December 31, 2024, was set as 40%, and the employ- ment period was set as one and a half times the actual duration of the course/programme in Adana, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep (excluding İsla- hiye and Nurdağı districts), Kilis, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa provinces. Moreover, the reimbursement of daily essential expenses for individuals enrolled in the courses or programmes held in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahra- manmaraş, Malatya provinces, and İslahiye and Nurdağı districts of Ga- ziantep province was made with 30% increase for the year 2024. Also, in keeping with the goal of a quick recovery of the zone impacted by the earthquake both economically and socially, efforts are underway to amend the legislation on active labour services. Active Labour Market Implementation Data (February 6, 2023-December 2, 2024) Provincial Directorates Number of Participants in Vocational Training Courses Expenditure in Vocational Training Courses Number of Participants in on-the-Job Training Programmes Expenditure in on-the-Job Training Pro- grammes Adana 25 49,438 ₺ 5,717 162,457,785 ₺ Adıyaman 12 4,759 297,333,113 ₺ Diyarbakır   4,175 174,803,059 ₺ Gaziantep 5 3,873 105,935,205 ₺ Hatay 44 1,304,079 ₺ 1,702 68,914,499 ₺ Kahramanmaraş   2,080 83,487,913 ₺ Kilis   292 7,961,177 ₺ Malatya 63 3,173,247 ₺ 1,738 94,615,484 ₺ Osmaniye 64 969,775 ₺ 1,034 42,687,362 ₺ Şanlıurfa   4,102 97,335,987 ₺ Total 213 5,496,540 ₺ 29,472 1,135,531,584 ₺ Source: General Directorate of Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) International Cooperation and Labour As part of the cooperation with the World Bank, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and International Labour Organisation (ILO); İŞKUR delivered a total of 60 containers to Adana, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, 340 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Hatay, Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya provinces affected by the earthquake. Furthermore, following meetings with officials from the ILO Türkiye Office as from February 2023, an inter-institutional agreement was signed for the implementation of the Community Benefit Programme in Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Adıyaman, situated in the earthquake affected region, with a budget of 400,000 USD and an anticipated number of beneficiaries of approximately 270. As part of the international cooperation, meetings were held with officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on support activities for the provinces in the area. The negotiations culminated in the plan to implement active labour initiatives (Applied Training Programme) for Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTP), individuals with International Protection Status (UK), and Turkish citizens, in collaboration with the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as part of the Social Resilience Programme (SODAP). Programmes were initiated in line with these cooperation efforts, with a plan to allocate approximately 30 million TL in resources to the zone affected by the earthquake by conducting Applied Training Programme for around 820 individuals over a three-month period in Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, and Adana until December 31, 2023. The Directorate General of International Labour Force, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), sought to enhance the quality of life in Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Diyarbakır, Adana, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Malatya, and Hatay, provinces that were impacted by the earthquake on February 6, 2023, and worked in close collaboration with other relevant stakeholders to support the agriculture and livestock sectors and contribute to the socio-economic revival of the zone. In this context, the Directorate General, in collaboration with repre- sentatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, IOM, and FAO, conducted field visits in the provinces of Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, and Kahra- manmaraş between July 17 and 20, 2023. The Directorate General of International Labour Force of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security announced that a new plan was issued for the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Diyarbakır, Adana, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Malatya, and Hatay, which were im- pacted by the earthquake, that as of February 17, 2023, the waiting peri- TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 341 od for depositing fees, missing documents, and updates for all categories of applications for work permits was extended until the end of the state of emergency. Furthermore, as stated in the first paragraph of Article 3, titled “Renewal of Documents” of Presidential Decree No. 128, in accor- dance with the provision regarding the renewal of lost or unusable work permits and work permit exemption documents of persons whose place of residence was in the provinces covered by the state of emergency and persons who document that they were in the provinces covered by the state of emergency on 6 February 2023, the Directorate General of Inter- national Labour Force of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security did not levy charges and valuable paper fees for the renewal of these docu- ments during the state of emergency. In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) facilitated the work permit applications of companies operating in the earthquake zone in Adana, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Hatay, and Malatya in relation with the tenders held within the framework of TOKİ projects. To assist the victims of the earthquakes, NATO sent tent cities to our country with a capacity of 8,000 people, and assistance was requested in granting work permit exemptions to foreign personnel working for contractor companies operating on behalf of NATO to ensure their stay in our country during the tent city construction. According to the Regu- lation on the Implementation of the International Labour Law, applica- 342 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS tions for work permit exemptions for foreigners to work in our country during the tent city construction began to be received by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s General Directorate of International La- bour Force on August 21, 2023. It was found that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security issued 36,426 work permits and work permit exemptions in Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Diyarbakır, Adana, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Malatya, Hatay, and Elazığ, all of which are in the earthquake zone from February 6, 2023, to December 31, 2023. 61,432 work permits and work permit exemptions were issued from Jan- uary 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. The observed increase provides in- sight into the-economic rebound in the region. Furthermore, between February 6, 2023, and December 23, 2024, work permits were provided in the sectors of manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle and motorcycle repair, construction and other service activities. Measures Taken to Improve Working Life For the professions required in the earthquake zone, a list of people registered with İŞKUR was prepared and given to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency. Furthermore, regulations were implemented to extend the notification deadlines and facilitate payments for programme beneficiaries, as well as those businesses, which, impacted by the disaster, are beneficiaries of active labour force programmes. Personnel from İŞKUR in provincial directorates outside of the earthquake zone visited victims relocated due to the earthquake, residing in temporary accommodations such as tent cities, dormitories, and hotels, and offered counselling services to those seeking employment in their respective provinces. The requisite software infrastructure has been established to identify earthquake victims from the administrative records of institutions. In this context, utilising inter-institutional web services, any citizen residing, employed, or registered in a province affected by the earthquake in administrative records as of February 6, 2023, was registered by İŞKUR as impacted by the disaster. Citizens affected by the earthquake, although excluded from this data query, were permitted to register with İŞKUR as disaster-affected individuals by providing a report from AFAD verifying their status. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 343 Furthermore, institutions and organisations, including employers, employer representatives, chambers of industry and commerce, organised industrial zones, and technocity managements, were contacted to receive open job requests for the target group. Additional steps to address the consequences of the earthquake disaster on working life are described below: • Outside the earthquake zone, efforts were carried out to guarantee that individuals harmed by the earthquake and relocated to neighbouring provinces received priority access to Community Benefit Programmes. • Efforts were taken to expedite the Unemployment Benefit and Short-Term Working Allowance payments in the earthquake-affected provinces, with February payments disbursed on February 15, 2023, March payments on March 21, 2023, and April payments on April 19, 2023. • Under the Unemployment Insurance Law, 30% of the previous year’s premium revenues may be allocated for measures aimed at safeguarding and enhancing employment; this percentage has been elevated to 50% by Presidential Decree. • To address the needs of certain public institutions in revising the Community Benefit Programmes during the transition period and to introduce flexibility in participation criteria due to the unpredictable consequences of the earthquake, the Regulation has been amended. Consequently, the immediate requirements of the Ministry of Na- tional Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Fam- ily and Social Services, and Ministry of Culture and Tourism were promptly fulfilled, and the Community Benefit Programmes in the earthquake-affected area were extended. • İŞKUR undertook extensive research to underline the impact of earthquakes on the labour market, enhance the sustainability of regional employment, and guide subsequent actions in this regard. This research thoroughly examined the requirements of employers and job seekers in the disaster-impacted provinces of Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa, with findings corroborated by qualitative interviews conducted in the five provinces most severely affected by the earthquake. Based on the research data, the “General Outlook Report on the Labour Market Following the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes” was compiled and shared with the public. 344 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Various projects were implemented to mitigate the disaster’s effects on employment and guarantee the continuance of social life. The Karacadağ Development Agency allocated resources for the Transformation of the Old District Bus Terminal for Earthquake-Stricken Women Employees (Ensuring the Continuity of Production) Project as part of the BO-TAP Project aimed at regaining the production and employment capacity lost due to the earthquake. Conveniences Provided for Qualified and Documented Labour Under the scope of vocational qualification efforts, the Vocational Qualifications Authority contacted the approved certifying bodies to minimise the negativities generated by the earthquake in employment and tried to ascertain the needs of the organisations. The payment periods and inspections of the dues payable to the certification bodies authorised by the Board of Directors of the Vocational Qualifications Authority were postponed in accordance with the requests received. In the event that the Vocational Qualification Certificates cannot be delivered to the authorised certification bodies or the documents need to be reprinted due to reasons such as changes in the signatory information in the printed documents due to losses, the reprinting costs will be covered from the budget of the relevant institution. The authorised certification bodies whose offices were destroyed or damaged, or whose personnel died or were injured, were given time to address their physical and human resource deficiencies. It was also decided to extend the document validity and exam validity periods of those who took the exam or were entitled to receive a certificate in the earthquake zone. Furthermore, seven universities in the zone were included in the Turkish Qualifications Framework, with 37 programmes in line with the supports for the inclusion of the qualifications provided by the universities in the disaster area into the Turkish Qualifications Framework. In addition, the improvement activities for authorised certification bodies operating in the area continue with necessary measures in place to ensure the people in the area have uninterrupted access to examination and certification activities. Efforts for Occupational Health and Safety Priority measures to be taken to ensure occupational health and safety with regard to activities such as the demolition of damaged structures, removal of debris piles, and installation of tent and container cities to temporarily meet the accommodation needs of earthquake victims that came to the fore in the face of the disaster of the century have been determined. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change (Directorate General of Environmental Management, Directorate TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 345 General of Environmental Impact Assessment, Permit and Inspection, and Directorate General of Construction Works), Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, and relevant governorships were informed regarding the matter. On top of that, in order to guarantee the safety of personnel who will be involved in demolition and construction efforts, technical documentation was performed, focusing on biological factors, epoxy and isocyanate exposure, carbon monoxide poisoning, the use of portable generators, rubble slides for the safe disposal of waste, safe working with hand tools, electrical works, concrete casting works, and working in cold weather. The technical documents that were prepared were made available to the public on the website at guvenliinsaat.csgb.gov.tr. Technical research and documentation on topics that will contribute to the construction activities in the earthquake zone are still ongoing. Website of the Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety The Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety of the Minis- try of Labour and Social Security, in close coordination with all relevant stakeholders, especially local administrations, the Ministry of Environ- ment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye and AFAD, started to carry out the necessary measures for as- bestos exposure in order to safely remove the debris in grave amounts in the post-earthquake disaster area and also to eliminate health risks. As a part of the cooperation protocol held between the General Director- ate of Occupational Health and Safety and the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, training activities were planned on the subjects of “Asbestos Awareness Training in Local Administrations”, “Definition and Types of Asbestos”, “Properties and Intended Use of Asbestos”, “Asbestos-Contain- ing Materials and Types”, “Works with Asbestos Exposure and Areas of 346 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Use”, “Impacts of Asbestos on Human Health”, “Preparation of Asbestos Re- moval Workers”, “Self Protection and Personal Protective Equipment”, and “Requirements within the Scope of Demolition Licence”. In this context, asbestos awareness trainings were initiated, particularly in the provinces that were impacted by the earthquakes that occurred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6th. These trainings are still ongoing. The objective is to increase municipal employees’ awareness of asbestos through awareness-raising trainings, with a particular emphasis on the disposal of asbestos materials that may have been utilised in old buildings which were destroyed or severely damaged and are scheduled to be demol- ished in the wake of the February earthquakes. Moreover, personal protective equipment such as the FFP3 masks, Type 5-6 protective overalls, protective gloves, work shoes, etc. were provided for the use of the workers who carried out debris removal and waste disposal activities. Other Aid and Support Under the coordination of the Ministry of Interior, the ESEN CARD System was introduced on August 15, 2023, in cooperation between AFAD and the Red Crescent, for food and grocery shopping for our citizens staying in container cities. In 11 provinces hit by the earthquakes, a total of 72,749 cards were dis- tributed. Under this system, each card was initially loaded with 3,000 TL, and as of January, the amount was increased to 4,000 TL. In 11 provinces, in total, 4,365,985,843 TL has been loaded on the cards so far. As part of the rent support payments that started in April 2023, in January, which covered the 22nd rent, the amount paid to tenants was increased from 3,000 TL to 5,000 TL, and the amount paid to landlords was increased from 5,000 TL to 7,500 TL. To date, 177,819 landlords have received 24,005,595,500 TL, while 184,920 tenants have received 10,540,430,000 TL, corresponding to a total of 34,546,025,500 TL in rent support to 362,739 households. In June, the 15th and the last rent support payment was made to tenants. Additionally, a total sum of 148,415,904,752 TL was allocated, including 19,959,780,000 TL to 1,995,978 households, providing 10,000 TL per house- hold as support payments; 8,529,360,000 TL to 568,624 households, providing 15,000 TL per household as relocation support; a total of 4,112,800,000 TL to the relatives of 41,128 citizens who lost their lives; 57,201,000 TL as evacuation support; 37,060,178,150 TL as appropriations to the governorship; 11,230,127,911 TL as demolition/debris payments; 2,097,049,360 TL as appropriations to in- stitutions; and 30,823,382,830 TL as central purchasing expenses. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 347 As of January 16, 2025 92 9,269 339 312 2,912 20,693 3,816 193 7,088 916 1,260 348 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Campaigns Emergency and Disaster Management Programme in Workplaces Since 1986, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has been organ- ising Occupational Health and Safety Week celebration activities each year to promote the culture of occupational health and safety. In this context, the celebration on May 9, 2023, was held with the main theme of “Emergency and Disaster Management in Workplaces” at the conference hall of Eti Maden (Eti Mining Operations) in Ankara. Throughout the week’s event, four sessions were held during the day. The sessions with experts from academia, representatives from non-govern- mental organisations, and public and private sector employees as speak- ers featured the following: • Information on the use of Integrated Disaster Management System Software and Through The Wall Radar, both defence industry tech- nologies employed in emergency and disaster management, • The importance of communication and coordination in emergencies at workplaces, • A presentation on seismic isolation applications for protecting machinery equipment and buildings during earthquakes, • Presentations on occupational health and safety for healthcare in- stitutions and healthcare workers during emergencies and disasters. Emergency and Disaster Management Programme in Workplaces TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 349 If I’m Well, Everyone is Well: Empowering Women Earthquake Survivors Project The ‘If I’m Well, Everyone is Well: Empowering Women Earthquake Survivors Project was carried out by the Centre for Labour and Social Security Training and Research (ÇASGEM), with the project implementation team selected and assigned from among experts in labour and social security training. The main objective of the project is to provide emotional and psycho- logical support while increasing awareness among women participants who have gone through a major earthquake disaster. To accomplish this goal, training topics were identified, and the project, along with its main activities (training and research), was shared by means of reaching out to unions within the textile and weaving sector. Following consultations with trade unions, the training programmes and the provinces where these trainings would take place were identified. Earthquake kits were prepared and purchased to be distributed to project participants. The products to be included in the kit were determined by contacting people in the earthquake zone. The first training was held in Malatya province on April 24, 2024, with the participation of 100 workers who survived the earthquake. The training included sessions on Solution-Focused Communication, Emotional Resilience, Mindfulness-Based Stress Management, and Empathy-Based Family Communication. The second and third training sessions were organised in Antalya prov- ince on May 8-9, 2024, involving 20 women earthquake survivors, and on May 14-15, 2024, with the participation of 19 women earthquake survivors. These sessions featured trainings on Empathy-Based Fami- ly Communication, Awareness of Strengths, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Work, Family and Life Balance, Emotional Intelligence, and Increasing Emotional Resilience with a Self-Compassionate Inner Voice. Moreover, the Social Facility Management of the Centre for Labour and Social Security Training and Research (ÇASGEM) offered temporary shelter and food services to 28 earthquake survivors from January 1, 2024, to August 1, 2024. 350 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS If I’m Well, Everyone is Well Project TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 351 5.9. Steps to Support the Industry 352 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Multifaceted endeavours were made with the fundamental purpose of revitalising the economy, restoring production and the competitive envi- ronment in the cities designated as disaster zones due to the earthquakes on February 6. Investment incentives, organised industrial zones, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and regional contribution proj- ects have been the four main elements of the endeavours. The “Regulation on Industrial Zones and Industrial Workplaces in Disaster Zones”, prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, entered into force on its publication in the Official Gazette on Decem- ber 30, 2023. The regulation sets out the rules and procedures regard- ing the designation and planning of potential industrial zones as well as workplaces to be built or reinforced on-site in the provinces identified as disaster zones on account of the February 6 earthquakes along with necessary terms and exemptions of applications for these places. Accordingly, in the areas since their designation as disaster zones, the Ministry will identify the criteria for potential industrial zones, exclud- ing forest lands, such as the distance to the fault line, convenience of the ground, flood probability and proximity to the population centre. The relevant governorship, municipality, organised industrial zone (OIZ), in- dustry areas (IA) or industrial sites (IS) construction cooperative may also propose areas. Digital maps, satellite images and land characteris- tics of the zone in question will be submitted to the Ministry and land surveys will commence for the zones deemed suitable. The Ministry of Industry and Technology has declared 34 industrial zones spanning 9,177 hectares in line with the demands and needs of our industrialists from OIZs and the region. In the wake of the February 6 earthquakes epicentred in Kahramanmaraş, 20 industrial site projects were carried out for a total of 4,038 workplaces in 11 provinces with the aim of normalising economic activities in the re- gion. The construction of four industrial estates for 429 workplaces was completed. Financial support of 2.85 billion TL was provided for 25 OIZ projects in 11 provinces. For the projects continuing in 2025 in the provinc- es affected by the disaster, 7.4 billion TL was allocated. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 353 Gaziantep İslahiye 80 Workplaces Project Kahramanmaraş Pazarcık 142 Workplaces Project 354 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Development Agencies Earthquake Projects Hatay Antakya Gastronomy Bazaar Project In the aftermath of the earthquakes, a total of 2.5 billion TL support was provided to 1595 projects in Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa provinces through Development Agencies and Regional Development Administrations. The Directorate General for Development Agencies of the Ministry of Industry and Technology provided a total of 1.216 billion TL in financial support to 51 projects with a budget of 1.501 billion TL on March 28, 2023, as part of the Regional Development Oriented Recovery Urgent Action Programme (BOTAP). As part of the Social Development Support Programme, 13 projects with a total budget of approximately 75 million TL have been supported with an incentive of 56.7 million TL after the earthquakes in 2023 in 11 affected provinces through five development agencies (Silkroad, Eastern Mediterranean, Fırat, Karacadağ, Çukurova). As part of the Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Cohesion in Refugee and Host Communities in Türkiye (SEECO) Project, 24 million EUR of support was provided to the provinces in the earthquake zone. 53 projects received 211 million TL of support in Elazığ and Malatya, which are under the responsibility of the Eastern Anatolia Project (DAP) Administration. 67 projects received 538 million TL of support in Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Kilis and Şanlıurfa, which are under the responsibility of Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 355 Nurdağı and İslahiye 1st and 2nd Stage Silk Road Bazaar Projects 356 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organisation (KOSGEB) Earthquake Zone Support Ongoing manufacturing activities by earthquake victims in workshops established with KOSGEB support Investment Support under Support Programme for Attraction Centers Investments in the provinces and districts affected by the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, were also evaluated under the Support Programme for Attraction Centres. The goal of the support programme is to reinvig- orate the investment environment in relatively underdeveloped regions and thus increase employment, production and exports while also sup- porting investments to reduce the development gap between regions. Consequent to the evaluations, the following incentives were provided to the investments deemed appropriate: Region 6 Incentives within the Scope of Investment Incentive Certificates • VAT Exemption • Customs Duty Exemption • Tax Reduction • Insurance Premium Employer Share Support • Insurance Premium Support TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 357 • Interest/Dividend Support • Investment Location Allocation • Income Tax Withholding Support • Other Incentives Provided to Investments with Incentive Certificates Business Development Support Programme Living Space Support in the Disaster Period: Container housing support to enterprises in the earthquake zone by way of permits from OIZ and Small Industrial Sites (SIS). Support is provided for maximum 10 new contain- ers with a minimum size of 3X7 m. The upper limit of the total support amount is 300,000 TL, with 30,000 TL allocated per container. Operational Support in the Disaster Period As part of the operational support in disaster periods, expenses for the procurement for maintenance, renovation and repair services; personnel costs; and raw material, supplies, equipment, hardware etc. costs related to the enterprise’s field of activity shall be 100 per cent provided with reimbursable support against collateral. The upper limit of the support is 75,000 TL. Project and Construction Cost Support in the Disaster Period As part of the project and construction cost support in disaster periods, the project and construction costs of workplaces to be built on-site as well as the cost of ongoing workplace constructions shall be 100 per cent provided with reimbursable support against collateral. The upper limit of the support is 1 million TL. Türkiye: Post-Earthquake Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Recovery Programme The signing ceremony for the KOSGEB-JICA Loan Agreement was held at KOSGEB. 358 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Using international funds, KOSGEB launched the “Türkiye: Post- Earthquake Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Recovery Project” to economically revitalise enterprises affected by the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023. The project aims to ensure the recovery and business continuity of SMEs in earthquake-affected regions. The project, financed by the World Bank, is implemented by KOSGEB. The project, which covers the years 2023-2025, benefits enterprises that were damaged or suffered at least 30 per cent loss of income in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Nurdağı and İslahiye, where the devastating effects of the earthquake were most severe, and enterprises that were damaged in Adana, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Kilis, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa and Gaziantep (except Nurdağı and İslahiye districts). Enterprises are required to continue their activities in the province where they operated before the earthquake during the support period. Businesses established before January 1, 2023 can apply for support. En- terprises wishing to benefit from the support are only required to submit a debt commitment letter and a damage status certificate. There will be a grace period of 24 months associated with the 6-month support. En- terprises will repay the financing in three instalments over the following 12 months. There will be no interest on the repayment amount. In order to contribute to the recovery and business continuity of SMEs in the earthquake-affected zones, financial resources of 450 million dollars, via cooperation with the World Bank, and 20 billion Japanese yen, via cooperation with JICA, were made available to the enterprises. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the support programme on October 31, 2023; the project was shared with the public, and applications started to be received on the same day. Businesses that meet the conditions benefit from support ranging from 200,000 TL to 750,000 TL, depending on the damage, the province where it is located and the size of the enterprise. Within the scope of the programme, a total of 12.8 billion TL (Deflated: 20 billion TL) was disbursed to 39,680 enterprises in 2023 and 7.3 billion TL to 21,000 en- terprises in 2024. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 359 Reopening of a florist destroyed in the earthquake in Diyarbakır with a loan from KOSGEB 360 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Emergency Support Loan for Earthquake-Affected SMEs Fast financing up to 1.5 million TL was made available to earthquake-affect- ed enterprises in 11 provinces in the earthquake zone, depending on their scale. The KOSGEB Emergency Support Loan Programme, which was launched with the aim of helping SMEs restart their businesses, benefitted SMEs engaged in manufacturing, supplying manufacturing-related parts, carrying out manufacturing-related repair activities, enterprises engaged in architectural activities, and tradespeople and enterprises settling in contain- er bazaars. Damaged SMEs located in small industrial sites (SIS), organised industrial zones (OIZ) or in clusters of workplaces outside of these benefit- ted from the Emergency Support Programme. In this case, micro-enterpris- es borrowed up to 250,000 TL, small enterprises up to 500,000 TL, and me- dium-sized enterprises up to 1 million TL. The upper limits were raised by 50 per cent for enterprises with severe and higher damage. The total loan limit was increased to 1.5 million TL for severely damaged medium-sized enter- prises. Enterprises benefiting from the Emergency Support Loan, which was launched with the aim of rapidly normalising economic and social life in the zone, will not make repayments for the first 12 months. In the following 24 months, payments will be made in quarterly-instalments. The programme is implemented with zero interest and the interest is fully covered by KOSGEB. 1.46 billion TL support has been provided to 12,000 enterpises.. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 361 Enterprise and Living Space Support in the Disaster Period In order to meet the temporary housing needs of people affected by the disaster, SMEs and industrial tradesmen in earthquake zones were pro- vided with 300.000 TL support up to 10 containers, including 30.000 TL per container through the Enterprise and Living Space Support in the Disaster Period. Within the scope of the Enterprise and Living Space Support, 68 enterprises received 9.5 million TL support in 2023. A reim- bursable support of up to 75,000 TL was provided in order to contribute to meeting the expenses of SMEs operating in the manufacturing sector in the earthquake zone, such as maintenance, renovation, repair, per- sonnel, raw materials, supplies, equipment, and hardware. Among the enterprises that received a certificate from the official author- ities regarding the damage status of their workplaces, those operating in the temporary marketplaces and industrial sites established after the earthquake or in the Section C - Manufacturing sector as per NACE Rev. 2 benefitted from the support. Repayments for the support programme will be made in 6 equal instalments in four-month periods, after a grace period of 12 months from the date of completion of the programme. The repayment date of the first instalment will be the first business day fol- lowing the 12-month period after the completion date of the programme. Cancellation and Deferral of Debts of SMEs in the Earthquake Zone The debts of all enterprises in the earthquake zone for the year 2023 to KOSGEB and the debts of the business owners who lost their lives in the disaster were entirely written off. The debts of 29 enterprises in six of the provinces that were affected by the earthquake (Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Hatay, Malatya, and Şanlıurfa) totalling 2.5 million TL were deferred, while the debts of 347 enterprises across the 11 provinces total- ling 11 million TL were written off. Incremental Entrepreneurship Support Entrepreneurship support limits were increased specifically for the earthquake zone in order for the enterprises in the earthquake zone to resume their operations immediately. Enterprises, the workplaces of which have been identified by official institutions as severely damaged, urgently in need of demolition, or completely demolished, are eligible for support. Regardless of whether they have previously received support from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organisation of Türkiye (KOSGEB), these enterprises are provided with support under the Traditional Entrepreneur Support Programme and the Advanced Entrepreneur Support Programme. 362 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS 130,000TL for Traditional Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs who set up their businesses within the scope of the Tra- ditional Entrepreneur Support Programme have been supported with a grant of up to 130,000 TL. Enterprises can benefit from this support with an amount up to 100,000 TL for employment, 20,000 TL for foun- dation expenses, and 10,000 TL for the certificate to be obtained by the entrepreneur or the staff. 750,000 TL for Advanced Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs who set up their businesses within the scope of the Advanced Entrepreneur Support Programme are offered a grant of up to 750,000 TL in total. Grants of up to 600,000 TL have been provided for machinery- equipment and software expenses, 100,000 TL for job creation, 20,000 TL for mentoring, consultancy, and business consulting, 20,000 TL for startup costs; and 10,000 TL for the certificate to be obtained by the entrepreneur or the personnel. As part of the programme, 13.75 million TL support was granted to 512 enterprises. Visits to Enterprises In order to guide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and pro- vide solutions to their needs and aspirations, KOSGEB has been con- ducting weekly visits to enterprises every Thursday since 2024. In this context, 18,442 SMEs were visited in the earthquake zone in order to identify the needs of SMEs in the earthquake zone, guide them and pro- vide solutions to their aspirations. Head of KOSGEB Ahmet Serdar İbrahimcioğlu visited tradesmen and met with SMEs in the Nurdağı and İslahiye districts of Gaziantep, which were affected by the earthquakes. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 363 Empowering the Private Sector to Foster Social and Economic Cohesion in Türkiye Project and Employment-Committed SME Financial Support Programme For applications from Adana, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis and Şanlıurfa; • The requirement for enterprises to employ new personnel has been abolished. • The requirement for the enterprise to ensure more than one third of the total Social Security Institution (SSI) premium days for the last 12 (twelve) months prior to the date of the announcement of the call for proposals has been abolished. • The requirement that the number of premium days in the SSI records for the personnel subject to the employment commitment must be at least 80 (eighty) days has been amended to 40 (forty) days. • If the personnel subject to the employment commitment has been replaced, the requirement that the sum of the number of premium days of the personnel who were replaced in the relevant monitoring period and the personnel who replaced them should be at least 80 (eighty) days has been amended to 40 (forty) days. • Furthermore, the programme introduced new flexibility for SMEs that had difficulty in fulfilling their employment commitments during the first monitoring period as they were unable to finalise their work permit procedures. According to the amendment, SMEs that have a work permit application date and an approval date that are more than 30 days apart in the first monitoring period of the programme will be deemed to have fulfilled their employment commitment in the first monitoring period, provided that the person subject to the employment commitment is documented and the insurance registration is completed after the work permit is obtained. The amount of support will be determined on the basis of the number of premium days paid. In the provinces of Adana, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis and Şanlıurfa; • Number of enterprises to be supported under the FRIT II Employ- ment-Committed SME Support Programme: 947. • The total budget is 45.52 million euros, with 28.61 million euros ear- marked for the earthquake zone. 364 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • The evaluation processes were concluded as of August 1, 2023, when the support process began. Furthermore, as part of the projects “Formal Employment Creation in Türkiye” implemented with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and “Empowering the Private Sec- tor to Foster Social and Economic Cohesion in Türkiye,” managed by Ger- man Development Bank (KfW) and funded by the European Union (EU), a non repayable support is provided for up to 60% of the interest expenses of the working capital loans that SMEs would borrow from banks with- in the scope of the Employment-Committed SME Financial Support Pro- gramme in order to ensure the continuity of employment in 10 provinces affected by the earthquake (Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Ha- tay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa). Rapid Support Programme for Micro and Small Enterprises In the provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya and the districts of Nurdağı and İslahiye in Gaziantep, the support processes of the enterprises receiving support under the Rapid Support Programme for Micro and Small Enterprises were suspended without prejudice to the rights of the enterprises, and it was decided not to impose sanctions in the four provinces and two districts that were severely affected by the earthquake, as it was concluded that the recovery process would take time and the enterprises would be unable to fulfil the requirements for creating new employment and maintaining employment. Activities of the Directorate General of National Technology In six universities in the earthquake zone, the “Sector on Campus” pro- gramme contributed to the academic and sectoral development of ap- proximately 1,700 students through 22 different courses. In cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Technology and HAVELSAN, the development of university students focused on career and technology was supported through the “Havelsan on Campus for Your Future” programme in 11 provinces affected by the earthquake. In 11 provinces affected by the earthquake, 3,302 students were provided with technology training free of charge at Deneyap Technology Workshops. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 365 5.10. Agriculture Friendly Arrangements 366 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Damage Assessment Approximately 14,000,000 people residing in an area of 110,000 square me- ters across 11 provinces were impacted by the earthquakes at Kahraman- maraş, which are considered the disaster of the century. The initial assess- ments conducted in the aftermath of this devastating earthquake indicated that the agricultural sector sustained a total of 24,200,000,000 TL in damage. It was determined that 8,095 cattle, 69,982 sheep and goats, 42,009 poul- try, and 827,248 chicks died; the number of destroyed or severely damaged barns and corrals was 17,102, and the number of damaged beehives was 19,187. Damage to certain inland aquaculture facilities operated by the pri- vate sector resulted in the deaths of approximately 181 tonnes of fish and 37,400,000 juvenile fish. The irrigation area of 24 dams and ponds that have been damaged is 80,019 hectares, with 28,404 hectares unable to be irrigated due to the damage. During the earthquake, the fault line ruptures resulted in landslides, ground shifts, land deformations, the suspension of land consolidation works, and issues with cadastral base maps. As part of the Investment Programme, ef- forts were made to complete the excavation and backfilling, parcellation, and in-field development activities to be carried out in order to eliminate the deformations on the land. The projected cost for completing these works is approximately 900,000,000 TL. Three deputy ministers, eight director generals, eight deputy director gener- als, one head of an institution, and 46 provincial directors were assigned from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to ensure disaster coordination in the earthquake zone. Furthermore, 5,092 heavy equipment and 14,380 per- sonnel were deployed to the region as organised. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, along with its related and associated organisations, operated in the field with a total of 18,154 personnel, including 1,800 volunteers. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 367 Emergency Response Efforts for Livestock Production • Efforts were made to rescue the animals trapped under the rubble in the disaster zone and to bury the deceased ones in order to prevent the outbreak of epidemics. 20,351 livestock tents and canopy tents were dispatched to the region and distributed for animals whose barns and corrals were damaged in the earthquake. • 16,000 tonnes of animal feed, including 1,520 tonnes of concentrate feed, were delivered to the disaster zone and distributed to the breed- ers to meet their feed requirements. • Veterinarians and animal health technicians dispatched from other provinces to the earthquake zones carried out damage assessments of the affected barns and corrals, animal rescue operations, health screenings, and treatment of the animals affected by the earthquake. • In order to prevent both epidemic animal diseases and zoonotic dis- eases, as well as to prevent health issues, culling operations were conducted based on animal mortality reports. • Directorates of the Veterinary Control Institute were informed of the earthquake, and the laboratories that would be utilised to combat potential epidemics were prepared. • 5,017,241 doses of free vaccines (foot-and-mouth disease, sheep pox and goat pox, bluetongue disease) were administered to the animals of breeders in the provinces struck by the earthquake. • Within the framework of the Fight Against Animal Diseases and Pests, the requisite measures have been implemented meticulously to prevent and control diseases, prevent the transmission of zoonot- ic diseases, and ease the suffering of our breeders. • 144,025 packs of medicine donated by 18 companies in the veterinary pharmaceutical sector to be delivered to the earthquake zone were dis- patched to the region, and their proper administration was ensured. • To continue the scheduled vaccinations in the provinces affected by the earthquake, vaccination campaigns were accelerated by assign- ing personnel from other provinces to take part in the vaccination efforts aimed at preventing animal disease outbreaks in the region and to restock vaccines that were wasted. • A total of 65 tonnes of food was distributed to the shelters for stray animals and pets affected by the earthquake. 368 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • With an arrangement introduced to identify and register pets that ar- rived from earthquake-affected provinces to other provinces, whose owners had submitted a declaration before December 31, 2022, but whose identification and registration procedures were still not com- pleted, the residence addresses of the owners were checked, allowing the pets to be identified and registered in the province they arrived in, thus preventing the owners from being disadvantaged. • Regarding pets transferred from earthquake-affected provinces to other provinces by animal lovers, whose owners had allegedly passed away, arrangements were made to confirm the death through MERNİS (Central Civil Registration System) data. Then efforts were made to contact the secondary emergency contact persons, and if no contact could be made, pet ownership was transferred. • In line with the demands received from the disaster zone, the animals belonging to breeders facing problems with their animals’ care, feed- ing, and sheltering were transferred to the Konuklar Facility in Konya. • The livestock of our producers affected by the earthquake, which were either unclaimed or unable to be cared for, were taken from their locations by means of the Meat and Milk Board; 905 cattle and 3,378 sheep and goats were delivered for slaughter by the Board’s vehicles, and the breeders/villagers received cash compensation in advance. • Coordination was ensured with unions and breeders for the sale of calves and heifers due for slaughter and cows, as well as sheep and goats about to give birth to other breeders. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 369 • 548,000 tonnes of milk were collected from dairy farms and breed- ers in the earthquake zone, and coordination was established to con- vert them into dairy products. • Hunting has been suspended nationwide as of February 2, 2023, in accordance with Hunting Law No. 4915, due to the damage to wildlife and their habitats. Coordination and Control of Food Supply • The Turkish Grain Board coordinated the flour supply to the bread makers of the provinces in the disaster zone, particularly to the public bread factories, and to the bread makers of the neighbouring provinces supplying bread to these regions. The aid that was to be provided to the earthquake zone by companies, federations, and af- filiated associations that operate in the flour, pasta, bulgur wheat, and legume sectors was directed to the regions that required them. In this context, 12,582 tonnes of flour, 520,000 loaves of bread and 1,228 tonnes of bulgur wheat, pasta, and similar food supplies were delivered to the region. • The Turkish Grain Board donated 10,000 tonnes of flour, 2,000 tonnes of rice, 2,000 tonnes of red lentils, 2,001 tonnes of sunflower oil, 1,210 tonnes of roasted hazelnuts, 453 tonnes of hazelnut spread, 2,185 tonnes of raisins, 1,253 tonnes of grape molasses, 83 tonnes of hazelnut butter, and 40 tonnes of hazelnut croquant to be distrib- uted through the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). Furthermore, 315 tonnes of flour were granted for distribu- tion through the Turkish Red Crescent. • 126 tonnes of meat and meat products, 8 tonnes of milk and dairy products, and 8,344 tonnes of food were delivered to the provinces affected by the earthquake. • Eight refrigerated trucks and delivery vehicles were dispatched to the region for logistics. • Water tanks with a total capacity of 50,000 litres were delivered to AFAD to meet the water needs of the region. • Meat and meat products from sheep, goats, and cattle donated to the Meat and Milk Board by citizens were delivered to the earthquake zone. • In the disaster zone, 32,789 food inspections were conducted by 853 experts as part of the food control. There were two distinct instances 370 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS of food poisoning; however, all requisite precautions were taken, and there were no fatalities. • In the provinces affected by the earthquake, 334 Forest Search and Rescue Team (ORKUT) officers and 3,994 technicians and adminis- trative personnel within the body of Directorate General of Forestry (OGM) were assigned to distribute supplies, equipment, and fire- wood, and approximately 117,447 steres of firewood were distributed to the earthquake survivors. Dams and Drinking Water • A total of 147 wells were drilled in the provinces in the disaster zone, and 92,293,257 m³ of water per year was supplied. Furthermore, the inspection of existing wells was finalised. • A total of 147 water boreholes, including 47 in Kahramanmaraş (38,660,928.48 m³/year), 45 in Hatay (24,135,762.24 m³/year), 43 in Malatya (19,421,445.60 m³/year), 5 in Adıyaman (3,421,025.28 m³/year), 5 in Osmaniye (6,654,096 m³/year), and 2 in Kilis, provided drinking water for 743,296 people and irrigation water for 952 hectares of land. 515 cooperative wells in Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Elazığ, and Diyarbakır were inspected in the aftermath of the earthquake, and the inspections of the remaining wells are currently ongoing. • The excavation of drinking water pipes and sewer lines, as well as the site planning of tent city and container areas, was completed. • In 10 provinces and their districts affected by the earthquake, all damages to drinking water sources, transmission lines, treatment TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 371 plants, reservoir pipelines and reservoirs were repaired, and purified drinking water was delivered to the drinking water reservoirs of the provinces and districts and made available to our citizens. • A tender was held for the completion of the İskenderun Drinking Wa- ter Treatment Plant. Following the signing of the contract on March 30, 2023, the operation began, and the water supply resumed on Au- gust 15, 2023. • Under the protocol signed between AFAD and the Directorate Gen- eral for State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) on September 19, 2023, regard- ing the supply of drinking and domestic water in the regions where permanent residences for the disaster’s survivors are located, efforts were exerted to provide drinking and domestic water to the Turkish Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) residences under con- struction in 27 regions across various provinces. • Repairs and reinforcements of pipelines and pumping stations dam- aged by earthquakes and floods were undertaken, and the water sup- ply potential reached 100 per cent in many parts of our provinces. • The condition of the dams in the disaster area was meticulously ex- amined from the first day of the disaster, and dams, ponds, rain ba- sins and supply lines were checked using the methods developed by the engineers working at DSİ. The 140 reservoirs in the earthquake zone were inspected, and no emergency intervention was required. The requisite precautions were taken. The Atatürk Dam underwent a thorough inspection four times, and no issues were identified. The in- frastructure of the camera monitoring and data transmission systems for the Atatürk Dam, as well as the supply and installation of the prod- ucts, services, software, and all necessary equipment for the installa- tion and integration of the systems, were provided. The entire system was thereafter operationalised. • Dams that were identified as having a fracture in the crest were mon- itored for the purpose of repairing the damage and taking precau- tionary measures. The Asi River was intervened in to prevent the neighbouring settlements from being impacted by the excessive wa- ter rise that was detected. Agricultural Support Initiatives • As part of livestock support initiatives, the provinces affected by the earthquake were paid a total of 2,380,642,000 TL. 372 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • In 11 provinces, 198,078 enterprises received feed support totalling 1,382,000,000 TL, with 500 TL per cattle and 50 TL per sheep and goat. • Our farmers whose animals perished received 529,000,000 TL for the delivery of 5,804 cattle, 340,697,000 TL for the delivery of 43,317 sheep and goats, 6,681,000 TL for the delivery of 548,810 poultry, and 32,000,000 TL for the delivery of 26,318 beehives. • Depremden zarar gören 11 ildeki 113 bin 746 yetiştiriciye 473 milyon 812 bin TL ödenek öne çekilerek ödenmiştir. • For 1,339,613 hives of our 10,328 beekeepers, 5,358 tonnes and 452 kg of sugar for feeding purposes were provided in kind, totalling 90,575,767 TL. • In the provinces declared disaster zones due to the earthquake, 44,700,000 TL was paid to 26 producers to ensure the continued operation of aqua- culture enterprises whose production facilities were damaged. • A total of 11,300,000 TL in financial support was paid to 961 fisher- men to compensate for the financial losses of fishing vessel owners engaged in fishing in the sea and inland waters due to the fishing activities they could not carry out and to ensure the sustainability of fishing activities. • During the damage assessment procedures, the Agricultural Insur- ance Pool (TARSİM) issued compensation payments to breeders for their animals that perished in the debris, regardless of their ear tag numbers. Within this framework, a total of 37,000,000 TL in dam- TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 373 age compensation payment was made by TARSİM for 7,590 cattle and sheep and goats, 503,003 poultry, and 2,817 hives that perished in the debris, based on the declaration of the breeder or breeder’s representative. • Family business projects receive funding in order to improve live- stock infrastructure, increase capacity and efficiency, produce qual- ity products under greater hygiene conditions, and breed herds with better gene resources. In this context, 12 projects for cattle farming and sheep and goat farming, beekeeping, silkworm breeding, and dairy hygiene were funded in the region between 2023 and 2024, with a budget of 8,681,250 TL allocated to these projects. Animal Husbandry Development (Increasing Animal Production) Projects PROJECT YEAR PROVINCE PROJECT NAME MAIN SECTOR OF THE PROJECT TOTAL PROJECT COST REQUESTED FUNDING PROVIDED FUNDING (TL) SUPPORT PERCENTAGE (%) BREEDER CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE (%) 2023 ADIYAMAN Project on Post-Earth- quake Milk Supply Im- provement through Cold Chain in Adıyaman DISASTER RELIEF   1000000 1000000 0,8   2024 ADIYAMAN Sheep and Goat Automatic Feeder Project SHEEP AND GOAT FARMING 2500000 1875000 1875000 0,75 0,25 2023 DİYARBAKIR If There are Bees, There is Life Project APICULTURE 420000 315000 315000 0,75 0,25 2024 HATAY “Hatay Bee Breeding Project” APICULTURE 365000 273750 273750 0,75 0,25 2024 HATAY Milking Machine Project CATTLE FARMING 714400 500000 500000 0,7 0,3 2024 HATAY Milking Machine Project CATTLE FARMING 4285720 1500000 1500000 0,35 0,35+0,30 2024 KAHRAMANMARAŞ Clean Milk Easy Milking CATTLE FARMING 540000 405000 405000 0,75 0,25 374 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS In the budget year 2024, our farmers in the earthquake-affected prov- inces received a total of 13,700,000,000 TL in crop production support. 2024 KAHRAMANMARAŞ Efficient Breeding SHEEP AND GOAT FARMING 550000 412500 412500 0,75 0,25 2024 KİLİS Machine Milking, Healthy Milk Project CATTLE FARMING 1000000 500000 500000 0,5 0,5 2024 MALATYA Milking Machine Purchase CATTLE FARMING 875000 700000 700000 0,8 0,2 2024 OSMANİYE I Produce Quality Milk Project CATTLE FARMING 642500 449750 450000 0,7 0,3 2024 ŞANLIURFA Feeder Support and Training Project for Sheep and Goat Breeders SHEEP AND GOAT FARMING 1000000 750000 750000 0,75 0,25 TOTAL      8,681,250,00     TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 375 • The Regulation on the Farmer Registration System was amended to extend the application period for the 2023 production year, benefit- ing around 300,000 farmers in 11 provinces in the earthquake-affect- ed region. In addition, the application deadlines for the Organic Ag- riculture Support, Good Agricultural Practices Support, Soil Analysis Support, and Oilseed Crops Price Gap Support were extended. • The application deadlines for grant support for agriculture-based economic investments and financial support for individual irriga- tion systems were extended by three months under the Rural Devel- opment Investments Support Programme (KKYDP). KKYDP includ- ed 2,509 projects, and a grant payment of 304,500,000 TL was made. • The subsidised loan debts of earthquake-affected farmers to Ziraat Bank and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives were postponed for one year. • Flexibility was provided for all deadlines that project owners must meet in investments under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assis- tance Rural Development (IPARD) Programme. Furthermore, in or- der to compensate for the negative effects of the earthquake in Kah- ramanmaraş, Hatay, and Malatya provinces, where IPARD projects were damaged, it was decided and proceeded to allocate price gap support to projects in the investment phase. In this regard, the to- tal grant amount for 207 projects went up from 490,000,000 TL to 710,000,000 TL. • A total of 1,209,600,000 TL in grants was allocated, including 221,200,000 TL for supporting Individual Irrigation Systems and 988,400,000 TL for covering Water Usage Service Fees for Agricul- 376 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS tural Irrigation(with 939,300,000 TL to irrigation cooperatives and 49,100,000 TL to irrigation unions). • 317 contracts were signed as part of the Expert Hands in Rural Devel- opment Project, and 233 projects that met their obligations received 57,350,000 TL in grant support. • Licensed Warehousing Support provided 5,816 producers with 10,400,000 TL in rent, shipping, and analysis support. • Within the scope of the Project for Enabling Agricultural Lands for Utilisation, 118,426,000 TL was allocated for use in 2023, and 200,000,000 TL was allocated for 51 projects in 2024 to provide seeds, seedlings, and saplings to the provinces located in the earth- quake-affected region. • The General Directorate of Forestry and Village Relations (ORKÖY) provided 382,880,204 TL of financial support to 3,641 forest villager families, with 3-7 year terms varying according to project types, in- cluding 20% grants and 80% interest-free loans with annual instal- ment payments. • 365,012 farmers received 4,262,998,290 TL in diesel and fertiliser support for the 2023 production year and 4,027,603,753 TL for 2024. In addition, at the start of the autumn planting season, 3,995,421,508 TL in diesel oil and fertiliser support was offered in kind to 675,436 cereal (barley, wheat, oats, rye, triticale, and paddy) producers regis- tered with the Farmer Registration System (ÇKS) for the most critical diesel oil and fertiliser purchases. • In the 2023 production year, farmers who used domestically produced and certified seeds to plant crops on their lands registered in the Farm- er Registration System received 100% extra financial support for the use of certified seed. Thus, a total of 732,000,000 TL in support pay- ments was allocated to approximately 66,000 farmers in the earth- quake-affected provinces. This figure was 43,967,252 TL in 2024. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 377 • As part of the price gap supports, 57,763 farmers received 3,212,488,562 TL in 2023 as financial support for Organic Agriculture, Good Agricul- tural Practices, Soil Analysis and Oilseed Crops. In 2024, these sup- ports amounted to 9,103,789,163 TL. • Within the scope of Meadow Pasture Improvement and Management Projects, 30,226,867 TL was allocated to 367 projects to satisfy the needs of shepherd tents, animal tents, feed tents, watering troughs, and shep- herd bags for farmers involved in animal husbandry on pasture. • A six-month extension was added to the deadlines for submitting seed declarations in the relevant seed certification regulations and authori- sation terms of all real and legal persons, as was applicable in the di- saster region. • Priority in fertiliser shipments was given to the earthquake-affected region, and any further potential fertiliser demands from the region were promptly satisfied. • The Directorate General for State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) delivered 7,500,000 litres of fuel oil in the earthquake-affected region. • A total of 6,329,000 TL was allocated for good agricultural practices and organic farming activities, which are environmentally friendly production techniques, in the earthquake-affected region. 378 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Projects • After the second year of the earthquake, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry developed the “Project for the Improvement of the Agricultural Sector in the Earthquake-Affected Provinces in Türkiye” (Agri_FOOD) to compensate for damages in agriculture, forestry, food, water, and live- stock sectors. The project, which was included in the 2024 investment programme and the loan agreement signed on December 18, 2024, will involve the modernisation of irrigation cooperatives and the construc- tion of agricultural mechanisation in earthquake-affected provinces. The goal of modernising irrigation cooperatives in earthquake-af- fected provinces is to analyse the current situation of irrigation coop- eratives, conduct a feasibility study to design the rehabilitation and modernisation of canals and construct projects for the rehabilitation, modernisation, and necessary expansion of canals with a budget of 80,000,000 dollars. • As part of the construction of agricultural mechanisation, it is planned to establish a “Common Machine Park” in approximately 25 agricultural organisations across 11 provinces, which will be based on “AgriUber”, software on appointment and payment security, as well as to train at least 50 machine operators and approximately 2,500 farmers on sustainable mechanisation approaches. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 379 • To address the needs of our livestock breeders whose barns or corrals have been demolished, 105 m² portable corral/barn projects will be executed as part of the Rural Disadvantaged Areas Development Proj- ect, with the entire budget funded by IFAD. The project “Integration of Good Agricultural Practices to Improve Agricultural Ecosystems in the Earthquake-Affected Region of Türkiye”, which was submitted to the Global Environment Facility to revitalise and sustain agricultural production in provinces declared disaster regions, as well as to con- tribute to the supply and marketing of reliable products, was accepted, and it began in 2024 with a budget of 1,800,000 dollars. • The EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance III (IPA III) project “Ensuring Integrity and Establishment of Competitive Value Chains by Strengthening the Organic Agriculture System within the Scope of the Green Deal” was approved and initiated. • To contribute to the revival and sustainability of agricultural pro- duction and the supply and marketing of reliable products by im- plementing the World Bank Project, project preparations with a bud- get of approximately 75,600,000 dollars are in progress in the fields of “Enabling Agricultural Lands for Utilisation”, “Rehabilitation of Meadow Pasture Areas and Provision of Social Support for Pas- ture-Based Livestock Activities”, and “Vehicle Procurement within the Scope of Institutional Infrastructure Development”. • Within the scope of the Protocol between the Ministry of Interior, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the Barns to be Provided to Disaster Victims Recognised as Beneficiaries under Law No. 7269 in Settlements Deignated as Areas Striken by a Disaster Affecting Pub- lic Life, AFAD plans to allocate a 600,000 TL loan to the beneficia- ries who wish to build a barn/corral/haystack, with a two-year grace period applicable from 2025 to 2030, followed by 18 years of equal, interest-free instalments. • Within the scope of the “Agriculture Sector Recovery in Türkiye’s Earthquake-affected Provinces Project,” which will be implemented with the World Bank and for which the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is also responsible, 75% grant support will be provided for the purchase of machinery, tools, and equipment for livestock pro- duction between 2025 and 2030. 380 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 381 5.11. Culture and Arts Activities 382 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Under the scientific leadership of the “Science Committee,” established within the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Assoc. Prof. Muhammet Arslan of Kafkas University, a comprehensive survey was conducted to evaluate the condition of severely damaged historical buildings in Hatay province and its districts, aimed at safeguarding the cultural assets that have been impacted by the earthquake. The purpose of these surveys is to identify and create an inventory of qualified materials and establish a foundation for restoration.⁣ As a result of the conducted procedures, the ar- tefacts were identified, cleaned, and documented, and inventory records were created. The artefacts were transferred to temporary excavation warehouses and museum directorates, and the debris of registered build- ings was safely stored in designated areas. A comprehensive survey was conducted to investigate and identify with scientific methods the movable and immovable cultural assets that must be protected in 3rd Degree Archaeological Conservation Sites and Urban Protected Areas, including disaster-prone regions in Hatay. This study was carried out using geophysical, georadar, and archaeophysical meth- ods. The risky areas that have been designated or are to be designated by the Presidential Decree were supported with excavation operations organised under the coordination of the Directorate of Hatay Museum and the scientific leadership of Ankara University Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Yavuz Yeğin. In addition to the surveys conducted at the city centre of Hatay, archaeolog- ical identification, classification, and documentation of cultural assets were TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 383 performed in 10 other provinces affected by the earthquake. These surveys were carried out by five different teams in ten provinces with an expert staff of around 90 people to identify and create an inventory of qualified materi- als and establish a foundation for restoration. Pre-earthquake Situation in the Region As of 2022, there are approximately 8,500 artefacts classified as cultural heritage in the earthquake zone. Of these artefacts, 844 are affiliated with foundations under the supervision of the Directorate General of Foun- dations, the majority of which are religious structures. The Directorate General of Foundations has six offices operating in the region, while the Directorate General of Cultural Heritage and Museums of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism oversees 28 museums and 22 archaeological sites. A total of 693 personnel serve in the region with 153 libraries, 11 provin- cial public libraries, 127 district-district public libraries, four specialised li- braries, and 11 children’s libraries affiliated with the Ministry. There are 14 buildings in the region that function as cultural centres. The region has 11 provincial directorates of culture and tourism. These operate in different locations, such as the YİKOB (Investment Monitoring and Coordination Department) offices, culture centres, governorship buildings, and rented buildings. A total of 219 movie theaters throughout the provinces affect- ed by the earthquake are in service—38 in Gaziantep, 36 in Hatay, 35 in Diyarbakır, 31 in Adana, 23 in Şanlıurfa, 20 in Malatya, 12 in Kahraman- maraş, 8 in Adıyaman, 7 in Osmaniye, 5 in Elazığ, and 4 in Kilis. Damage Caused by the Earthquake Cultural Heritage and Foundation Artefacts No substantial damage was detected in museums preserving significant and large-scale artefacts such as Şanlıurfa Archaeology and Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum and Gaziantep Zeugma Museum, both inaugurated in the past decade. However, museums in Hatay, Elbistan, Adıyaman, and Malatya suffered partial damage. The damage assessment conducted in the museums throughout the region identified a total of 335 artefacts as damaged.⁣ There is no damage in the category of “unique” artefacts within this collection. Damage assessment for the artefacts exhibited and preserved in the collection of the Directorate of Hatay Museum is still ongoing. 384 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The assessments conducted by the Directorate General of Foundations and the Directorate General of Cultural Heritage and Museums resulted in the review of 678 cultural and natural assets across 11 provinces. The assessment of these assets revealed that; • 31 were completely destroyed (collapsed), • 144 were severely damaged, • 104 were moderately damaged, • 98 were slightly damaged, • 301 were undamaged. Within the scope of the tender process initiated following the earthquake by the Art & Construction Works Department of the Directorate General of Foundations, restoration efforts began for 377 damaged cultural assets belonging to foundations. The estimated cost to restore all damaged ar- tefacts has been set at 12,000,000,000 TL.⁣ Completing their repair and restoration, eleven of these artefacts are now operational. The renovation and restoration of the remaining damaged artefacts will be finalised by the end of 2025. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 385 Library Services and Cultural Centres Of the 153 library buildings in the earthquake zone, 52 were undamaged while the rest suffered varying degrees of damage. However, it has been noted that damage is less in buildings that have recently been construct- ed or modified. Libraries’ capacities must be enhanced during the reconstruction of the severely damaged and destroyed buildings, as they were inadequate prior to the earthquake. In fact, children and youth make up the vast majority of library users. The region is home to almost 21% of children aged 0 to 17, as well as 17% of young people aged 18 to 24. Based on current capacity estimations, reconstruction and renovation expenses, and future capacity requirements, it was projected that a total of 705,000,000 TL would be required to establish new capacity as well as restore damaged buildings. The Hatay Cultural Centre, evacuated in 2020 due to its designation as unstable following an earthquake, has been demolished. It has been as- sessed that seven cultural centres sustained minor damage, while six cultural centres remained undamaged. One of the provincial culture and tourism directorates’ offices in the region has been demolished, two have sustained significant damage, six have incurred minor damage, and two remain intact. Two of the four current music ensemble directorate build- ings are intact, while the other two exhibit minor damage. The earthquake caused significant damage to numerous places of worship and affiliated offices in 11 provinces. The region has 120 muftiates, 80 youth centres, 2,687 Qur’an study centres, and 11,776 mosques associated with the Presi- dency of Religious Affairs. Preliminary evaluations indicate that 28.3% of the muftiate buildings, 19.1% of mosques, and 16.5% of Qur’an study cen- tres in the region were either destroyed or sustained heavy to moderate damage. Three buildings of the Alevi-Bektashi Cultural Association and Cemevi collapsed, while three further structures incurred substantial damage. Furthermore, damage assessment activities are currently being conducted in places of worship associated with other religious commu- nities in the region, which also possess historical significance. The antic- ipated total cost for the reconstruction of all collapsed, heavily, and mod- erately damaged structures is 24,100,000,000 TL. Steps Taken Following the Earthquake In light of our country’s earthquake risk, developing construction techniques and current documentation methods; in order to preserve the historical, cul- tural, and social texture of our country, minimise the damage to immovable 386 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS cultural assets in the event of an earthquake, prevent the loss of their archi- tectural features of the historical city texture and cultural assets, and ensure that they are passed on to future generations by maintaining their original qualities, the High Council for the Conservation of Cultural Property has is- sued a principle decision numbered 2878 and titled “Reinforcement of Im- movable Cultural Assets in Need of Protection” on December 27, 2023, and works are being conducted in accordance with this decision. Participation in humanitarian relief activities was prioritised in the after- math of the earthquake. About 150 staff members and 36 mobile library vehicles were sent to the area from other provinces along with the estab- lishment of tent cities and container cities. Some of these vehicles travelled between tent cities as well as in villages and towns, setting up different child-friendly activities including movie screenings, colouring pages, and games, and offering educational and amusing materials to keep spirits and motivation high. Furthermore, psychosocial support and education tents from organisations such as MoNE and MoFSS were built up surrounding the mobile libraries, and centres for cultural-relational-social services were established within the tent cities. Through collaboration and cooperative organisations, attempts have been undertaken to alleviate the psychologi- cal burden on the region’s population, particularly children and youth. To avoid theft, loss, and looting of museum artefacts and to ensure the continuity of existing security measures, closed-circuit camera and alarm systems were installed to work uninterruptedly. In the course of the debris removal work conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change (MoEUCA), essential marks and signs were installed to avert confusion between registered and new buildings, hence prevent- ing inadvertent interference with cultural assets. Furthermore, in all reg- istered areas, efforts are being actively undertaken in the areas of respon- sibility of the Police and Gendarmerie units to prevent illicit excavations and the illegal trafficking of cultural treasures through regular patrols. As part of the post-earthquake cultural heritage recovery operations, the Directorate of Restoration and Conservation Regional Laboratory in Hatay was founded to renovate damaged artefacts, and the required administra- tive and expert personnel were hired. Although the ancient city and ruins were not significantly damaged, the minor damage observed in the Malatya Arslantepe Mound, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, was re- paired without compromising the exceptional universal value the site holds. The roof that was temporarily demolished was also repaired, and the neg- ative effects on the authenticity and the integrity of the site were mitigated. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 387 A total of 2,849,124,119 TL, of which 2,076,145,438 TL was allocated from the earthquake fund, was utilised for the restoration project and implementa- tion works of the buildings assigned to the Ministry of Culture and Tour- ism in provinces (Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Şanlıurfa) located in the earthquake zone. A total of 23 works have been completed, and 18 additional works are pres- ently underway. Cash assistance is provided in order to prepare and implement the projects for registered immovable property ownership within the framework of the “Regulation on the Provision of Assistance to Immovable Cultural Assets” of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The scope of the assistance for im- movable cultural assets damaged by earthquakes in the disaster zone was expanded with an amendment to the regulation. In that respect, the upper limit for project assistance was increased to five times, while the upper limit for implementation was increased to 10 times. In August 2023, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy an- nounced the upper limit of project support for places of worship (mosques and churches) in the earthquake zone as 3,000,000 TL; the upper limit of aid support as 25,000,000 TL; the upper limit of project support for build- ings with Tourism Management Certificates as 1,500,000 TL; the upper limit for implementation assistance support as 12,500,000 TL; the upper limit of project support for housing and other buildings as 750,000 TL; and the upper limit of implementation assistance support as 5,000,000 TL. It was decided to provide approximately 1,830,000,000 TL for a total of 1,483 structures with these supports. Most of the certified accommodation facilities in our country, not excluding the tourism areas, were allocated to the use of earthquake victims, and in more than 18 thousand facilities, 170 thousand citizens were accommodat- ed in the short term. Furthermore, institutions, employees, and represen- tatives of the tourism industry affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have provided 2,000 fully equipped containers for the earthquake victims in the affected area. General Directorate of Libraries and Publications The Ministry of Culture and Tourism established tent and container li- braries to provide library services in tent and container cities in the disas- ter zone after the earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş. In this context, tent libraries in Kahramanmaraş (300 m²), Adıyaman (300 m²) and Hatay (384 m²); container libraries in Malatya (6 units / 42 m² each), Osmaniye 388 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS (1 unit / 42 m²), and Kahramanmaraş (7 units / 42 m² each), Hatay (5 units / 42 m² each) and Adıyaman (5 units / 42 m² each); and prefabricated li- braries in Kahramanmaraş-Elbistan (4 units / 375 m²) were established. Prefabricated Libraries Library services were provided in tent and container cities by 48 mobile library vehicles in regions that were affected by the earthquake. Provincial directorates of family and social services, provincial health directorates, provincial directorates of national education and other public institu- tions, local administrations, universities and NGOs collaborated to con- duct over 50,000 rehabilitation activities and provided psychological sup- port to earthquake victims. More than 250 library staff worked in mobile libraries in the area. Adıyaman Provincial Public Library The Adıyaman Provincial Public Library project has been complete as of 2024, and the construction tender is scheduled for 2025. The project aims to serve 641 individuals simultaneously, with a capacity of 79,350 books in an enclosed area of 5,393 m². TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 389 Hatay Provincial Public Library The Hatay Provincial Public Library project has been complete as of 2024, and the construction tender is scheduled for 2025. The project aims to serve 641 individuals simultaneously, with a capacity of 90,300 books in an enclosed area of 7,118 m². 390 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Hatay Kırıkhan District Public Library The construction of the Hatay Kırıkhan District Public Library is in prog- ress, with plans to accommodate 660 individuals simultaneously within an enclosed area of 4,609 m². TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 391 Hatay Kırıkhan Infants and Children’s Library Hatay Kırıkhan Infant and Children’s Library project has been completed in -2024. In December 2024, the construction tender was conducted, and the construction site has been delivered. This project aims to deliver ser- vices within a registered building encompassing 175 m² of indoor area. 392 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Kahramanmaraş Afşin District Public Library The project planning for the Kahramanmaraş Afşin District Public Li- brary was completed in 2024, with the construction tender to be held in 2025. The library is expected to serve 430 people with an indoor area of about 3,000 m². TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 393 Osmaniye Provincial Public Library The project planning for the Osmaniye Provincial Public Library com- menced in 2024, with the construction tender to be held in 2025. The proj- ect plan envisions an indoor service area of 1,860 m². 394 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Şanlıurfa Akçakale District Public Library The construction tender for the Şanlıurfa Akçakale District Public Library was held in 2024, and the construction is expected to be completed in 2025. The library is expected to serve 340 people with an indoor area of 2,800 m² and a capacity of 50,000 books. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 395 Hatay City Library Hatay City Library was reopened following the completion of its resto- ration in 2024. 396 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Kahramanmaraş Türkoğlu District Public Library The project planning for the Kahramanmaraş Türkoğlu District Public Li- brary is currently underway, with the construction tender to be held in 2025. The library is expected to serve 511 people with an indoor area of 2,958 m² and a capacity of 30,000 books. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 397 Malatya Darende District Public Library The project planning for the District Public Library is currently underway, with the construction tender to be held in 2025. The library is expected to serve 360 people with an indoor area of 2,400 m². 398 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Kahramanmaraş Karacaoğlan District Public Library The project planning for the Karacaoğlan District Public Library is cur- rently underway, with the construction tender to be held in 2025. The library is expected to serve 1,430 people with an indoor area of about 11,000 m². Kahramanmaraş Elbistan District Public Library The project planning for the Elbistan District Public Library was complet- ed in 2024, with the construction tender to be held in 2025. The library is -expected to serve 500 people with an indoor area of 3,117 m² and a capac- ity of 55,000 books. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 399 Hatay Reyhanlı District Public Library The project planning and construction tender for the Reyhanlı District Public Library were finalised in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The build- ing is currently under construction. The library is expected to serve 607 people with an indoor area of approximately 4,000 m² and a capacity of 23,100 books. Gaziantep Oğuzeli District Public Library The tender for the project planning for the District Public Library was held on November 22, 2024, with the signing of the agreement on Decem- ber 12, 2024. The construction tender is expected to be held in 2025, once the project planning is complete. 400 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Gaziantep Araban District Public Library The tender for the project planning for District Public Library was held on November 20, 2024, with the signing of the agreement on December 6, 2024. The construction tender is expected to be held in 2025, once the project planning is complete. Kahramanmaraş Karacaoğlan Provincial Public Library The tender for the project planning for the Provincial Public Library was held on December 27, 2024, with the construction tender to be held in 2025. Reconstruction of Hatay Literature Museum As of 2024, the Hatay Literature Museum is undergoing reconstruction following its destruction by the earthquake. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 401 “Truck Theatre” Project The two truck-theatres affiliated with the Directorate General of State Theatres, which were deployed to the region, staged plays in various cities. The “Truck Theatre” project aims to alleviate the discomfort of children by staging plays in cities without a stage. With the slogan “Mobile Stage for Everyone,” the project reached 27,343 children at 77 locations throughout the earthquake zone. 402 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 403 Other Activities Organised for Children Children affected by the earthquake are welcomed and introduced to the excitement of art in the areas where the regional directorates are located. Regional directorates, including Ankara State Theatre, İstanbul State Theatre, İzmir State Theatre, Bursa State Theatre, Erzurum State Theatre, Konya State Theatre, and Van State Theatre, are organising vari- ous activities for young art lovers. Of the projects designed to enrich the quantity of art experiences for chil- dren, the “Wagon Stage” project will convert wagons belonging to the State Railways and embark on visits to regions affected by the earthquake. A special workshop was organised on March 1-2, 2023, with the participa- tion of 45 artists and technical teams across 12 regions. During the activity under the leadership of Head Decorator Hakan Dündar, waste materials were processed and turned into colourful puppets at the Orhan Asena Ex- perimental Stage in Macunköy Social Facilities. These puppets are more than just toys; they have served as a key therapeutic tool for children in dealing with their past traumas. 404 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı Devlet Opera ve Balesi Genel Müdürlüğünce moral ve motivasyon sağlanması amacıyla Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye ve Şanlıur- fa illerinde depremden etkilenen çocuklara yönelik, başta müzikli çocuk oyunları olmak üzere, çok sayıda etkinlik gerçekleştirilmiştir. 2023 ve 2024 yıllarında toplam 56 temsil sahnelenmiş, 20 binden fazla depremzede çocuk ve aileye ulaşılmıştır. Furthermore, as part of the Anatolian Opera and Ballet Festival, held for the first time in December 2024 by the Directorate General of State Opera and Ballet, students from Fine Arts High School had the opportunity to put on their performances through talent screening in Hatay province. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 405 The First Anatolian Festival Talent Screening, Hatay National and International Projects and Project Coordination Office Activities 1. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Following the earthquake, every measure was implemented to ensure the safe preservation of the collections of the damaged museums. This process was accelerated through collaboration with national and in- ternational resources, particularly UNDP. UNDP pioneered in-kind contributions and crowdfunding. a. In-Kind Contributions UNDP supplied 30 air-conditioned containers, radios, drones, and tablets to museums in Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Elbistan to en- sure the safe storage of artefacts and accurate damage assessments. b. Crowdfunding Efforts An international crowdfunding campaign was launched in col- laboration with UNDP to rebuild cultural heritage in Hatay, Kah- ramanmaraş, Gaziantep, and Adıyaman. The campaign seeks to restore cultural heritage in a sustainable manner, with the support of local and international communities, the Turkish diaspora, and the private sector. 406 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The Historical Maraş Bazaar, Gaziantep Castle, Mar Yuhanna Greek Orthodox Church, Arsameia Archaeological Site, Hatay Archaeological Museum, Hatay Sarımiye Mosque, and intangible cultural heritage are among the campaign’s priority areas. Other elements of cultural heritage are intended to be incorporated into these areas. 2. The Federal Office of Culture of Switzerland A project was developed to restore mosaics damaged by the earthquake at the Hatay Archaeological Museum. The Federal Office of Culture of Switzerland supported the project “Conservation and Restoration of Earthquake-Damaged Mosaics of the Hatay Museum” with a budget of CHF 222,543, of which CHF 90,543 was financed. The project’s activities, which began in January 2024, are still ongoing. Activities for Cemevis in the Earthquake Zone Maintenance-repair works and furnishing purchases totalling 97 cemevis in 8 provinces were completed in response to requests from the earthquake- zone provinces of Adana, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa. In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 13 cemevi and cultural centres of various types are planned to be built in Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and Şanlıurfa. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 407 408 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Long-term Recovery Efforts The primary goals of efforts to repair the damage caused by the earth- quake are to ensure the return of the population, who keep their authen- tic culture alive, to their residences; rally the historical-cultural texture in a holistic manner; and maintain the relationship between the old urban areas where the historical texture is located and the new urban settlements. Furthermore, new urban settlements will include cultural infrastructure elements such as museums, cultural centres, urban parks, and libraries, which will enable cultural interaction and contribute to the welfare of soci- ety. New settlements will be redesigned to honour the city’s memory. Cities that will preserve their existing position will be recreated with public build- ings of high symbolic and aesthetic value in city squares, cultural buildings, city parks, and monuments to commemorate the earthquake disaster. Other Services for the Earthquake Zone Film screenings continue with a cinema truck outfitted with appropriate technical equipment and air conditioning facilities as part of the “Travel- ling Cinema for Children” project, implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In this context, over 400 thousand chil- dren enjoyed screenings in 22 provinces and 150 districts, including Ad- ana, Hatay, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Kilis and Adıyaman provinces affected by the earthquake, in 2024. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 409 Another service provided for the earthquake zone is the initiation of a conservation zoning plan for the city centre of Hatay in order to revive the historical city centre of Hatay, Antakya, in accordance with its original design, restore its cultural heritage, preserve its urban identity, pass it on to future generations, and erase the traces of the earthquake disaster as soon as possible. 410 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS With the Presidential Decree No. 7033 promulgated in the Official Gazette dated April 5, 2023, 307 hectares of land, including the historical city cen- tre and Kurtuluş Street in the Antakya district of Hatay province, were de- clared as a risky area under the Law on the Transformation of Areas under Disaster Risk No. 6306. “Protocol on the Work to be carried out in Hatay Province” was signed on May 15, 2023, between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Min- istry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change regarding the actions to be taken in the “Risky Zones” and “Risky Structures” declared by the Presidential Decree within the scope of Law No. 6306. Under the aforementioned protocol, the “Antakya Historical City Centre Conserva- tion Zoning Plan” prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was finalised, and the plans were approved by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change on June 10, 2024. Antakya Urban Plan Silhouette Issues Regarding Directorate General of Investments and Enterprises Culture Centres The necessary funds were allocated for the basic repairs of Kilis Alaeddin Yavaşca Culture Centre, Osmaniye Kadirli Prof. Turan Güven Culture and Art Centre and Hatay Samandağ Culture Centre, which were slightly dam- aged, and the repair works were completed. The funds required for the basic repair work of Hatay Erzin Ömer Halisdemir Culture Centre were al- located, and the efforts are ongoing. For the Adana Kozan Culture Centre, TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 411 which survived the earthquake without any structural damage, the Gov- ernorship issued a construction tender for general maintenance, repair and renovation works, and manufacturing efforts are ongoing. Basic re- pair works were performed on the moderately damaged Osmaniye Cebe- libereket Culture Centre in accordance with the Grant Agreement signed between the government of Hungary and the Osmaniye Provincial Direc- torate of Culture and Tourism. The project and approximate cost assess- ments for the reinforcement of the building are close to completion. The required repair work for the strengthening of the Adıyaman Kahta Culture Centre continues to move at full speed. The maintenance and repair oper- ations for the Malatya Congress and Culture Centre, which has sustained minor damage, are currently underway. The Adana Hacı Ömer Sabancı Culture Centre was assessed to be vulnerable to earthquakes following the earthquake performance analysis conducted by the Sabancı Founda- tion. The building was abandoned, and the Sabancı Foundation launched the project for a new culture centre in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Project designs for the construction of a new Adıya- man Culture Centre are underway. The assessment concluded that rein- forcing the Malatya Sabancı Cultural Centre, which sustained moderate damage following the earthquake, was not cost-effective. The project and estimated cost studies for the New Malatya Cultural Centre have been fi- nalised, and construction work will commence following the completion of the tender process. The Hatay Cultural Centre, evacuated in 2021 due to its assessed earthquake resistance, sustained significant damage during the earthquake and was subsequently demolished in a controlled manner. Efforts are ongoing to build a new culture centre in Hatay. Issues Regarding Tourism Facilities Immediately after the earthquake, the damage status of tourism facilities was assessed in collaboration with the provincial directorates of culture and tourism. Furthermore, the Circular dated February 15, 2023, offered a comprehensive array of facilitations to investments and enterprises that were seeking documentation from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in ten earthquake-affected provinces (Adana, ⁣Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Ga- ziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Şanlıurfa, Osmaniye, and Kilis). In these provinces, the renewal of certificates and the extension of dead- lines were executed, whereas the revocation of certificates and audits were deferred. Investment certificates were extended for one year. With the decision of the Disaster and Emergency Management Presiden- cy (AFAD), Elazığ province was also declared as a “Disaster Area Affecting 412 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS General Life.” Thus, Elazığ was included among these provinces with the Circular dated February 28, 2023, and the procedures for Türkiye’s Sus- tainable Tourism Programme for accommodation facilities in these prov- inces were postponed until December 31, 2023. Finally, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has postponed the imple- mentation of the circulars that were previously published for the provinc- es that were most affected by the earthquake until April 1, 2024. Additional Finalised Projects “Will You Hold My Hand (Legacy)” Project The “Will You Hold My Hand (Legacy)” project, aimed at alleviating the negative effects of the earthquake disaster in Kahramanmaraş, brought to- gether children affected by the earthquake. The project, launched by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, seeks to alleviate the negative effects of the earthquake, particularly on children, improve their morale and motiva- tion, and aid in the normalisation process through art. Children from Malatya were the first audience for the project where folk dances and local music prepared by the Turkish State Folk Dance En- semble of the Ministry’s Directorate General for Fine Arts were inter- preted in the narrative play of Karagöz and Hacivat, an intangible cul- tural heritage of Türkiye. Children of Malatya watched Karagöz as he embarked on an Anatolian jour- ney with his old friend Hacivat to find the estate left to him, encountering characters such as Nasreddin Hodja, Çelebi, Tuzsuz Deli Bekir, Acem, and Laz, and had the opportunity to learn about the folk dances of Thrace, Zey- bek, Kırşehir, Ankara, Burdur, and the Black Sea and the characteristics of these regions. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 413 5.12. Supportive Activities in the Field of Youth and Sports 414 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Following the earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, earthquake victims were provided accommodation in the Ministry of Youth and Sports-affiliated facilities with dormitories, youth centres, and sporting centres in particular. Coordinately, the dormitory kitchens in Osmaniye, Hatay, Adıyaman, and Kahramanmaraş provinces were made available for the “voluntary chefs,” who served earthquake victims meals three times a day. Following the February 6 earthquakes, many sporting activities were organised for children and the young people staying in tent cities, container cities, and dormitories in the earthquake zone in order to utilise the rehabilitating power of sports. These activities were instrumental in helping our citizens find solace and gradually return to normal life. The assembly areas turned out to be insufficient to meet the emerging need in the face of the gravity of the disaster; therefore, in addition to the existing ones, the facilities and fields of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) were allocated to the use of earthquake victims due to their safety and horizontal architecture. They served as secure shelters at a time when the debris presented a hazard, logistic support centres for the essential aid needed after search and rescue operations, as well as first aid and support distribution centres. A total of 3,076 people of Ministry of Youth and Sports personnel and Youth Center volunteers were dispatched to Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa provinces in the aftermath of the earthquake. Following the earthquake, personnel and volunteers were assigned on a weekly basis. The assigned personnel and volunteers worked in activity tents and on other volunteering efforts. Immediately following the earthquake, youth centres, youth offices, and youth camps were made available to the use of citizens, providing food, water, and shelter around the clock. Basic needs supplies were gathered in youth centres and were dispatched to earthquake zones under the coordination of governorships and AFAD across 81 provinces. The youth centres and youth offices in the earthquake zones offered an extensive array of trainings and activities encompassing personal development, sports, arts, and science. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 415 Teams were formed in 81 provinces to provide psychosocial, cultural, sporting, personal development, and other activities for disaster victims accommodated in dormitories of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and in tents set up in disaster areas. 3,215 young applicants from the earthquake zone were given priority in the national camping season application process, allowing them to participate in the national camps. A special 1,820-person quota was allocated for the young people from the provinces affected by the earthquake as part of civilisation, history, and culture camps, enabling their participation in the excursion programmes in Çanakkale, Nevşehir, Bitlis, and Tekirdağ. Additionally, 9,763 citizens affected by the earthquake were accommodated in 17 youth camps. The loans students received from the Ministry of Youth and Sports were converted into scholarships due to the earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023. Moreover, students applying for scholarships or loans for the 2023-2024 academic year were all allocated scholarships regarding their status as earthquake victims. The Presidency’s Human Resources Office reopened the National Internship Programme for students affected by the earthquake on February 6, as applications for 2023 were closed by the end of January. It was determined that roughly 75,000 of the 407,000 students who applied to the programme lived or studied in provinces affected by the earthquake. A special icon was added to their profiles to make employers aware of the students’ status and ensure that eligible students receive priority access to internship opportunities. Public and private sector organisations that provide internship opportunities through the programme were encouraged to set aside special quotas for students affected by the earthquake and to facilitate the process. In line with these efforts, 33,186 internship offers were sent to earthquake- affected university students, and 28,887 of those who accepted the offers successfully completed their internships. The state covered the insurance premiums of all young people doing internships, as well as the wages of public sector interns. In addition, “Earthquake and Protection Awareness Training,” “Psychosocial Support Seminar,” “Employee Support in Disasters and Emergencies,” and “Disaster Awareness” courses were added to the Presidency’s Human Resources Office’s digital training platform for students participating in the National Internship Programme. 416 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS A total of 1,163 trainers, assigned to sports, culture, and arts courses made available through EYS, took part in activities such as table tennis, football, ceramics, preparation for exams, communication, emotional regulation, and chess for the young people affected by the earthquake in 11 provinces. Projects for the Earthquake Zone A wide range of projects were implemented within the scope of supportive efforts in the field of youth and sports since February 6. The Heart’s Kitchen Dormitory kitchens of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Osmaniye, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, and Hatay were converted into soup kitch- ens. An initiative dubbed “The Heart’s Kitchen” was launched with the support of non-governmental and volunteer organisations and public and private sectors, and through this initiative, 33,000,000 servings of food were cooked and distributed to the earthquake victims in 16 weeks/115 days. In addition to that, 22,000 parcels of food, 5,000 sleep- ing bags, over 5,000 blankets, and 490,000 breakfasts were distributed in the established logistics centres. Young Hearts-Warm Hands Five periods of one week each, between March 22, 2023, and April 26, 2023, were identified through the “Gönüllüyüz Biz” (We Are Volunteers) Platform in order to participate in activities organised for earthquake victims in the İskenderun district. 75 young people volunteered during these periods and took part in the preparation and distribution of meals cooked for the earthquake victims. Anatolian Stars League Children and young people between the ages of 10 and 18 participated in sporting activities in various sports branches organised as a part of the Anatolian Stars League project in provinces affected by the earthquake in 2023. Within the scope of the project, a wide range of sporting activities were held in branches such as athletics, table tennis, karate, orienteering, tennis, and swimming. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 417 Run While You Still Can In that respect, activities were carried out in a variety of sports branches, accompanied by coaches from the provincial directorates of Youth and Sports. Streets Are Ours Youth Cup The “Streets Are Ours 3x3 Basketball Project” was organised as a coun- try-wide layered tournament as local, regional, and Türkiye cham- pionships to enhance communication among the youth, get them to adopt a sports habit, and have fun while doing so. Players from earth- quake-stricken provinces such as Şanlıurfa, Kilis, Gaziantep, Diyarbakır, Mersin, and Elazığ also participated in the tournaments within the scope of this project. Neighborhood Sports League Projects for the Earthquake Zone Neighborhood Sports League Projects for the Earthquake Zone aimed at supporting the post-earthquake rehabilitation process of children be- tween the ages of 14 and 17 residing in 10 provinces hit by the earthquake. A sports tournament in basketball, badminton, and volleyball branches was held between April 26 and May 03 of 2023 with the slogan “Shoulder to Shoulder, Back on the Field” for children living in tent cities, container cities, and dormitories in Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Ha- tay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa provinces. All participating children were provided with equipment. 4,652 children affected by the earthquake participated in the project. Education Experience Exercise (EEE) An educational programme, which can be accessed online or conducted in person, was implemented to employ educators for educational, social, cultural, and sporting activities conducted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and enable the participating youth to self-actualise their existing potentials by learning. Courses on 476 topics are offered free of charge at the Ministry’s dormitories, youth centres, and sports facilities as part of this programme. Of these trainings, the “Life Skills Mentorship” programme aims at equipping the youth with the necessary skills required by today’s world while ensuring their happiness, success, effectiveness, and productivity in all aspects of life. The online portal also includes 300 microlearning 418 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS content on various topics ranging from emotion regulation to problem- solving skills. The trainings were conducted in collaboration with other organisations and institutions. Additionally, especially those preparing for national exams were provided with study halls at dormitories, youth centres, container and tent cities within the bounds of possibilities. Textbooks were made available to them, and in terms of uncovered topics and solving questions, the volunteering youth and the trainers within the Education Management System (EYS) provided assistance. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 419 AnadoluyuzBİZ (We are Anatolia) Project Through the AnadoluyuzBİZ Project, which prioritises the promotion of volunteering among young people, the objective is to foster self- assurance, self-expression, cultural self-awareness, social integration and unity, and patriotism awareness among young individuals. Tent cities, container cities, hostels, dormitories, guesthouses, and other accommodations housing citizens affected by the earthquake are visited, and various activities are conducted with the children affected by the earthquake through the programmes implemented in the earthquake zone within the scope of the AnadoluyuzBİZ Project. In 2023 and 2024, these programmes in the earthquake-stricken provinces brought together volunteering youth with the children affected by the earthquake, contributing to their rehabilitation process. 420 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 421 On the anniversary of the devastating earthquake disaster in 2024, young volunteers from the AnadoluyuzBİZ Project helped citrus farmers in the Hatay province, one of the provinces most severely affected by the earthquake. The Ministry of Youth and Sports’ “AnadoluyuzBİZ Project—Special Citrus Harvest Programme for Hatay” postings on the gonulluyuzbiz.gov.tr portal were flooded with record-breaking applications from young people who were looking to alleviate the hardships faced by citrus farmers in Hatay during the harvest season as a result of the earthquake’s negative effects and low citrus prices. The AnadoluyuzBİZ Project organised four periods of programmes in which 320 young people participated in the harvest with citrus farmers in various districts of the Hatay province. Damla Volunteering Movement Project The project aims to enable young people to support a social initiative, without expecting anything in return, in order to improve the quality of life of individuals outside their family or immediate environment or to achieve a goal that is considered to be for the benefit of society in general. Within the scope of the project, young volunteers visited families who had to temporarily migrate in large numbers to Sivas (40 young volunteers), Mersin (38 young volunteers), and Konya (38 young volunteers) provinces because of the 2023 earthquake disaster. Various social activities were organised in dormitories, tent and container cities for 10 days, contributing to the rehabilitation process of those affected by the earthquake. 422 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The participation of young volunteers from the earthquake zone was prioritised in the project activities conducted in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, activities were conducted for families affected by the earthquake in the provinces visited within the project’s scope. Social Cohesion and Youth Participation Project Following the earthquake, volunteers consisting of project volunteers, psychologists, translators, and neighbourhood assistance teams conducted a variety of activities and joined in ongoing activities at “Youth Zones” made up of a set of containers designated as youth centres and TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 423 in the field. These teams, which worked in various fields such as debris removal and material distribution in the early stages of the earthquake, carried out activities aimed at meeting the needs of the youth and the children, adapting to the new situation, and providing motivation in the aftermath. In the initial six months, interpreters deployed on a rotational basis aided in acoustic searches, particularly in debris zones, and facilitated communication with earthquake survivors under temporary shelter. Subsequently, psychologists supported the youth and conducted various studies aimed at helping children navigate the crisis period, adapt to the new circumstances, and devise solutions to the challenges faced post-trauma. “Neighbourhood Assistance Teams,” consisting of young people who identify and meet all kinds of needs in their neighborhoods, are among the most active groups in the field. They have also contributed to packaging and distributing materials sent to the earthquake zone and provided both physical and moral support by addressing the needs of the families’ arriving from the earthquake zone, in addition to voluntarily travelling to the provinces affected by the earthquake and assisting in the field. In order to provide assistance to young earthquake survivors who will be taking the High School Entrance Exam (LGS) or Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS), expert volunteers and teachers conducted exam support study courses and seminars on managing anxiety and stress prior to the exams. These events were initially conducted in the earthquake zones and subsequently expanded to all provinces where the families of earthquake survivors migrated. Approximately 3 thousand people participated in the seminars organised within this scope. As part of this project, individual interviews were conducted during the case identification and referral process to assess the risk status of the individuals receiving services. According to the identified risk situation, the counselling process was initiated within the youth centre, or the service provider was directed to other specialised services according to the severity of the risk situation. These evaluations are still being carried out through analyses conducted in the disaster areas. Within the scope of specialised services, referrals are being made to the Ministry of Family Labour and Social Services, Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Education, Turkish Red Crescent Society, and other institutions and organisations (AFAD, Migrant Health Centre, Turkish Green Crescent Counselling Centre, Social Assistance Foundation, Guidance and Research Centre, etc.). 424 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS As part of preventive and protective efforts, Community-Based Mental Health Services (Seminars) were provided in youth centres or container cities to ensure that young people gain skills and awareness. In this context, Anxiety Management, Child Rights Awareness Education, Activities to Improve Social and Emotional Skills of Children, Domestic Communication Training, Motivational Interviews for Young People, Child Rights, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Prevention of Gender-Based Violence activities were carried out. Motivational Seminars Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and exam stress are the primary issues that young people face in the aftermath of disasters. The Ministry’s field of activity was expanded to include programmes that addressed the expectations and challenges of young people as part of preventive and protective measures, and Motivational Seminars were offered to students preparing for the YKS and Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS) in regions that were particularly affected by the disaster. Youth Zones Prior to the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, there were 55 youth centres and 45 youth offices in the provinces of Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa. Following the earthquake disaster, there was an addition of 4 youth offices and 9 youth centers/youth zones to the existing facilities, which were established in container cities to enable young people to utilise their free time effectively. Construction of a youth zone is currently underway, and the furnishing of a youth centre has been finalised. Thirteen youth zones have been finalised in the provinces of Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and Osmaniye, while one youth zone is currently under construction. Open Air Big Screen Film Screenings As part of the Social Cohesion and Youth Participation Project carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and UNICEF, “Open Air Big Screen Cinema Events” were held in container cities, particularly in the provinces affected by the February 6 earthquakes, in order for young people to have a pleasant time and to increase their participation in the youth centres/ TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 425 youth zones. The event was first organised in container cities in Adıyaman, Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Gaziantep, Osmaniye, and Hatay provinces. The films have been chosen for their capacity to evoke national-spiritual sentiments in the youth, impart significant messages regarding values, and resonate with the 12 to 29 age demographic.  2024 Empowerment of Disaster-Affected Young People Support Programme The “Support Programme for the Empowerment of Disaster-Affected Young People” was initiated on August 29, 2024, as a component of the Youth Projects Support Programme, aimed at assisting young individu- als impacted by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes of February 6, 2023, in managing the negative impacts of the disaster, adjusting to new circum- stances, and achieving empowerment across all facets of life. The programme supports project proposals prepared within the frame- work of themes identified as priority needs for young people in the re- gion. As per the results of the regional studies, the “themes to be sought and supported” include disaster preparedness efforts, psychosocial sup- port services, addiction prevention, social cohesion promotion, young entrepreneurship encouragement, and innovation activities. The budget of the programme is 70,000,000 TL. As part of the programme, projects to be implemented in the provinces of Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahraman- maraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa, which were affected by the earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, were approved, and applications were opened to all non-governmental organ- isations and sports clubs across Türkiye. Additionally, in 11 provinces affected by the February 6, 2023 Kahra- manmaraş earthquakes, the Ministry of Youth and Sports will provide “Project Cycle Management and Income Model Development” trainings for sports clubs and non-governmental organisations within the scope of sustainability efforts and with the aim of improving the capacities of clubs and organisations. 426 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Services Provided in Youth Centres and Youth Offices in the Earthquake Zone In order to facilitate the development of young individuals who have been impacted by the earthquake, realise their potential, and reintegrate into social life, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is conducting activities in the provinces that have been impacted by the earthquake. In this context, in order for our young people to participate in social, cultural, artistic and sportive activities: • In addition to the activities of youth centres, approximately 33 local projects were supported in the provinces of Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa, which are affected by the earthquakes. • In 2024, 1,507,586 children and youth were included in 120,966 activities in social, cultural, artistic, and athletic fields in the provinces of Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa, affected by the earthquakes. Youth Facilities in the Earthquake Zone In the provinces of Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa, which were impacted by the earthquakes, 55 youth centres and 45 youth offices were operational prior to the impact. As a result of the earthquake disaster, four youth centres and five youth offices were rendered unusable. Following the earthquake disaster, one youth centre in Kahramanmaraş, three youth offices and four youth zones in container cities were put into service. Information on the facilities completed after the earthquake disaster is given below. PROVINCE DISTRICT CONTAINER CITY TYPE ADIYAMAN CENTRAL DISTRICT Temporary - Accommodation Centre, Vartana Youth Office Gölbaşı, Adıyaman K15-19 Container City Youth Office Yenimahalle K15-19 Container City Youth Office GAZİANTEP NURDAĞI Tekyürek Container City Youth Office ISLAHİYE İslahiye No.1 Residential Area Container City Youth Office Kalyon Container City Youth Office TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 427 MALATYA YEŞİLYURT Rönesans Container City Youth Office 3 Container Elemendik Container City Youth Office KAHRAMANMARAŞ CENTRAL DISTRICT Ökkeş Sungur Batıpark Youth Centre OSMANİYE CENTRAL DISTRICT Osmaniye Fakıuşağı Container City Youth Office HATAY CENTRAL DISTRICT Güzelburç Kızılay Wellness Centre CONTAINER CITY Youth Office In addition to containers, “youth zones” established within the framework of youth centres are commissioned in Adıyaman, Gaziantep (Nurdağı) and Malatya with furnishing and volunteering support. Initiatives Undertaken to Enhance Access to Facilities for Children and Youth In the vicinity of disaster zones, mobile youth centres have been established for children and the youth in neighbouring districts and villages. Additionally, 10 vehicles equipped with a variety of gifts and recreational equipment have rendered services in the disaster zone. Furthermore, these vehicles were used for the purpose of transportation of children and families to the facilities. Activities under the initiative “My Centre is Everywhere” were conducted using the specified vehicles and equipment for children and youth who are unable to participate in the activities offered by youth centres and youth offices. A total of 451,886 children and youth were offered mini youth centre opportunities through 5,209 activities as part of these initiatives. 428 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Activities Carried out with JICA in Earthquake Zone Provinces Carried out in cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the “Pilot Project on Psychosocial Support in Earthquake-Affected Regions in Türkiye” commenced in July 2023 in the provinces most affected by the February 6 earthquake—Adıyaman, Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, and Hatay. The pilot phase of the project was completed in October 2024. Following the meetings held by representatives from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and JICA, a new initiative has been established, set to span three years, aimed at providing psychosocial support and enhancing disaster preparedness through youth centres for those young individuals impacted by the earthquake. In addition to the provinces that were included in the pilot— Adıyaman, Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, and Hatay—the high-disaster-risk cities of İstanbul and İzmir were also incorporated into this three-year project. The following are a few of the outputs of the pilot project, which aimed to enhance the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the areas of disaster prevention and resilience, utilising Japan’s disaster response experience, and psychosocial support activities. • PFA/PFA-C (Psychological First Aid/Psychological First Aid for Children) training was provided to youth leaders and psychologists in pilot provinces as part of the aforementioned pilot project to ascertain the most effective approach for incorporating the concept of “psychosocial support” into youth activities. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 429 • As part of the project, on February 01-02, 2024, the “Disaster Training Workshop” was held in Ankara with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, JICA, MoNE, AFAD, field workers, and academicians working in the field of disaster in order to develop a “Disaster Preparedness Training Module” to be given to youth workers and young people primarily in earthquake-affected provinces and all around the nation. • The Disaster Preparedness Training Module was implemented in youth centres in pilot provinces for a period of eight weeks with young people. The youth who were trained developed projects on disaster preparedness at the conclusion of this period. Subsequently, a programme was conducted to showcase the projects developed at the Konya Science Centre, with the participation of young individuals from Konya and those who were impacted by the earthquake. • JICA will donate four 19+1 minibuses to support outreach activities in youth centres in the pilot provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, Malatya, and Kahramanmaraş, particularly in rural and/or hard-to-reach areas. Within the context of the pilot project, a training program on Disaster and Psychosocial Support was organised in Japan between August 26 and September 7, 2024. Ten people involved in the project, in collaboration with JICA and Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), travelled to Japan to examine the country’s youth initiatives, experiences in post-disaster psychosocial support, and disaster management, as well as to contribute to youth projects. This method provided them with the opportunity to evaluate diverse approaches and good practices in the context of youth initiatives that could be implemented in Türkiye. At the conclusion of the program, an action plan was developed to be implemented in Türkiye in line with the information obtained, seeking to strengthen the infrastructure of the three-year-long-term project. • As a continuation of the pilot project, the “Disaster Resilience and Psychosocial Support Project for the Youth” was agreed upon to be implemented over a three-year period in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and JICA on the final day of the Japan Training Programme. • The project, having finished its pilot phase, is set to commence a three-year long-term phase, during which various activities for youth will be conducted in the provinces of Hatay, Adıyaman, Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, İstanbul, and İzmir. In this regard, the establishment 430 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS of science-based disaster preparedness workshops in youth centres across six provinces is planned, aimed at providing training to young people on disaster preparedness in areas tailored to meet contemporary needs. The furnishing of the area to be set up, the inventory of the area, and the module for the trainings to be given in the workshop will be prepared by JICA, and the trainings will be provided to young individuals by youth workers and expert personnel. Moreover, as part of the long-term project, capacity-building training programmes will be organised for the youth leaders, volunteering youth, and psychologists operating under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and efforts will be carried out to improve the quality of youth centres. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 431 Sports Services Following the earthquake disaster on February 6, 2023, the Ministry of Youth and Sports announced the suspension of all national sports activities until further notice. Starting March 1, 2023, national sports activities on the schedule resumed once more. On the other hand, emergency coordination was established with 64 federations, and 22,103 in-kind aid materials (tube stoves, radiators, quilts, blankets, fleece jackets, all kinds of casual and winter clothes, drawstring bags, backpacks, sleeping bags, hats, masks, towel sets, diapers, etc.) were delivered to the region under the coordination of AFAD. In addition, 58 federations allocated cash aid of 11,269,100 TL in total to be sent to the region under AFAD’s coordination. Throughout this process, all sports clubs and federations contributed to post-earthquake welfare with both manpower and available resources. The facilities of the provincial directorates and summer sports schools and sports projects were made available for the use of all citizens affected by the earthquake, and efforts to heal the wounds continued in collaboration. Following the huge earthquake disaster on February 6, 2023, activities in multiple sports branches were carried out for children and young people staying in tent cities, container cities, and dormitories in each province in the earthquake zone with the aim of utilising the rehabilitating power 432 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS of sports. These activities were instrumental in helping our citizens find solace and gradually return to normal life. Participation data and visuals of ongoing projects in the earthquake zone are given below. MoYS Sports Schools Project  Province  Project Name Number of Participants Total Number of Participants Male Female ADANA MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 5,517 5,946 11,463 ADIYAMAN MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 6,884 5,699 12,583 DİYARBAKIR MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 7,418 5,437 12,855 ELAZIĞ MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 6,215 4,872 11,087 GAZİANTEP MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 3,055 3,740 6,795 HATAY MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 6,066 5,954 12,020 KAHRAMANMARAŞ MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 7,981 7,027 15,008 KİLİS MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 590 618 1,208 MALATYA MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 7,447 6,852 14,299 OSMANİYE MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 8,114 5,782 13,896 ŞANLIURFA MoYS SPORTS SCHOOLS PROJECT 21,846 16,627 38,473 Grand Total 81,133 68,554 149,687 TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 433 Let’s All Learn How to Swim In order to normalise life in the provinces affected by the earthquake, alleviate adverse physical and psychological impacts of the earthquake on individuals, and enable continuity of sports training, the “Let’s All Learn How to Swim” project was implemented. As part of this project, portable pools were sent to the container cities in these provinces in addition to the existing pools. Let’s All Learn How to Swim Project  Province  Project Name Number of Participants Total Number of Participants Male Female ADANA LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 6,519 6,770 13,289 ADIYAMAN LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 665 400 1,065 DİYARBAKIR LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 3,649 3,053 6,702 ELAZIĞ LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 2,924 2,348 5,272 GAZİANTEP LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 3,278 3,602 6,880 HATAY LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 2,670 2,292 4,962 KAHRAMANMARAŞ LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 643 667 1,310 KİLİS LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 1,222 1,328 2,550 MALATYA LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 4,000 4,158 8,158 OSMANİYE LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 1,338 1,480 2,818 ŞANLIURFA LET'S ALL LEARN HOW TO SWIM PROJECT 6,898 4,374 11,272 Grand Total 33,806 30,472 64,278 434 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Dormitory Accommodations Following the earthquake disaster on February 6, dormitories affiliated to the Ministry of Youth and Sports across the country were opened to serve our citizens affected by the earthquake. Besides the 11 earthquake- hit provinces, eight provinces (Antalya, Karaman, Kayseri, Konya, Mardin, Mersin, Niğde and Sivas) were designated as earthquake support provinces and all dormitories in these provinces along with those in other provinces not housing students were made available to serve our citizens affected by the earthquake. From February 6, 2023, until the commencement date of the 2023-2024 academic year, a total of 477,952 citizens were hosted in the dormitories affiliated with the Directorate General of Student Loans and Dormitories (KYK) throughout the country. During this period, the restaurants and canteens in the KYK dormitories offered three meals a day for the earthquake victims. “Social Markets” were opened in the dormitories, offering accommodation services to meet the urgent needs of our citizens. Personal care and hygiene kits, clothing and nutritional support were also provided. During the time when dormitory services were unavailable to our students, who could not be accommodated in the dormitories repurposed as shelters for earthquake victims after the earthquake on February 6, “meal support” payments were issued. Damla Volunteers participated actively in initiatives across 11 cities, with a particular focus on efforts in dormitory areas. Volunteers working in col- laboration with the Psychosocial Support Team assigned by the Ministry to TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 435 Hatay, Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş organised a variety of activities in the field for children, such as face painting, clown shows, handicrafts, fami- ly activities, origami and sports. Moreover, local voluntary works were conducted for the earthquake victims residing in the dormitories in cities outside the earthquake zone. Ankara Gölbaşı Men’s Dormitory offered assistance to earthquake survi- vors who had undergone amputations and were continuing their outpatient hospital treatment. Activities for disadvantaged individuals were planned, and playgrounds were established for children in the dormitory. As of December 24, 2024, 29,117 students who were identified as earthquake victims are being accommodated in dormitories with priority and free of charge, and no dormitory fees are being collected from students studying at universities that have switched to distance education in provinces damaged by the earthquake. DORMITORY EQUIPMENT PURCHASED AND DISPATCHED IN EARTHQUAKE-STRICKEN PROVINCES AFTER FEBRUARY 6, 2024 Province Mattress Protector Pillow Quilt Bedding Set Foam Mattress Bed Base Wardrobe Bedside Table Study Desk Dining Table Chair Bunk Bed ADANA 500 700 150 2,328 60 50 0 50 0 0 250 23 ADIYAMAN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,348 0 0 0 0 DİYARBAKIR 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 50 100 0 0 ELAZIĞ 1,470 1,820 1,120 3,778 470 0 446 100 350 0 0 650 GAZİANTEP 1,305 1,720 900 1,700 700 100 50 300 586 350 2,100 0 HATAY 5,612 4,240 2,280 4,983 1,240 0 888 1,480 350 383 2,430 1,509 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 0 590 0 0 1,552 0 350 0 0 0 0 468 KİLİS 400 345 632 1,650 200 0 200 20 220 0 180 0 MALATYA 1,050 1,350 1,050 1,838 1,050 0 500 0 0 220 399 503 OSMANİYE 2,920 1,760 2,138 4,266 1,966 1,660 122 1,453 400 469 3,205 110 ŞANLIURFA 2,590 1,514 1,414 2,850 1,454 1,314 100 1,364 650 312 2,246 0 TOTAL 15,847 14,039 9,684 23,393 8,692 3,124 2,706 6,115 2,606 1,834 10,810 3,263 436 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Post-earthquake Psychosocial Support Services Approximately 15 million citizens in 11 provinces were affected by the Kahramanmaraş-centred earthquakes on February 6, 2023. From the first moment of the earthquake, the Ministry of Youth and Sports provided services in the region with all its personnel and facilities. The number of mental health personnel employed in the facilities of 11 earthquake-hit provinces was increased, bearing in mind that the majority of the young citizens residing in the dormitories in the earthquake zone were from nearby provinces. In this context, the number of mental health workers in the region was increased from 30 to 85. Furthermore, appointments for online or face-to-face Psychosocial Support Services in the facilities affiliated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports are available to all our young citizens affected by the earthquakes via psd.gsb.gov.tr. The young citizens staying in these facilities can benefit from the psychosocial support services as part of protective and preventive mental health practices. Under the umbrella of “Communication with Youth” and in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Health, “Awareness Trainings” were provided to the personnel working in the MoYS dormitories and youth centres. Within the scope of these trainings, seminars on “Psychological Well-Being” were given to young people who benefit from MoYS facilities. In cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and AFAD, “Training for Disaster Awareness Trainers” was provided to the volunteer personnel working at the MoYS dormitories, youth centres, and sports facilities, enabling them to become trainers. Comprehensive “Disaster Awareness Trainings” have been delivered to personnel at MoYS facilities and 38,903 individuals utilising these establishments, with the trainings being conducted on an ongoing basis. In the earthquake zone, “Disaster Awareness Trainings” were provided to 4,481 individuals. These trainings aim to teach emergency response methods before, during, and after disasters, as well as increase disaster awareness. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 437 Within the scope of the 3-year “Pilot Project on Psychosocial Support in Earthquake-Affected Regions in Türkiye” carried out in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), activities are being carried out in youth centres in Hatay, Malatya, Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, İstanbul and İzmir to make psychosocial support more widespread and increase the preparedness of young people against disasters. Within the scope of the project, in 2024, “Psychological First Aid Trainings” and “I Support My Friend Trainings” were provided for young people and the staff working at MoYS facilities in Hatay, Adıyaman, Malatya, Gaziantep and Kahramanmaraş provinces. 438 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Spiritual counselling and guidance services continue to be provided to earthquake-affected youth in MoYS dormitories and youth centres in 81 provinces. A solidarity and sharing-based approach is employed to provide this service. Spiritual counsellors assist students in making sense of their losses, coping with these situations, and rebuilding their spiritual peace while encouraging them to establish a strong solidarity network with each other. The healing power of cooperation and sharing common pain is brought to the forefront, particularly in group counselling and values training sessions, and programmes are carried out to strengthen spiritual solidarity not only at the individual level but also within the community. Spiritual counselling and guidance services are carried out with a holistic approach with the aim of reducing the effects of the trauma experienced by students, strengthening their sense of identity and belonging, and helping them hold on to life. The services extended beyond counselling; the spiritual counsellors also assisted young people in need by connecting them with resources for cash and in-kind support, such as clothing and books. Investments Completed Dormitory Constructions in the Earthquake Zone • Dormitory Project for 665 People in Elbistan, Kahramanmaraş: Completed on August 28, 2023. • Dormitory Project for 762 People in İskenderun, Hatay: Completed on August 29, 2024. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 439 • Student Dormitory Project with a bed capacity of 1,396 in Sur, Diyarbakır: Completed in September 2023. Current Construction of Dormitories and Sports Facilities in the Earthquake-Affected Area • Construction of Student Dormitory for 1,000 People in Şanlıurfa: Currently at the Provisional Acceptance phase. • Olympic Indoor Pool Project in Yüreğir, Adana: Currently at the Provisional Acceptance phase. • Semi-Olympic Pool Project in Besni, Adıyaman: Currently at the Provisional Acceptance phase. • Reinforced Concrete Dormitory Project with a bed capacity of 1,000 in Kahramanmaraş: Construction is scheduled to be completed in September 2025. • Dormitory for 1,250 People Project in Osmaniye: Construction is scheduled to be completed in September 2025. • Student Dormitory with a bed capacity of 220 in Kırıkhan, Hatay: Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2025. • Sports Complex Project in Kahta, Adıyaman: Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2025. Heavy Steel Dormitory Projects To expedite the construction of dormitories, the projects are designed in a “ground + 4-5 floors” configuration utilising heavy steel. Earthquake Zone Heavy Steel Dormitory Projects Under Construction S/N PROVINCE DISTRICT CAPACITY PROJECT NAME LAND SIZE (m²) LOCATION 1 KAHRAMANMARAŞ ONİKİŞUBAT 2,000 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 49,847 University Campus 2 HATAY CENTRAL DISTRICT 1,000 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 9,000 Former Sabancı Dormitory Land - University Campus 3 HATAY İSKENDERUN 750 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 12,000 Former Prefabri- cated Dormitory Land 440 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Earthquake Zone Heavy Steel Dormitory Projects in Tender Phase S/N PROVINCE DISTRICT CAPACITY PROJECT NAME LAND SIZE (m²) LOCATION 1 KAHRAMAMARAŞ DULKADİROĞLU 2,000 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 60,901 Severely Damaged Dormitory Land 2 ADIYAMAN CENTRAL DISTRICT 1,000 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 16,500 Dormitory Area -Land of Collapsed Dormitories 3 GAZİANTEP ŞEHİTKAMİL 2,000 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 24,000 University Campus 4 ADANA SARIÇAM 1,000 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 209,861 Vacant spaces in the current Dormitory Area 5 ŞANLIURFA SİVEREK 500 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 11,325 Land of the Vocational School of Higher Education 6 ELAZIĞ CENTRAL DISTRICT 1,000 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 20,000 University Campus 7 MALATYA YEŞİLYURT 2,000 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 44,981 Near the University Campus 8 KİLİS CENTRAL DISTRICT 1,000 Heavy Steel Dormitory Project 17,427 3 km from the city cen- tre, 2 km from the University TOTAL CAPACITY (9 PROVINCES) 14,250 Investments under the FRIT II Project (EU Support to Refugees and Host Communities): • Nine Youth and Sports Facilities were completed in 2023 within the scope of the “FRIT II Project” in seven provinces affected by the February 6 earthquakes (One Tennis Court, Eight Football Fields). • Construction of 10 Youth and Sports Facilities in seven provinces within the scope of the “FRIT II Project” was completed in 2024 (Five Youth Centres, Three Sports Halls, One Pool and One Football Field). TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 441 S/N PROVINCE DISTRICT PROJECT NAME TYPE OF FACILITY 1 ADANA YÜREĞİR YÜREĞİR, ADANA YOUTH CENTRE CONSTRUCTION WORK (FRIT II) Youth Centre 2 ADIYAMAN GÖLBAŞI GÖLBAŞI, ADIYAMAN NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH CENTRE (FRIT II) Youth Centre 3 ADIYAMAN CENTRAL DISTRICT CENTRAL DISTRICT, ADIYAMAN SPORTS HALL CONSTRUCTION WORK (FRIT II) Sports Hall 4 HATAY YAYLADAĞI YAYLADAĞI, HATAY YOUTH CENTRE CONSTRUCTION WORK (FRIT II) Youth Centre 5 KAHRAMANMARAŞ TÜRKOĞLU TÜRKOĞLU, KAHRAMANMARAŞ SPORTS HALL CONSTRUCTION WORK (FRIT II) Sports Hall 6 KİLİS ELBEYLİ ELBEYLİ, KİLİS YOUTH CENTRE CONSTRUCTION WORK (FRIT II) Youth Centre 7 MALATYA BATTALGAZİ BATTALGAZİ, MALATYA SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION WORK (FRIT II) Pool 8 MALATYA BATTALGAZİ MALATYA BATTALGAZİ SPOR SALONU YAPIM İŞİ (FRIT II) Sports Hall 9 MALATYA YEŞİLYURT YEŞİLYURT, MALATYA YOUTH CENTRE CONSTRUCTION WORK (FRIT II) Youth Centre 10 OSMANİYE CENTRAL DISTRICT CENTRAL DISTRICT, OSMANİYE ÇARDAK NEIGHBOURHOOD OUT- DOOR FOOTBALL FIELD CONSTRUCTION WORK (FRIT II) Football Field 442 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 443 5.13. Religious Services 444 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Following the earthquakes on February 06, 2023, which have left us with a heavy heart as a nation, the Presidency of Religious Affairs has assigned a significant number of personnel to the earthquake zone to provide re- ligious services to our citizens. They have also ensured that the sermons prepared to reinforce the feelings of unity and solidarity throughout the country, to alleviate our common pain, and to inspire hope for the future are delivered in our mosques throughout the country. Qur’an recitations and prayer services were conducted in all mosques nationwide for the souls of our brothers and -sisters who perished in the earthquake. The Presidency of Religious Affairs has collaborated with the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV) pursuant to Article 17 of the Law of Estab- lishment to execute its legally mandated responsibilities, encompassing a wide array of functions including search and rescue operations, shelter provision, burial and identification services, evacuation assistance, food distribution, nutritional support, and social and humanitarian aid. Fur- thermore, by maintaining optimal collaboration with other organisa- tions on-site, both its personnel and TDV staff and volunteers promptly assisted our citizens. The human resources capable of rapid organisation in extraordinary cir- cumstances constitute the primary factor in the successful earthquake response of the Presidency of Religious Affairs. The Disaster and Emer- gency Centre, established within the central organisation and in col- laboration with TDV, has effectively mobilised its personnel to respond promptly and react swiftly to potential adversities in the field. Further- more, a network of personnel was established to guarantee that essen- tial logistical support arrived promptly in the earthquake-affected areas, even in the most remote regions of our country. A total of 1,858 personnel, 535 women and 1,323 men, were deployed in five distinct periods to work in the earthquake-affected provinces to pro- vide sermons, spiritual and ethical guidance, including the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, funeral equipment, and enshrouding services, allevi- ate and share our citizens’ pain and sorrow; provide moral support, and bring our nation’s compassion-laden aid to those in need. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 445 Spiritual counselling and religious services were offered by the person- nel of the Presidency of Religious Affairs to our earthquake-affected citizens, who were accommodated in Religious Academy Centres and Qur’an courses associated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs, stu- dent dormitories linked to the Student Loans and Dormitories Institu- tion (KYK), dormitories and hostels under the Ministry of National Edu- cation, as well as guest-houses, hotels, and hostels affiliated with public institutions and non-governmental organisations in provinces outside the earthquake zone, and who were receiving medical treatment in healthcare facilities. Following the earthquakes, sermons focused on fostering unity and sol- idarity, alleviating shared suffering, and cultivating hope for the future were delivered in mosques nationwide. A “Special Spiritual and Ethical Guidance Program” was conducted aimed at the earthquake-affected region to honour the citizens who per- ished in the disaster and to foster unity and solidarity within our state and nation, aimed at healing the wounds of the catastrophe under the motto ”From the Disaster of the Century to the Unity of the Century: The State and the Nation Hand in Hand.” The program was executed by four personnel in seven provinces from February 14 to 16, 2024, and by Pres- ident of Religious Affairs Prof. Ali Erbaş, 10 personnel and 18 reciters in 10 provinces from March 21 to 29, 2024. 446 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Mosque Centred Events and Projects The “Qur’an and Prayer Program” was conducted in all mosques nation- wide for the souls of our brothers and sisters who perished in the earth- quake. Furthermore, the Presidency of Religious Affairs staff recited hat- mi sharifs until February 17, 2023, in remembrance of all our departed, particularly our citizens who perished in earthquakes. The prayers of the recited hatmi sharifs were said during Lailat al-Miraj as part of the Special Lailat al-Miraj Programme, which was hosted by the Presidency at the Ankara/Çankaya Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque and aired live on TRT 1 and Diyanet TV. Funeral prayers in absentia for our citizens who perished in the earth- quakes were held in all mosques nationwide on February 17, 2023, fol- lowing Friday prayers. “Special Lailat al-Bara’ah Programme” was held at the Kahramanmaraş/ Dulkadiroğlu Disaster Tent Masjid in remembrance of the earthquakes on Saturday, March 6, 2023, and aired live on TRT 1 and Diyanet TV . From April 6 to 8, 2023, “Feast of Qur’an” activities were organised in the provinces of Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Hatay, Adıyaman, and Kahraman- maraş, conducted by teams composed of 14 personnel in response to the earthquake disaster, commencing from February 06, 2023, in observance of Ramadan. On the occasion of Lailat al-Qadr, special programmes were conducted in the Hatay/Antakya Disaster Tent Masjid and Ankara Beştepe Millet Mosque on Monday, April 17, 2023, to be broadcast live on Diyanet TV, TRT 1, and Kanal D. On the occasion of the Martyrs’ Remembrance Day and the 108th anniver- sary of the Çanakkale Naval Victory on March 18, our personnel employed with imam-hatip, muezzin, and Qur’an course instructor titles, as well as our citizens, participated in the recitation of 212,669 hatmi sharifs nationwide for the souls of our martyrs and those who perished in the earthquake. The prayers for the recited hatmi sharifs were recited at the “Qur’an and Mawlid Program” broadcast live on Diyanet TV following the evening prayer on Sat- urday, March 18, 2023, at the Çanakkale Martyrs Mosque. Spiritual Support Services Thirty-five materials comprising approximately 1,483 pages, including cri- teria for spiritual and -psychological counselling and guidance in disaster and crisis situations, along with 15 training videos featuring the presenta- tions of the instructors, were provided to the personnel of the Presidency. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 447 Approximately 16,300 personnel were deployed to the earthquake zone in the aftermath of the earthquakes to offer spiritual support and religious services to our citizens. Coordinators delivered Qur’an, Braille, and audio education to earthquake victims with disabilities in the disaster zone. TDV Volunteers with Earthquake Victim Children in Hatay A total of 5,698 personnel, including 2,185 women and 3,513 men, were as- signed to provide spiritual counselling, guidance, and religious services to our earthquake-affected residents living in provinces outside the earth- quake zone, reaching out to 394,319 people through 50,739 activities. Visits were arranged for our scholarship students and their families who were affected by the disaster. In this regard, 128 families and students were visited. Assignment of Psychological Counseling and Guidance Teachers A total of 12 psychological counselling and guidance teachers were as- signed in Adıyaman, Hatay, and Kahramanmaraş provinces to guide students who were psychologically affected by the earthquake centred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, and who were continuing their education in Qur’an courses in the earthquake zone. Training Activities for the Earthquake Zone during Ramadan As part of the activities carried out in the earthquake zone during the month of Ramadan in 2023, the Qur’an was recited in the masjids set 448 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS up in tent cities and container cities, non-formal religious education ac- tivities were organised for children in Diyanet Children’s tents and for earthquake victims staying in the dormitories of the Student Loans and Dormitories Institution (KYK). Ramadan Goodness Tent Boarding Summer Qur’an Courses for Children in the Earthquake Zone Approximately 750 students from Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya provinces attended a four-week boarding summer Qur’an course in Ankara and Istanbul from July 3 to 28, 2023. Separate dormitories for boys and girls were made available in Ankara for students from Hatay and Kahramanmaraş, and in Istanbul for stu- dents from Adıyaman and Malatya. Staff recruited as coordinators from the earthquake-affected provinces accompanied the children on their journey and during the training process. Citizens living in the earthquake zone who won the draw to attend the Hajj pilgrimage in 2023 but were unable to do so due to the earthquake were offered the option of deferring their entitlement until 2024. Provinces in the earthquake zone were awarded a 35 per cent additional quota on top of the standard quota as part of the 2024 Hajj organisation. The deadline for paying the Hajj fee for those in the earthquake zone who have registered for the 2024 trip was extended. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 449 The staff employed in the courses for children aged 4-6 organised edu- cational, cultural, and morale activities for them as well as for children of other ages. Due to the earthquake, 197 and 160 Qur’an course instructors were sec- onded from various provinces to Kahramanmaraş and Hatay, respec- tively, to work in the “Diyanet Children” tents offering services in tent- and container cities. A total of 12 psychological counselling and guidance teachers were as- signed in Adıyaman, Hatay and Kahramanmaraş provinces to guide students who were psychologically affected by the earthquake and were continuing their education in Qur’an courses in the earthquake zone. Social Services The number of unoccupied beds in the dorms and hostels of Qur’an courses affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs in the earth- quake-affected provinces was determined. 58,764 citizens affected by the earthquake were accommodated at Qur’an courses with boarding fa- cilities. Daily accommodation statistics were collected from each prov- ince and referred to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs. A total of 716 university students were sent to Umrah as part of the So- cial Responsibility Project. This included 188 students in the 2022-2023 Umrah period and 528 students in the 2023-2024 Umrah period, with the objective of reducing the traces of the earthquake and enhancing the spirituality of students studying at a university in the earthquake zone comprising 11 provinces, or students of universities in other provinces who were in the earthquake provinces at the time of the earthquake. At the Religious Specialisation and Religious Higher Specialisation Cen- tres of the Religious -Academy, accommodation services were offered to disaster survivors who lost their residences as a result of the earthquake. A total of 4,197 individuals were accommodated in 25 academy centres. From the initial day of the earthquake, 651 personnel who underwent Religious Scout Leadership and search and rescue training in collabo- ration with the Turkish Scouting Federation (TİFAKE) participated in search and rescue and humanitarian assistance activities by joining Tİ- FAKE and AFAD teams in four terms. 450 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS 500 youngsters aged 12 to 14 who were studying in the earthquake zone attended the “2023 Summer Camp of Brotherhood in My Summer” or- ganised in İstanbul with the collaboration of the Presidency of Religious Affairs and Türkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV). Türkiye Diyanet Foundation From the first day of the earthquake, AFAD has coordinated humanitar- ian relief, nutrition, housing, and search and rescue efforts in 11 earth- quake-affected provinces in collaboration with the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation and the Presidency of Religious Affairs. In the context of humanitarian aid efforts, 1,684 trucks and 439 vans car- rying basic necessities were dispatched to earthquake-affected regions. Staff and volunteers were deployed to earthquake-affected regions in support of nutrition and humanitarian aid efforts. As part of these ef- forts, 515 vehicles, including mobile catering, mobile kitchens, and coor- dination vehicles, operated in the earthquake zone. During the month of Ramadan, Türkiye Diyanet Foundation set up char- ity tables at 58 locations thorughout the region in 2023 and in 23 loca- tions under the supervision of headquarters in 2024. Seven mobile catering vehicles offered refreshments to citizens after if- tar. Karagöz-Hacivat shadow plays, puppet shows, and activities for chil- dren were organised for the guests waiting for iftar. In the two years following the earthquake, 169,850 grocery aid cards, 58,110 Eid aid cards, 106,000 food packages, and 100,000 cleaning and hygiene packages were distributed. Owing to these efforts, 3,917,437 peo- ple were provided with aid. Over 17,000 staff members and volunteers from the Presidency of Reli- gious Affairs and the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, including the 307-strong search and rescue team, offered humanitarian aid, funeral, burial, and var- ious other religious services in regions affected by the earthquake. In addi- tion, 55,500 volunteers across the country and 3,253 volunteers in the earth- quake zone provided material and moral support to the earthquake victims through the Women’s Branches and Youth Branches of the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation. The Women’s Branches and Youth Branches participated in lo- gistical support activities with 58,753 volunteers. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 451 Distribution of Food by the Türkiye Diyanet Foundationı Hot meals, soups, provisions, canned food, water, and tea were distribut- ed to earthquake victims via soup kitchens, mobile kitchens, and mobile catering vehicles, enabling 7,981,914 earthquake victims and field staff to benefit from the Foundation’s food and nutrition facilities. In addition to 80,803 shelter materials consisting of quilts, blankets, and pillows; 3,558 tents and 3,678 containers were delivered to the region. Eight logistics centres and warehouses were established in Kahraman- maraş, Adana, Antakya and Reyhanlı districts of Hatay, Malatya, Kilis, Adıyaman, and Gaziantep to manage and regularly dispatch the ship- ments of aid that were received from all over Türkiye. Aid packages ar- riving here were sorted and quickly delivered to the regions in need. The branches of the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation in provinces unaffected by the earthquake were converted into aid collection centres, while branch- es in 71 provinces accepted in-kind and cash donations. The aid collected here was promptly delivered to the earthquake-affected regions. 47,845 copies of the Holy Qur’an were also sent to the disaster zone. In preparation for potential catastrophes and disasters, the Türkiye Di- yanet Foundation established search and rescue teams in six provinces under the auspices of AFAD. The goal is to set up these search and rescue teams in all provinces, working in tandem with public institutions. 452 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Search and Rescue Team of the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation Ramadan Relief to Earthquake-Affected Region Over 5 million earthquake victims received 100,000 food packages, 100,000 hygiene packages, 50,000 grocery aid cards, 20,000 charity bags, 20,000 prayer kits, 50,000 copies of the Holy Qur’an, 17,000 clothes for the Eid, and 3 million iftar and sahur meals as part of the 2023 Rama- dan programme. “Plant a Seed, Let Hope Blossom” Project There was a need to develop projects to improve the effectiveness and ef- ficiency of widespread religious education activities in provinces struck by the earthquake on February 6, 2023. This project was implemented to help Qur’an course instructors working in the provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and the districts of İslahiye and Nur- dağı in Gaziantep province, which were immediately affected by the earthquake, regulate the intense emotions they experience, such as fear, anxiety, and sorrow; support their social and emotional development; boost their morale and motivation; and facilitate their adaptation to life and work. The implementation of the project is still underway. The project features visits to the region affected by the earthquake to boost the motivation of the personnel, identify their needs, strengthen their institutional belonging, support their social-emotional develop- ment through training videos, increase their awareness levels and emo- TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 453 tional regulation skills, strengthen their coping skills in the face of diffi- cult life experiences, and help them adjust to life and work by providing face-to-face contact through workshops to be held. In-Service Training Seminar on Spiritual Counselling and Guidance Services in Times of Disaster Seminars were held on February 22-23, 2023, via online applications to guide personnel who will deliver religious services in disaster and emer- gency situations, with the participation of the Academy Centre Director, training officers, and trainees. Training Seminars for Personnel Working in the Disaster Zone In-service training seminars were held in groups to assist in the rehabilita- tion of personnel who provided services in terms of funeral, moral support, humanitarian aid, and search and rescue following the earthquake. The sem- inars, which were organised in tandem with Academy centres and provincial and district muftiates, attracted about 10 thousand participants. The Presidency of Religious Affairs planned certified first aid training for its personnel employed in the provincial organisation on the basis of 20% of the staff annually between 2024 and 2028, with 2,818 personnel completing the training in 2024. As part of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority’s AFAD Volun- teering System activities, personnel employed in the central and provincial or- ganisations of the Presidency of Religious Affairs were encouraged to acquire the basic concepts related to disasters and adopt proper behaviours before, during, and after disasters via online training, resulting in 1,304 personnel be- coming Basic Level AFAD and Support Level AFAD Volunteers by 2024. In-service training seminars for 351 instructors working in the 4-6 age group Qur’an Courses Teaching Programme in eleven earthquake-affected provinc- es were held at the Denizli Religious High Specialisation Centre from March 04 to 07 and from May 07 to 10, 2024. From May 14 to 17, 2024, an in-service training seminar was held at the Denizli Religious High Specialisation Centre for 142 instructors working in Needs-Oriented Qur’an Courses Teaching Programmes in the eleven prov- inces affected by the earthquake. Online training was provided to 15,279 personnel who deliver or will deliver spiritual counselling, guidance, and religious services to earthquake survivors living in and outside the earth- quake-affected provinces. 454 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Staff Gatherings in the Disaster Zone Staff Gatherings in the Disaster Zone programmes were organised in groups via online applications to help rehabilitate personnel working in the disaster zone following the earthquake. Continuous and Distance Hafiz Training In-person hafiz trainings (boarding or daytime) continued in the provinc- es of Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, and Adıyaman, with online courses available when physical conditions could not be fulfilled. To meet the transfer requests of students continuing their hafiz training in the provinces struck by the earthquake, the capacity of Qur’an course facili- ties was identified, and the resulting quota list was shared with the provinc- es in the earthquake zone, resulting in the transfer of 1,612 students to other provinces. A make-up term was also granted to students who were unable to complete their hafiz training. A ‘Youth Camp’ was jointly organised by the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to keep up the spirits and motivation of the students during the intensive and routinized hafiz training process, given that students receiving this training in Qur’an course facilities are at a formative stage in terms of their affective, cognitive, and psychomotor de- velopment. These camps were held at the April 23 Youth Camp situated in the Silifke district of Mersin in two groups from November 22 to 23 and from November 24 to 28, 2023, aimed at 500 instructors and students aged 12 and above who were receiving hafiz training in Niğde, Hatay, Karaman, and Mersin provinces; at the Hatay Arsuz Youth Camp from January 24 to 27, 2024, aimed at 224 instructors and students aged 12 and above, receiving hafiz training in Hatay; and at the Bitlis Ahlat Youth Camp from March 1 to 4, 2024, aimed at 140 female students of Qur’an course facilities in Malatya under the supervision of 10 hafiz instructors. Culture and Arts Activities The Presidency of Religious Affairs also focused on art projects and activities to instil hope among citizens and personnel in the earth- quake-stricken provinces. 47 art workshops were opened in Kahra- manmaraş, Hatay, Malatya, Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, and Adana provinces, mainly in art branches such as calligraphy, illumination, marbling, min- iature, tile, quilling, and more. 663 trainees attended the workshops. The artisan personnel assigned in the provinces affected by the Kahra- manmaraş-epicentred earthquakes on February 6, 2023, were identified TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 455 as part of the Department of Turkish Islamic Arts’ “Flourishing Hope with Art” project, which was supported as part of the 2023 project cal- endar under the guidance and coordination of the Directorate of Strate- gy Development. Artisan personnel were provided with an inventory of artistic equipment and support to create opportunities for engaging in art. The 2023 Mosques and Religious Officers Week featured an exhibi- tion of artworks from seven branches by 12 artisan personnel, eight male and four female, in Ankara from October 4 to 5, 2023, in Gaziantep from November 29 to 30, 2023, in İzmir from December 6 to 7, 2023, in Konya on December 14, 2023, and in Bursa on December 20, 2023, serving as an echo of wounded hearts and a sign of a renewed embrace of life. As from February 6, 2023, the Directorate General of Religious Publica- tions distributed 388,617 printed publications free of charge to citizens residing in the earthquake-affected region and staying in the education centres and the guesthouses of the Directorate General of the Higher Ed- ucation Student Loans and Dormitories Institution (KYK), as well as citi- zens who had been resettled in other provinces. Furthermore, in the past two years, the earthquake-affected region received free releases of 9,050 copies of the Diyanet Çocuk periodical (for children), 10,500 copies of the Cim periodical, 5,000 copies of the Nüceym periodical, and 5,000 copies of the Kalem periodical. Additionally, five personnel with three trucks and a cargo vehicle dis- tributed 276,000 copies of books, 400 copies of monthly periodicals, 500 copies of the Aile periodical (for families), 9,750 copies of the Çocuk periodical (for children), and 11,000 copies of the Cim periodical free of charge throughout the region. The Presidency of Religious Affairs, which mobilised all of its service units to provide all kinds of material and spiritual aids to the victims of the Disaster of the Century since its initial days, has also undertaken meticulous efforts in the field of publications. Between February 6 and December 31, 2023, a total of 388,617 printed publications were delivered free of charge to be made available forcitizens who were residing in the earthquake zone, accommodated in education centres and the Director- ate General of KYK’s guesthouses, or resettled in other provinces from the earthquake zone. Between January 1 and December 31, 2024, provincial and district mufti- ates, Qur’an course facilities in container cities, mosques, and other estab- lishments, as well as wishing citizens, in the eleven earthquake-stricken provinces were provided with a total of 173,541 publications, including the 456 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Holy Qur’an, Islamic catechisms, prophetic biography, Alif Ba, and books for families, children, and the youth. Türkiye Diyanet Foundation distrib- uted 47,845 copies of the Qur’an to the earthquake zone within the scope of the “My Present is the Quran” project. The “Spiritual First Aid Guide,” comprising five chapters, was made digital- ly available to the personnel. Supportive Activities in the Field of Youth and Sports A youth camp was organised in April 23 Youth Camp in Silifke, Mersin, from November 23 to 24, 2023, aimed at 90 students aged 12 and above, who were receiving hafiz training in the earthquake-stricken Hatay province. Radio and TV Broadcasts Diyanet TV, broadcasting the news from the earthquake zone from the first moment of the disaster with a responsible public broadcasting ap- proach, included special broadcasts in its programme to provide spiri- tual aid to those affected by the earthquake. In this framework, Earth- quake Special programmes were included within the scope of Thinking Outside the Box, Burhan İşleyen From the Pulpit of Hacı Bayram, Wel- come to a New Dawn, Hour of Kindness, Religious Agenda, No Problem, Sermons at Ulu Cami, Doctor to Our Family, Awaiting Iftar, Religion and Psychology, Disaster of the Century, and Ask Diyanet programmes. Joy of Friday Prayer Sermons and khutbahs were broadcast live on Diyanet TV every Friday. The Presidency of Religious Affairs and Türkiye Diyanet Foundation uninter- ruptedly continued their efforts with the motto “Till Kindness Reigns on Earth” and the #TürkiyeİçinİyilikVakti (Kindness For Türkiye) hashtag and mustered all their means to swiftly heal the wounds of the earthquake that struck on February 6. Recognising the importance of sharing accurate infor- mation with the public in a timely manner, liaisons were established by the Diyanet News coordinators residing in the region or travelling there from neighbouring provinces for the purpose of establishing healthy communi- cation channels throughout the region. Within this framework, 1,012 news articles via the Diyanet News website, 72 videos and 254 infographics via the Diyanet News social media accounts, and 27 videos and 24 infographics via the Diyanet Digital social media ac- counts were published about the Presidency of Religious Affairs’ and Türki- ye Diyanet Foundation’s digital broadcasting activities in the region. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 457 Aid Campaigns Students receiving TDV scholarships, acting with a sense of charity since the initial days of the earthquake, collected 218,328 TL and 100 euros in the aid campaigns they organised among themselves and do- nated them to TDV’s earthquake fund. TDV had provided 436,000 TL in educational aid as part of its educational assistance to 218 students affected by the earthquake who were accommodated in TDV dormito- ries or receiving TDV scholarships. Moreover, 7,090 primary and sec- ondary school students and graduate students in need were identified by muftiates in the earthquake-stricken provinces and provided with 10,169,000 TL in aid. Aid Efforts for the Earthquake Zone An aid collection campaign pursuant to the “Law on Collection of Aid No. 2860” was conducted following the Friday prayer on February 10, 2023, at all mosques in all provinces except those in the ten earthquake-stricken provinces (Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Diyarbakır, Adana, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Malatya, and Hatay). A total of 310,862,462.49 TL was collected as a result of the campaign and deposited to the accounts of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) by mosque staff. The personnel employed at the central and foreign organisations of the Presidency of Religious Affairs donated 2,306,810.37 TL to the TDV to ad- dress the needs of earthquake victims. In addition to the aforementioned donations, a total of 87,322,000 TL of aid was sent to the earthquake zone in 2023 and 2024 as part of aid campaigns. 458 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Zakat, Fitrah, and Qurbani Services The Presidency of Religious Affairs and TDV collaborated to perform the sacrifice of 20,165 qurbanis and distribute 39,762 qurbani meat pack- ages, 15,350 grocery aid cards, and 10,000 Eid aid cards across the earth- quake zone for the period of two years within the scope of the “Qurbani on Behalf Slaughter Organisation Programme.” Owing to these efforts, 789,685 individuals were provided with aid. TDV’s Activities for Women and Children Residing in Tent Cities in Adıyaman Food and Accommodation TDV provided hot meal and catering services in six provinces via mobile, sta- tionary, and field kitchens after the earthquake, serving hot meals to 10,191,318 people, including the earthquake victims and the personnel on duty. Since the first day of the earthquake, a total of 80,803 accommodation materials comprised of quilts, blankets, and pillows as well as 3,558 shel- ter and masjid tents were delivered to the earthquake zone. 3,678 con- tainers were delivered to the region — 444 to Adıyaman, 4 to Gaziantep, 2,023 to Hatay, 565 to Kahramanmaraş, 459 to Malatya, 107 to Osmaniye, and 76 to Diyarbakır — under the coordination of AFAD. 47,382,129 TL was transferred to provincial and district muftiates in the earthquake zone to address the needs of Qur’an course facilities that were damaged by the earthquake. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 459 The vacant accommodation capacity of dormitories and hostels belong- ing to the Quran course facilities affiliated with the Presidency of Re- ligious Affairs in the provinces neighbouring the earthquake zone was identified. 58,764 citizens affected by the earthquake were accommo- dated at Qur’an courses with boarding facilities. Daily accommodation statistics were collected from provinces and notified to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority. Funeral Services TDV promptly delivered 40 trucks of shrouds, body bags, protective clothing, and other required equipment for funeral and burial services. Construction Services (i.e., Mosque, Qur’an course facilities, Youth Centre, Family and Religious Guidance Centre) 155,768,125 TL in aid was sent for the restoration of damaged mosques, Qur’an course facilities, and muftiate buildings and complexes and for as- sisting the reconstruction of structures in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck on February 6. From the day of the earthquake that struck Kahramanmaraş to January 8, 2025, 89 new mosques have opened, and 172 mosques have been reclassi- fied. The earthquake on February 6th caused the destruction of eight muf- tiate offices and heavily damaged 10, with an additional 10 suffering mod- erate damage. 907 mosques collapsed, 396 suffered heavy damage, and 360 received moderate damage. Moreover, 131 Qur’an course facilities collapsed, while 89 sustained heavy damage and 74 moderate damage. Of the youth centres affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs, nine collapsed, 13 sustained heavy damage and six moderate damage. In addition, there was minor damage to 2,250 mosques, 943 Qur’an course facilities, and 48 youth centres. The project stage for 12 muftiate offices has also been underway in the earthquake-stricken zone. Construction of 162 mosques has been com- pleted, an additional 338 mosques are under construction, and 104 are in the planning stage. Since February 6, 2023, the construction of 18 Qur’an course facilities has been completed in the earthquake zone, the construction of 24 additional facilities have been initiated and 11 have been in the project stage. In the region, two youth centres have been constructed, one is under -construc- tion and one is in the project stage. The majority of mosques, Qur’an course facilities, and youth centres with minor damage have been repaired and re- sumed their operations. 460 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Search and Rescue Services A search and rescue team consisting of 307 personnel from the Presiden- cy of Religious Affairs were engaged in the operations in the earthquake zone. Search and rescue teams from Ordu, Bartın, and Bursa, consisting of religious staff and volunteers, along with other personnel, conducted search and rescue operations in Hatay, Adıyaman, Nurdağı, and Kahramanmaraş under the coordination of AFAD, rescuing 51 citizens alive. A 45-strong search and rescue team, made up of the Presidency of Religious Affairs personnel and staff from TDV’s Bartın, Ordu, Bursa, Afyon, and İstanbul branches, was dispatched to Hatay and Kahramanmaraş provinces to contribute to the search and rescue efforts. Another search and rescue team comprising 29 people from the central organisation of the Presidency of Religious Affairs and Türkiye Diyanet Foundation personnel completed their training and test-taking procedures on July 31, 2024, and received accreditation. Logistics Support TDV provided a total of 19 vehicles, including three trucks, one mobile catering vehicle, 10 passenger vehicles, and five vans, from its headquarters to muftiates in order to support the religious services and enhance the effectiveness of efforts in the region. Staff and Personnel Planning Personnel assignments that were made to fully meet the needs of citizens affected by the earthquake with the aim of supporting the reconstruction of the region. Provincial muftis and deputy muftis, district muftis, division chiefs, preachers, religious services experts, religious staff, inspectors, chiefs, and other personnel were assigned to the region during the process to organise religious services, reinforce coordination, provide spiritual guidance and counselling to the earthquake victims, and ensure the proper conduct of services. Due to the natural disaster, 231 Qur’an course instructors and personnel with imam and muezzin titles were transferred to the zone affected by the earthquake that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 6 and 90 Qur’an course instructors and personnel with imam-hatip and muezzin titles were assigned as of January 08, 2025. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 461 5.14. Social Services 462 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Psychosocial Support Efforts in 10 Earthquake-Affected Provinces The Ministry of Family and Social Services is designated for the provi- sion and coordination of psychosocial support services to individuals affected by disasters and emergencies as the primary solution partner of the psychosocial support working group in accordance with the Reg- ulation on Disaster and Emergency Response Services and Türkiye’s Disaster Response Plan (TAMP in Turkish). Psychosocial support (PSS) services are carried out under the coordination of the Ministry in coop- eration with solution partners.1 In this regard, support solution partners comprise the relevant public institutions and organisations, universities and the relevant non-governmental organisations. Psychosocial support teams were coordinated and deployed to the field from minute zero of the disaster epicentred in Pazarcık district of Kahra- manmaraş province. Under the psychosocial support efforts, teams iden- tify the basic needs (housing, nutrition, search and rescue, security, etc.) of the field in the first 72 hours of disasters and emergency situations and communicate these needs to the pertinent workgroups. The teams also provide psychological first aid to individuals around the debris. Due to the magnitude of the disaster, the first psychosocial support teams to reach the field actively assisted with search and rescue and distribution of aids together with other workgroups. The teams specifically participated in the efforts to evacuate children, people with disabilities, senior citizens, and women under protection, who were under the institutional care of the Ministry of Family and Social Services to institutions in safe provinces. The efforts were carried out to determine if the children rescued from the rubble, treated at the hospital and found alone in the field were unaccompa- nied. A protection order was issued by the General Directorate of Child Ser- vices for the unaccompanied minors identified in the field, and they were placed under institutional care. In addition to identifying basic needs in the field, evacuation of social service organisations, identification of unaccom- panied individuals; particularly after the first 72 hours, efforts to improve psychosocial wellbeing such as psychological first aid, needs assessment, ensuring access to resources, community participation, social recovery ac- tivities in child-friendly areas, group activities for grown-ups, and follow-up of bereaved families during the grieving process were planned and execut- 1 Support solution partners: the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Min istry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of National Education, the Turkish Red Crescent, the Presidency of Religious Affairs, universities, national and international instituions/NGOs. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 463 ed depending on the readiness of the public. The intervention plan of each site was studied separately depending on the needs of tent cities that were changing and evolving with the transition to container cities. Over the past two years, efforts to support normalisation through social recovery activ- ities (workshops, courses, cultural and artistic activities, sports activities, etc.) have increased. In the meantime, individual interviews and group work with follow-up sessions have been carried out for individuals in need of specialised intervention services, aiming to enhance the coping process- es of individuals affected by the disaster. • To facilitate the transition from recovery to normalcy during the two years following the earthquake, services have been re-evaluated, and follow-ups have been conducted, particularly for those interviewed individually. To expedite access to social service models in the face of the social problems encountered in the region, relevant units are deployed upon field observations and case reports performed by psychosocial support teams. • Furthermore, PSS efforts were practised for citizens evacuated from 10 disaster provinces to other provinces, and remote counselling and guidance services were offered to disaster-affected individuals through the Alo 183 hotline. Additionally, in order to provide PSS ser- vices to evacuated citizens, personnel were assigned to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TOTAL PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT DATA (01.01.2025) PROVINCES TOTAL NUMBER OF PSS PERSONNEL TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE PROVIDED WITH PSS SERVICES ADANA 768 77,268 ADIYAMAN 2,601 925,457 DİYARBAKIR 968 169,560 GAZİANTEP 577 410,272 HATAY 3,104 780,658 KAHRAMANMARAŞ 2,532 1,025,041 KİLİS 332 29,667 MALATYA 1,521 335,108 OSMANİYE 734 195,105 ŞANLIURFA 368 131,103 464 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS DISASTER AREA TOTAL 13,505 4,079,242 EVACUATION PROVINCES DATA (71 PROVINCES) 5,642 911,576 ALO 183 DATA 15 1,576 TRNC DATA 100 12,022 ALL AREAS TOTAL 19,262 5,004,416 Objectives of the Psychosocial Support (PSS) Working Group: Within the scope of PSS services, the teams reaching the disaster zone as of minute zero were deployed around the debris, hospitals, tent cities, temporary accommodation centres and container cities in order to pro- vide professional interventions such as: • Psychological first aid, • Identification of needs and resources, • Individual interviews, • Psychological counselling with a group, • Psychoeducation, awareness training, • Social recovery activities, • and support to employees. Moreover, it is ensured that orphaned children, people with disabilities, senior citizens and women in need of protection due to the disaster ben- efit from social service models. Psychosocial Support Activities The central and provincial organisations of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, operate within a plan that addresses the questions ‘what, why, where, when, how, who, and with whom’ as they fulfill their duties and responsibilities. In addition to TAMP (Türkiye’s Disaster Response Plan), the “National Psychosocial Support Plan” is utilised regarding the execution of psychosocial support activities. All response activities are carried out under the guidance of this plan. The National Plan also pro- vides guidance in terms of qualifying psychosocial intervention teams with professional knowledge and skills, creating the job descriptions of the teams, and defining workflows. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 465 Psychosocial intervention teams use a number of intervention tools such as psychological first aid, needs and resource identification, psychoed- ucation, community participation, employee support, and social recov- ery activities in the disaster area. Professional knowledge and skills are required to transform these tools into tangible practices and efforts. Therefore, it is important to form the teams from among professional groups such as social workers, psychologists, psychological counsellors, child development specialists and sociologists. Especially in order to protect the citizens from the shocking, devastating, compelling and chaotic effects of the disaster, psychosocial support teams are deployed to the disaster area as of minute zero. Psychosocial interven- tion teams are assigned at debris sites, hospitals, tent cities, temporary ac- commodation centres and container cities. Mobile teams are dispatched to areas where there are problems accessing services due to earthquakes. In addition, foster families, relatives of martyrs and veterans who receive services are contacted to assess their psychosocial support needs. Accordingly in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Pazarcık, Kahramanmaraş on February 6, the Ministry’s Psychosocial Support Working Group convened with other working groups at the AFAD Crisis Centre; whereas the working groups at the provincial level convened at governor’s offices where the earthquake occurred. All working groups orchestrated their efforts and initiated fieldwork immediately. 466 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The Ministry was responsible for the coordination of the psychosocial support working group and immediately contacted the provincial direc- torates in the disaster area. The psychosocial support teams in the pro- vincial organisations were deployed in the area for an initial assessment of the situation and offer psychological first aid to the citizens waiting around the debris sites. Coordination and intervention activities in the field were followed up in the 10 provinces affected by the earthquake and the 71 provinces where evacuated citizens were relocated, with di- rect guidance provided to each province. Intervention teams actively worked at the debris sites and at hospitals until the tent cities were built. Psychosocial intervention teams offered psychologi- cal support to the citizens waiting for their relatives to be rescued and treated, and relevant institutions were mobilised to meet their needs. Mobile teams were formed for psychosocial support in remote places such as villages. Staff members from 71 provincial directorates of Family and Social Ser- vices were assigned to work in PSS teams from the very first moment of the disaster. Staff members from the central organisation were also assigned to ensure coordination. Children, women, senior citizens, and people with disabilities receiving care at social service institutions were evacuated to other provinces. Following the swift establishment of container cities after tent cities, psy- chosocial support teams visited the families in their households, and their urgent and special needs were assessed accordingly. Support programmes were organised for senior citizens, people with disabilities, infants and children in the family with potential special needs. Family members of the injured or deceased citizens were also visited to observe their psy- chological impact levels and to plan psychological support activities they could benefit from. Children, women, people with disabilities and senior citizens in need of protection were provided with access to social services and were placed under protection when deemed necessary. Psychological support units for adults and children were formed in each container city. Teams continue their psychosocial support efforts in these areas. Psychoeducation and group work activities are performed in order to help adults make sense of this process. Individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder are offered psychological help and followed up. Trainings on privacy, hygiene, domestic communication, etc. are provided, paying attention to the potential risks posed by collec- tive living spaces. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 467 Children receive psychoeducation tailored to their age group in psycho- social support areas; group studies are held, and activities are organised within the scope of social recovery. As the disaster zone transitioned into a more settled structure with the es- tablishment of container cities, it is intended to normalise life by opening hobby courses, organising sports and cultural and social recovery activities. The psychosocial intervention teams have used social activities as a means rather than an end, especially during the recovery phases. The main pur- pose is to reveal the individuals’ own capacity to cope with the situation. Assignments throughout the country are underway in order to assist the affected provincial directorates. In order to ensure sustainable psycho- social support services, active trainings are offered in the field with a view to strengthening the local capacity. The Ministry of Family and Social Services is responsible for organis- ing and coordinating “Support Practices for Employees” for all disaster workers offering psychosocial services to our citizens affected by the disaster. Within the scope of this responsibility, to alleviate the possi- ble secondary traumatisation, the burnout and empathy fatigue effects, Support Practices for Employees (trainings, sharing groups/group activ- ities, psychoeducation, individual interviews) are carried out by using both face-to-face and online platforms with the contribution of support solution partners by prioritising 10 provinces where the disaster oc- curred with central and/or local coordination. 468 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Field visits were organised to 10 disaster provinces to examine the PSS activ- ities on the ground and to conduct assessments together with the PSS teams. In order to increase the number of personnel involved in PSS activities in the field, professional staff were seconded in return for an additional course fee. Furthermore, training for these professionals on PSS services was coordinated. In order to evaluate the activities carried out within the scope of PSS in the disaster provinces and to make new plans, “Workshop on Evaluation of Intervention Activities in Disasters and Emergencies” was held in 10 provinces September 25-27, 2023, for the first group, and September 28- 30, 2023, for the second group with the participation of the staff working in PSS coordination. Staff Trainings Five hundred staff members assigned to the disaster area from support- ing provinces received online training for field orientation. Training videos were uploaded to the Ministry’s distance learning page(https://eys.aile. gov.tr) for staff access in cooperation with the De- partment of Training and Publication. The “Psychological First Aid” module prepared by the Directorate Gener- al of Family and Community Services as a training video in cooperation with the Department of Training and Publication. The prepared training video has been uploaded to the Presidency’s Distance Learning Gate for all public employees to watch. Within this scope, 10,000 staff members were trained. Online “Training on Psychological First Aid with Children” was provid- ed to 1,200 staff members working in the field. 23 “Consult the Specialist Sessions” were organised for the staff operat- ing in the field. A total of 1,138 staff members attended these sessions and received information from experts on problems encountered in the field and intervention methods. “Self-Help and Beyond” training was provided to 200 staff members as- signed to psychosocial support teams in the earthquake zone. Training was provided to 182 staff members assigned to PSS Children Units with regard to activities they would perform with children. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 469 “Grief Counselling Training” was provided to 50 staff members to pro- vide grief counselling services to bereaved adults and children. Coordination Activities with Support Solution Partners After the disaster, three coordination meetings were held under the co- ordination of the Directorate General of Family and Community Services with the support solution partners, namely the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Environment, Urbani- sation, and Climate Change, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Presidency of Religious Affairs, and the Turkish Red Crescent Society. From the first day of the earthquake, PSS activities have been and con- tinue to be carried out in coordination with approximately 130 non-gov- ernmental organisations. The areas of cooperation with non-governmental organisations are as follows: • Logistical support, • Specialist staff support, • Joint activity (Training, group work, social recovery activities), • Support to employees, • Case referral. Psychosocial Support Activities for the Youth The Psychosocial Support Team of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the psychosocial support staff employed within the scope of the Training Management System were deployed in the zone to overcome the psycho- logical effects of the disaster and heal the wounds. In this context, with the support of coaches and trainers, sporting and artistic activities have started to be organised for the people of the earthquake-affected zone. Within this scope, as of February 6, 2023, a “Psychosocial Support Team” of 648 people, including 240 mental health professionals and mental health staff employed under the Training Management System, has been actively working in the earthquake zone. A total of 609 trainers and coach- es involved in sporting and artistic activities also took part in the region. 470 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS As part of these activities, the “Our Dormitory Is Your Home” Psychoso- cial Support Work Plan was prepared for each age group and has been implemented in dormitories in cooperation with institutions and organ- isations. In addition, 25,000 books published by the Ministry of Youth and Sports were dispatched to the earthquake zone to assist in psycho- social support activities. One-on-one contact was established with the families and children af- fected by the earthquake in the framework of psychosocial support ac- tivities focused on individual interviews and group activities, both in the field in the earthquake-affected provinces and in dormitories across 81 provinces. In these efforts, basic nutrition, clothing, and hygiene needs were identified. Psychological first aid, psychosocial support interven- tions, and emotion transfer activities were performed, and informative trainings were given regarding the process. Moreover, play and activ- ity rooms and play therapy areas were established for children, while sporting and social activities were organised for all age groups. Within the scope of these efforts, activities such as theatre performances, chess tournaments, nature and cultural excursions were also conducted. Var- ious activities were also organised for citizens of all age groups accom- modated in the dormitories of the Ministry. In this process, efforts were expedited to provide equipment to the sup- port teams operating in the field, and the five colouring books titled I Meet Sports, I Love Animals, I Do Activities, My First Colouring Book, and I Love Nature were evaluated for pedagogical content and distribut- ed to children affected by the earthquake across the country. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 471 During the year-long process of transition from tent cities to container cities in the earthquake zone, care was taken to sustain activities in each accommodation site. In particular, activities for children in playgrounds, group activities for adolescents and young people, and psychoeducation sessions for parents were organised. As part of the group activities, teams gathered with young people under different themes—i.e., meeting new people, coping with bereavement, psychoeducation, social support, anxiety for the future, ice-breaker games, and mood interpretation—in order to mitigate the impact of the earthquake and help them return to normalcy. Services for Children Efforts have been carried out in coordination and cooperation with all relevant institutions and organisations for the proper execution of pro- cedures related to searching for children reported missing to the Minis- try of Family and Social Services after the earthquake, identifying/find- ing the family members/reunification of children placed in the care of public institutions and organisations due to the failure to access their relatives, absence of their identity documents or their inability to ex- press themselves. In the efforts for children affected by the earthquake, priority was given to finding them, having them treated, providing them with a safe care environment, meeting their basic needs, and ensuring that they are iden- tified and reunited with their families and relatives as soon as possible. In the units dealing with children who were able to express themselves, re- unification of children was executed based on the child’s statement or on information or documentation provided by the family/relatives proving the degree of kinship (the relative’s statement regarding the child, extract of civil registration, family photographs, Central Civil Registration System (MERNIS) records, and DNA matching.) Moreover, records of unidentified children without a family member/relative were promptly relayed to secu- rity units, and efforts aimed at facilitating identification were performed by comparing their images across various databases. Children whose identities and family relations were substantiated were reunited with their families by the responsible units in provinces where they were found. 472 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS New follow-up programmes were created for children affected by the disaster, in addition to the existing ones. The Disaster Management Module of the Family Information System developed by the Ministry of Family and Social Services within this scope, as well as the Missing Per- sons Search Programme of the Ministry of Interior, and the “Deep Vision Programme” developed by TÜBİTAK have been effectively utilised. Children who are unidentified and/or unable to express themselves, whose family members could not be reached, have been placed in the care and custody of the state upon completion of their treatment. All the needs of children have been met to the fullest extent possible, and they received the necessary psychosocial support at organisations affiliated with the Ministry of Family and Social Services, where they were placed according to their age and development. No significant damage was detected at any child institution, including organisations, foster families and adopted children. An evacuation plan was prepared and implemented for children under protection. In this framework, 966 children were transferred to child- care facilities in safe provinces, with 877 of them arriving within the first 48 hours. The foster home complexes located in the region were evacuated and allocated to individuals affected by the earthquake and in need of pro- tection during emergencies. An education module on “Privacy in Children: Special Considerations in Times of Disaster” was prepared for the personnel engaging with chil- dren at tent cities and container cities and made available to all related actors and the public through the Presidency’s Distance Learning Gate (uzaktanegitimkapisi.cbiko.gov.tr). The 2023–2028 Child Rights Strategy Document and Action Plan, which took effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette dated April 18, 2023, outlined “Services for Children Affected by Disaster, Crisis, and Emergen- cy Situations” as a main priority area. In this context, 12 significant activi- ties are intended to be implemented in line with three strategic objectives. The “Commission for Children in Disaster, Crisis, and Emergency Situa- tions” was established during the “First Children’s Council,” which was held for the first time in Türkiye between April 26 and 28, 2023. In the context of this priority area, it is aimed to hold consultations regarding TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 473 the measures to be taken and activities to be conducted for children in times of disaster, crisis, and emergency with the participation of aca- demics, non-governmental organisations, representatives of public in- stitutions and organisations, and field experts. A backup capacity of 2,200 was established at child care facilities out- side the earthquake zone. A guidebook was prepared on the “Terms of Reference for Child Protec- tion System in Disaster-Related Emergencies.” A “Call Centre” for receiving child-related reports, requests, and notifica- tions was established and shared with the public. The “Post-Earthquake Psychosocial Support Programme for Children Under Protection and Care” was developed in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) with the aim of delivering needs- based training to the personnel tasked with remedying the traumatic impact of the earthquake at childcare facilities and providing psychoso- cial support and mental health services to children under institutional care after the earthquake. Pursuant to this programme, the “Facilitation Training” was organised on July 17–25, 2023, as part of the Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) Programme developed by the WHO, which involves psychological intervention with the goal of helping adolescents aged 10 to 15 develop emotional regulation, behavioural activation, and self-help skills. The Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Mutlu Hayatlar İy- ilik ve Yardımlaşma Derneği (Happy Lives Charity and Solidarity As- sociation) signed an additional protocol regarding the construction of a Foster Home Complex with a capacity of 80 in the Kahramanmaraş province pursuant to the “Cooperation Protocol on the Construction of Foster Home Complex (ÇES) and the Service Building for the Child Pro- tection First Response and Evaluation Unit (ÇOKİM).” Activities of Children are Safe Teams An official letter dated February 11, 2023, was submitted to relevant in- stitutions regarding the activities to be conducted for “Children affected by the earthquake, for whom relatives could not be contacted, and those who remain unidentified or unable to communicate,” which included a directive to identify risks against children and their needs as well as to 474 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS monitor and follow up on them through the Children are Safe Teams. Accordingly, a directive was given to conduct residential visits for chil- dren affected by the earthquake in both the ten earthquake-affected provinces and the evacuated provinces, as well as to ensure that children receive appropriate social service models that are tailored to their needs. The “Emergency Programme for Earthquake-Affected Children,” which was developed in a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Family and Social Services and UNICEF, provided support to Children are Safe Teams in 20 provinces to identify risks against children and their needs. ⁣ Children are Safe Teams were reinforced by an additional 53 personnel to identify individual risks and needs of children, ensure their physical and psychological well-being with basic necessities in particular, and take on psychosocial support efforts aiming to ameliorate their acute stress symptoms. As of November 2023, 5,029 children affected by the earthquake have been monitored through this application. Activities of Department of Orphan and Daytime Services There have been efforts in terms of field surveys at temporary accom- modation centres—i.e., tent cities, container cities, KYK dormitories, guesthouses—and residential visits to their new respective residences to identify information on children who had experienced parental loss and those who assumed the care and responsibility of them. Under the Juvenile Protection Law No: 5395, protective and supportive measures (care, shelter, education, counselling and health) were taken for children who had experienced parental loss, and it was ensured that children for whom care orders were issued primarily benefited from the foster family service model, primarily through relatives or inner circle. Children for whom no protective and supportive measures were deemed necessary under the Juvenile Protection Law No: 5395 were directed to oth- er social service models (social and economic support, guidance, counsel- ling, psychosocial support, social assistance, etc.). It was ensured that children affected by disasters and those who had ex- perienced parental loss were prioritised to receive free care support from private nurseries, daycare centres and kids clubs that the Ministry of Family and Social Services supervises. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 475 By November 2023, the Department of Orphan and Daytime Services had visited 2,605 children who had lost their parents in the earthquake and their families/caregivers and conducted professional services. Within the framework of the Cooperation Protocol signed by the Turk- ish Red Crescent with the aforementioned Ministry, cooperation was es- tablished with the Turkish Red Crescent in the provinces of Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Adana, Osmaniye, Elazığ, Malatya, Diyarbakır, and Şanlıurfa for children who had experienced parental loss. Approximately 900 children received support in this regard. Children’s Life Centres in the Earthquake Zone In the aftermath of the earthquake on February 6, “Children’s Life Cen- tres” was put into service in accordance with the cooperation protocol signed with the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation in order to support children in temporary shelters in the earthquake zone and to establish secure environments that promote the well-being of children between the ages of 12 and 18 and allow them to interact with their peers. Children’s Life Centre in Pazarcık, Kahramanmaraş The Children’s Life Centre, inaugurated in Pazarcık, Kahramanmaraş, began its activities on May 2, 2023. “Suna’nın Kızları (Suna’s Daughters) Well-Being Programme,” “Hiking and Map Workshop” and “STEM Work- shop with Girls” were held. Children’s Life Centre in Antakya, Hatay The Children’s Life Centre in Antakya, Hatay, began its activities on May 30, 2023. “Suna’nın Kızları (Suna’s Daughters) Well-Being Programme,” “Hiking and Map Workshop” and “STEM Workshop with Girls” were held. Initiatives to Enhance Children’s Activity Areas Established in Earthquake Zones On July 20, 2023, a meeting was held with the participation of represen- tatives from international organisations and non-governmental organisa- tions in order to establish appropriate areas for the age and development of children residing in temporary accommodation (tent and container cities) in the provinces of Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Adıyaman, and Ga- ziantep, as well as to enhance the initiatives for the treatment of the trauma they have endured. 476 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Field visits were conducted to Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Adıyaman and Gaziantep provinces to observe the children’s activity areas established in the earthquake zone and to identify their needs. Workshops were organised to encourage the participation of adolescents in painting, music, and theatre activities, and teams were formed for sports activities. In accordance with the protocol signed with the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foun- dation, a non-governmental organisation, “Well-being Training” was held between September 11 and 16, 2023, to enhance the abilities of personnel assigned to work with adolescents in the earthquake zone. This training is ongoing with the participation of adolescents. As part of the cooperation protocol signed with the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation, training on the “Trauma-Informed Psychosocial Support Pro- gramme for Adolescents (PERGEL-T)” organised with “Suna’s Daughters” was held with the participation of personnel working in container cities in Hatay, Adıyaman, Malatya and Kahramanmaraş. As part of the “Cooperation Protocol signed between the Ministry of Family and Social Services and Sinemasal Culture and Arts Associa- tion,” all kinds of projects and social activities, particularly cultural and artistic activities, are carried out in cooperation in order to contribute to the psychosocial, physical and mental development of children and adolescents under protection and care, disadvantaged children, as well as those affected by disasters, while also considering the best interests of children. Culture, arts and education centres were established in Sa- mandağ, Defne and Antakya, which are earthquake zones. As part of the “Cooperation Protocol between the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Turkish Mothers Association,” activity areas for children and adolescents residing in tent cities established in the region after the earthquake were set up, and books and toys were supplied and distributed to these areas. Support Services for People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens Following the two major earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, which resulted in both financial and mental losses, a crisis desk was formed within the Ministry of Family and Social Services to address the needs and problems of people with disabilities and senior citizens, recognising them as segments more severely affected by the earthquake compared to other members of society. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 477 From the first moment of the earthquake, the crisis desk first contacted the institutions providing residential care services to people with disabilities and senior citizens in the earthquake zone, and the information received confirmed that no people with disabilities and senior citizens were injured or died in these institutions as a result of the earthquake. In the earthquake zone, people with disabilities and senior citizens receiv- ing services from the inpatient care institutions affiliated with the afore- mentioned Ministry, as well as those receiving services from the inpatient care institutions in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, and Ga- ziantep, were immediately transferred to institutions in different provinces as a precautionary measure. Following the issuance of a report certifying their health by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, the admission process of the transferred people with disabilities and senior citizens to institutions proceeded. Citizens receiving treatment in hospitals after the earthquake were vis- ited, and social investigations were conducted. According to the social investigation report, the senior citizens were placed in nursing homes affiliated with the aforementioned Ministry, and the people with dis- abilities were placed in care institutions. Furthermore, as a result of the aforementioned social investigation, people with disabilities are provid- ed with home care assistance, while children benefit from Social Eco- nomic Support.⁣ In addition, housing services were provided for people with diabilities and senior citizens affected by the earthquake at day ser- vice centers in Adana, Osmaniye, Kahramanmaraş and Mersin. Services for Hearing Impaired Individuals • A team of 120 people, including sign language interpreters from the Ministry of Family and Social Services, various non-governmental organisations, and individual volunteer sign language interpreters, worked in the field to establish faster communication with hearing-im- paired individuals affected by the earthquake and meet their needs. In this scope, individuals with disabilities were evacuated and placed in hotels and dormitories affiliated with the KYK (General Directorate of Credit and Dormitories Agency) in different cities. • Tents, batteries and implant cables were distributed to hearing-im- paired citizens, and implant applications were received. • To ensure the communication of hearing-impaired individuals affect- ed by the earthquake with various institutions and organisations, in- terpretation services were provided from the first day of the disaster. 478 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Earthquake Support Line for People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens • The needs of people with disabilities and senior citizens affected by the earthquake were forwarded to the “Earthquake Support Line for People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens” by non-governmental organisations or the people with disabilities and senior citizens them- selves, and they were quickly addressed. Requests for food, evacua- tion, institutionalisation, wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc., were received via the WhatsApp line and fulfilled in cooperation with the appropri- ate institutions and organisations. Home Care Assistance • The social investigation process for people with grave disabilities who lost a caregiver, family member, or relative and who received home care assistance was carried out, and disabled citizens who were determined to require residential care were taken into our residential institutions for protection and care. Home care assistance was continued for people with disabilities who had lost a relative and preferred to be cared for by a relative. Care and Rehabilitation Support for People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens Affected by the Earthquake The “Care and Rehabilitation Support Project for People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens Affected by the Earthquake,” implemented in collabo- ration with UNDP, aims to provide care and rehabilitation to people with disabilities and senior citizens who live with their families in container cities in the earthquake area and require care, as well as psychosocial sup- port to them and their families. Within the scope of this project: • Large, fully equipped, six-bed capacity care and rehabilitation units with accessible wet floors (WC, bathroom) have been established in designated container cities in Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş, and day care and rehabilitation services have been provided to people with disabilities and senior citizens. • In each care and rehabilitation unit, six care personnel, one psychol- ogist, one nurse, and one physiotherapist are employed to provide people wit disabilities and senior citizens in need of care with the necessary care and rehabilitation, as well as guidance, counselling, and psychosocial support services for them and their families, and TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 479 this provides care and rehabilitation in both the day care units and the containers where the individuals reside. • In addition, people with disabilities and senior citizens are given personal care items and support technologies (parawalkers, crutch- es, white canes, wheelchairs, hearing aids, and so on) to help them live independently. Activities for Creating Accessible Spaces in Container Cities In the container cities of Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, and Hatay prov- inces, a total of 60 toilets and bathrooms that are suitable for the use of people with disabilities and senior citizens were installed, with six in each province, as part of the cooperation efforts conducted with the 65+ Elder Rights Association. Services for Martyrs’ Relatives and Veterans The situation and living conditions of the relatives of martyrs, veterans, and relatives of veterans affected by the earthquake were thoroughly as- sessed by 81 provincial directorates following the February 6 earthquakes. According to the findings of the field survey, the earthquake affected a total of 2,043 relatives of martyrs, veterans, and relatives of veterans, with 903 being relatives of martyrs and 1,141 being veterans and relatives of veterans. It was determined that a total of 283 individuals, including 137 relatives of martyrs and 146 veterans and their relatives, were required to relocate to other provinces for health and shelter needs, and the necessary support was provided by conducting follow-up in the provinces where they relocated. 480 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Relatives of martyrs, veterans, and relatives of veterans affected by the earthquake were visited by teams in the hospitals where they were taken for treatment in containers and cities, as well as in the provinces where they were transferred for shelter, and psychosocial support was provided to those visited, and the requirements of people in need were provided. Angel Faces Respite Houses In cooperation with the Down Syndrome Federation, six Respite Houses were established in the provinces of Malatya, Adıyaman, Elazığ, Gazian- tep and Şanlıurfa within the scope of the “Angel Faces Respite Houses” project (Melek Yüzler Mola Evleri), which aims to support families af- fected by the earthquake with activities such as providing comfort to families of children and young people with special needs (Down syn- drome, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, mental disability, etc.) and providing these individuals with quality education and diversified opportunities appropriate to their skills during the day. Efforts for Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Earthquake Zone Workshops for Female Earthquake Victims Support was provided to women entrepreneurs in the earthquake zone, and new service units were established to assist them in rebuilding their lives, recovering from the negative consequences of the destruction, and contributing to their socioeconomic empowerment. • In tent and container cities, nine workshops were established with the assistance of women’s cooperatives from across the nation: two in Ga- ziantep, five in Malatya, and one each in Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş. • Approximately 700 earthquake-affected women have been reached thus far through the workshops, seven of which are currently operational. • Sewing machines, carpets, and rug looms were installed in the work- shops to meet urgent needs like sheets, pillowcases, and T-shirts, while areas for knitting, jewellery design, and wood painting were established. • Women who attended workshops with master trainers to learn needlework also helped other earthquake victims by responding to their needs. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 481 • The workshops were coordinated with active women’s cooperatives close to the earthquake-affected provinces. In this way, it was intend- ed to increase production capacity while also encouraging economic empowerment for women in the medium and long term. • Efforts were also made to establish collaboration with the private sector and international organisations to support women’s coopera- tives in the earthquake provinces that were adversely affected. Empowering Women through Cooperatives Project To strengthen women’s cooperatives, ensuring their sustainability, improving their institutional capacity, and increasing their visibility and dissemination in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the “Empowering Women through Cooperatives Project” was implemented in 30 provinces (İstanbul, Kırklareli, Çanakkale, İzmir, Muğla, Afyonkarahisar, Bursa, Kocaeli, Ankara, Konya, Antalya, Adana, Hatay, Aksaray, Sivas, Karabük, Sinop, Çorum, Artvin, Erzurum, Kars, Malatya, Van, Gaziantep, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Bitlis, Batman, Isparta and Eskişehir). The project consists of five components and 20 main activities: • Services and training for the target group, • Institutional capacity building, • Awareness raising, scientific and technical efforts, • Coordination and collaboration. A Local Stakeholder Meeting was held to enhance coordination and cooperation among women’s cooperatives in the earthquake-affected provinces of Gaziantep and Hatay. Women’s cooperatives in Diyarbakır received consultancy services on issues such as product development and food safety. A Training Pro- gramme on Women and Cooperatives was organised for relevant public institutions, universities and NGOs, including surrounding provinces. Training programmes were held in Adana and Diyarbakır for women in- terested in becoming cooperative members. Women’s cooperatives in Adana, Diyarbakır, Hatay, Malatya and Gazian- tep provinces received consultancy services on issues such as product development and food safety. 482 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Marketing Network Development Meetings were held in Adana, Gaziantep and Diyarbakır, bringing together representatives from local governments, the private sector, e-commerce and women’s cooperatives. Young Women Building Their Future Project “Young Women Building Their Future Project” is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Sabancı Founda- tion in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The goal of this project is to raise awareness of the problems and needs of young women in the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Train- ing) group, to reinforce their place on the local and national agendas, and to develop mechanisms to identify these problems and meet their needs. The project targets NEET women aged 18-29, with a priority on the 18-24 age group in 11 pilot provinces: Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Er- zurum, İstanbul, İzmir, Konya, Mardin, Trabzon, and Van. Within the project’s scope, NEET women received vocational training, empowerment training, and mentoring support. Concurrently, as part of the project, 172 people were reached by conduct- ing the General Trauma Information Group Activities in Adana, Diyar- bakır and İzmir provinces in April and May 2023 with NEET women aged 18 to 29 who were direct earthquake survivors. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 483 Activities Carried Out in the Earthquake Region within the Scope of Combating Violence against Women are as follows: • Online groups were established by the Violence Prevention and Mon- itoring Centre (ŞÖNİM) in the earthquake zone, and immediate infor- mation was obtained about residents’ needs and current situations daily. • To ensure the continuity of the life safety of women receiving services from organisations regarding the electronic handcuff procedure and confidentiality decision implementation process, follow-up was car- ried out in collaboration with the Turkish National Police. • ŞÖNİM contacted citizens for whom confidentiality and electronic handcuffing decisions had been reached and monitored their situation individually. • Cooperation and coordination were ensured with AFAD, the Direc- torate General of Social Assistance, the Directorate General for Infor- mation Technologies, the Directorate General for Legal Services, the Internal Auditing Unit, 81 governorships, 81 provincial directorates, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Turkish National Police and the General Command of Gendarmerie within the scope of solution proposals for those with a warrant for surveillance using tech- nical methods with confidentiality and receiving services to ensure the continuity of ŞÖNİM services. • In Adıyaman and Hatay provinces, two containers and furnishing sup- port were provided in cooperation with UNFPA for each province to ensure the continuation of services without interruption due to the damage to ŞÖNİM premises. • In cooperation with UNHCR and UN Women, furnishing support was provided to ŞÖNİM establishments in 11 provinces. • UN Women provided furnishing support to Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahra- manmaraş and Malatya Women’s Guesthouses to support their unin- terrupted service provision and the continuation of the protection ac- tivities following the earthquake. • Within the scope of earthquake-period support, UNHCR provided fur- nishing support to women’s guesthouses in Adıyaman, Hatay and Kah- ramanmaraş provinces. 484 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS • In order to provide the “Seminar Programme on Combating Domestic Violence” on a regular basis to perpetrators of violence against whom preventive cautionary decisions have been issued, as well as to in- crease the number of implementations of this programme, person- nel were given “Implementation Training on Combating Domestic Violence Seminar” in collaboration with the Social Sciences Univer- sity of Ankara’s (ASBU) Department of Psychology. • Construction of a women’s guesthouse in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kah- ramanmaraş and Malatya was proposed in the Presidential Invest- ment Programme for the 2024-2026 term. • UNICEF provided toy kits for 112 women’s guesthouses, including those in the earthquake zone, delivery of which was ensured to their respective destinations. • An online Psychological First Aid training was conducted between March 22–24, 2023, for the ŞÖNİM and women’s guesthouses per- sonnel in 81 provinces, beginning with the eleven earthquake-strick- en provinces, which received approximately 500 attendees. • A Solution-Orientated Therapy training was conducted in Antalya province between April 10–12, 2023, for the ŞÖNİM and women’s guesthouses personnel, to which approximately 100 individuals at- tended. • Training on Violence Against Women During Emergencies was con- ducted in Ankara between June 5–7, 2023, for 47 personnel from the Directorate General of Women’s Status (KSGM) and its Provincial Directorate, Directors of ŞÖNİM, Women’s Guesthouses (KKE), and Social Service Centre (SHM). • “Supervision and Support Training for Professionals in the Earth- quake Zone” was conducted for personnel assigned at ŞÖNİM, KKE, and the Contact Point for Combating Violence Against Women of the Social Service Centre in eleven provinces affected by the earthquake. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 485 • Within the scope of Self-Assessment Activities (Field Trips), there have been visits to Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Malatya, and Kahraman- maraş provinces. • In-person and online psychoeducation sessions and counselling ses- sions with advanced therapy methods—i.e., the EMDR therapy meth- od—at regular intervals were provided to 150 ŞÖNİM and women’s guesthouses personnel in the eleven earthquake-stricken provinces between May–August 2023 in order to lessen the earthquake’s impact and help them resume their normal living and working process. • The three-day “Supervision and Therapy Support Training for Pro- fessionals in the Earthquake Zone” was conducted in Şanlıurfa be- tween December 9–11, 2024, and Adana between December 16–18, 2024, with the participation of ŞÖNİM, women’s guesthouses, and Contact Point for Combating Violence Against Women of SMH per- sonnel from the eleven earthquake-stricken provinces. • As part of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), the “Re- storing and Strengthening Preventive and Protective Services in Re- sponse to Violence Against Women in the Earthquake Zone” project commenced with a collaboration between KSGM and UN Women. 486 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS IPA II – Restoring and Strengthening the Preventive and Protective Services in Response to Violence Against Women and Girls Affected by the Earthquakes in Türkiye Project The “Restoring and Strengthening the Preventive and Protective Ser- vices in Response to Violence Against Women and Girls Affected by the Earthquakes in Türkiye” Project, funded by the European Union and UN Women, to which the Directorate General of Women’s Status is the beneficiary organisation, is implemented by UN Women and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The project commenced on December 27, 2024, and will last 36 months, ending in December 2027. • As part of the project, women’s guesthouses conformant to national and international standards as well as good practices will be con- structed for violence survivors and their children in provinces affect- ed by the earthquake and those receiving migrations—Adıyaman, Hatay, İstanbul, and Kocaeli. • Women’s guesthouses and Violence Prevention and Monitoring Cen- tres for women and girls who are violence survivors or under the risk of violence, as well as the children under their care, will be restored and strengthened to meet the increasing needs in provinces affected by the earthquake and those receiving migrations. Within this scope, 15 institutions, including nine KKEs and six ŞÖNİM, will be strength- ened, maintained, renovated, and furnished according to their needs. • As part of the project, relevant ministries, the Disaster and Emergen- cy Management Authority (AFAD), municipalities, and non-govern- TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 487 mental organisations will hold collaborative workshops and cooper- ate, with additional training to be conducted for Provincial Director- ates, ŞÖNİM, KKE, and SHM personnel. In-Kind Donations Since the day of the disaster, 4,912 personnel and 941 vehicles have been deployed to facilitate the prompt delivery of in-kind aid to earthquake sur- vivors and effective and efficient execution of procedures regarding these donations. Teams reached the earthquake zone in the 8th hour of the disaster to receive in-kind donations in 12 warehouses. In the first 48 hours, 2,515 trucks of material were accepted, followed by the distribution of 7,009,000 goods. A total of 44,270 trucks were received, and over 466,000,000 in-kind aid packages were distributed. To promptly meet the urgent needs of the citizenry during the period intensely impacted by the disaster, 72 national in-kind donation ware- houses were established, where donations from institutions and indi- viduals were processed and distributed in coordination. Currently, eight warehouses—seven in Hatay and one in Malatya—are in operation to meticulously monitor deliveries and dispatch distributions as needed. A total of 16 warehouses—five in Ankara, four in İstanbul, two in Edirne, one in Artvin, one in Şırnak, two in Mersin, one in Tekirdağ—were estab- lished to receive in-kind donations to Türkiye from abroad during the di- saster period, with dispatches to main warehouses in Kayseri, Adana, and Gaziantep. Due to disruptions and long congestion on the road networks, field teams ensured the transportation of aid to the earthquake zone from three in- kind donation warehouses in Adana province with the help of military aeroplanes and helicopters situated in the Adana İncirlik Air Base as well as the helicopters of the Coast Guard Command in Şakirpaşa. A to- tal of 487 aircraft, consisting of 445 helicopters and 42 aeroplanes, have been dispatched so far. In-kind donations were delivered to the disaster areas by aircraft from Adana Incirlik Air Base and Antalya, İstanbul, Ankara and Akhisar airports. A total of 27 women’s clothing items and baby care tents were set up in the earthquake zone to meet the needs of earthquake-affected citizens. 488 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS As life has begun to return to normal in the provinces of Diyarbakır, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, and Adana, and as the tent cities have been removed, there is no longer a need for the use of “Women’s Clothing and Baby Care Tents”. A total of 206 social markets in earthquake zones and 94 social mar- kets in provinces outside the earthquake zone were opened. A total of 14 mobile social market trucks—five in Malatya, two in Hatay, five in Kah- ramanmaraş, and two in Adıyaman—were set up, and their operations were concluded as of June 30, 2023. Social Market It was found that 3.3 million earthquake-affected citizens moved to 70 provinces and districts outside the disaster zone, and social assistance was provided to approximately 290 thousand households outside the affected areas. Cooperation with non-governmental organisations, which play a criti- cal role in society’s recovery after disasters and emergencies, is essential both for addressing the acute effects of the disaster and for supporting post-disaster psychosocial and social recovery efforts.” Accordingly, ‘Cooperation Protocols’ were signed between the Ministry of Family and Social Services and non-governmental organisations to address the needs of citizens affected by the earthquake, provide psychosocial sup- port, carry out activities for children and young people in tent cities, and establish child- and family-friendly centres in the earthquake zones. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 489 Building upon these protocols, the “Earthquake Zone NGO Training and Case Workshop” was held in Kahramanmaraş between November 30 and December 2, 2023, with the participation of 200 people from inter- national organisations. Within the “Case” workshop, focus group stud- ies were conducted in the following six areas: family, children, disabled, women, senior citizens, and social assistance. In addition to the above-mentioned social services, the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation organised Ramadan festivities for children by setting up if- tar tents at 11 locations in five provinces during Ramadan and distribut- ed clothes for Eid, gift packages and holiday allowances to 20 thousand children on Eid al-Fitr. Since the earthquake, the Religious Information Platform has addressed 15 questions about “Foster Families,” 85 questions about “Nursing Mothers for Earthquake Survivor Babies,” and 293 ques- tions about “Giving Zakat to Earthquake Survivors” in written form. Addi- tionally, religious information was provided both via phone and in person. In cooperation with the Danish Turkish Islamic Foundation, General Directorate of Religious Services and provincial mufti’s youth coordi- natorships, the ‘We Build Homes Project’ was launched for earthquake survivors who settled in 12 provinces (Bursa, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Ki- lis, Gaziantep, Hatay, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Elazığ, Malatya, Kahraman- maraş, and Adana). Within the scope of the ‘Let’s Heal Together’ project launched by the Ber- lin Family and Social Services Consultancy for our citizens who moved to Berlin from the earthquake zone by benefiting from the special visa granted by Germany, a psychosocial support seminar for adults, and a children’s workshop and cinema event for youngsters were organised. Forty-five earthquake survivors participated in an event discussing the impact of the disaster, trauma, the mourning process, post-traumatic re- covery, and issues related to families and children. Efforts to Combat Early and Forced Marriages • As part of the preventive and protective efforts, 170 thousand people were reached through awareness-raising programmes in “combating early and forced marriages” and activities focusing on education, vo- cational training, participation in women’s co-operatives and employ- ment in 81 provinces, particularly for citizens affected by disasters. • Provincial Action Plans for Combating Early and Forced Marriages in Adana, Adıyaman, Elazığ, Malatya and Osmaniye provinces were 490 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS put into effect in 2023 to prevent the risk of an increase in the cases of early and forced marriages after disasters and emergencies. International Organisations and Foreign Social Support A team was established to organise aid from abroad after the Kahraman- maraş epicentred earthquakes with 7.7 and 7.6 magnitudes that affected 10 provinces. In this regard, necessary referrals were made to the contact line and email address from other countries, international non-governmental organisations not operating in our country, and citizens living abroad, and to the aid offers directed from AFAD, and coordination was ensured by working 24/7 on a shift basis. In addition, immediate contact was established, and lists of urgent needs were promptly sent to international organisations that have already been collaborating with the Ministry of Family and Social Services, such as the United Nations Women (UN Women), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Health Organ- isation (WHO), and the World Food Programme (WFP). Immediately after the international appeal for assistance and the an- nouncement that our country would accept international in-kind aid, a coordination meeting was held with the Ministry and international organ- isations operating in our country to organise the support they could pro- vide. Along with the lists of urgent needs, a separate list outlining short-, medium-, and long-term plans was prepared and shared with them. The Ministry informed international organisations of the urgent needs of the earthquake-affected regions and reiterated its appeal for support. In the following period, periodic meetings were held with international or- ganisations, and the lists of needs were continuously updated and shared with international stakeholders, ensuring real-time adjustments based on met needs and emerging requirements. Following up on the coordination process with the relevant international organisations was conducted. Flash Appeal Efforts The United Nations (UN) launched a $1 billion fund on February 16, 2023, in response to Türkiye’s flash appeal for earthquake assistance. The plan was to transfer the funds to UN organisations and allocate them to earthquake survivors through NGOs and the public sector. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 491 The UN handled the sectoral distribution of the funds. The fund was en- visaged to be used to initiate projects in collaboration with UN organisa- tions that fall under the Ministry of Family and Social Services, in addi- tion to addressing urgent requirements. The five following sectors were the public partners of the aforementioned Ministry: • “Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Items (ES/NFI),” • “Protection”, • “Multipurpose Cash Assistance and Social Protection”, • “Coordination”, • “Health and Nutrition”. In this context, the Ministry initially engaged with the protection sector. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) man- date covers the protection sector. After the Flash Appeal and sectoral distribution, representatives of the protection sector were contacted, and an agreement was reached to collaborate within the parameters of the assistance that would be provided in this sector. The protection sec- tor includes a range of efforts, such as providing psychosocial support on the ground, developing complementary service models, and imple- menting case management for individual mental health support. It ad- dresses the needs of vulnerable groups, including children, individuals with disabilities, and senior citizens, as part of the Ministry of Family and Social Services’ mandate for protection. This work also involves expanding individual assistance programmes for refugees living in our country, evacuating children from earthquake zones to safe areas, con- structing secure and child-friendly spaces, and providing support to sur- vivors in rural areas where transportation is challenging. An agreement was reached to hold regular meetings with sector repre- sentatives. The purpose of these meetings was to provide comprehensive on-ground information and engage all stakeholders in the protection sector in the process of addressing needs. By taking part in the meetings, which were attended by all NGOs and international organisations oper- ating on the ground under the UN umbrella, they were informed about the operations of the participating organisations, and their efforts were guided toward the areas of need. 492 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Representatives from international organisations’ protection sectors par- ticipated in a face-to-face workshop in Gaziantep on May 10-11, 2023, in addition to these meetings, to identify and coordinate the present neces- sities in earthquake zones. The workshop was organised around personal safety interventions, community outreach and engagement, support for special needs and vulnerable groups, and technical discussions on rele- vant thematic topics. Representatives of the protection sector and rele- vant NGOs convened biweekly online meetings following the workshop. Social Work Conducted with UN Agencies as Part of the Earthquake Response Agenda UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Within the UN system, UNICEF is the UN agency responsible for water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, and education during emergencies. To date, UNICEF has provided support on the following issues: • Family Hygiene Kits: Delivery of 29,480 family hygiene kits to the ground • Child Hygiene Kits: Delivery of 3,000 additional family hygiene kits • Baby Hygiene Kits: Delivery of 3,000 additional family hygiene kits • Winter Clothes for Babies (0-12 months): 1,500 units were delivered. • Winter Clothes (9 years): 420 units were delivered. • Sleeping Bags: 1,000 units were delivered. • Powerbanks: 1,000 units were delivered. • Canopy Bed: 1,000 units were delivered. • Temporary Social Service Centre Tent: One unit was delivered. • Activity Tents: 25 tents were set up for psychosocial support. • Activity Tent Furniture: 26 units have been completed. • Activity Tent Activity Material: 52 units have been completed. • PSS Tent: One unit was delivered. • Vehicle Support: 30 vehicles were put into service for psychosocial support services on the ground. • PSS Brochures: 810,000 pieces were delivered. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 493 • Coats and Vests: The transfer of 1,837,190.00 Turkish Liras for 1,200 vests and jackets was completed on February 22, 2023. • Blankets: Delivery of 20,000 blankets has been completed. • Employment of Clinical Psychologists: Recruitment of 10 per- sonnel for the 183 hotline, with personnel starting to operate on the ground. • Employment of Psychosocial Staff: Five psychosocial personnel were recruited to serve in quake-hit provinces and began their efforts on the ground. • Orientation Programme for Personnel Operating in Child- Friendly Areas: An orientation programme was held with the participation of 50 personnel, organised after discussions with UNICEF. World Food Programme (WFP) WFP is the UN organisation responsible for the food and logistics sector. The following is a brief of the assistance that was provided as a result of meetings with WFP at various levels: • Food Parcels: Weekly requests for 221,968 food packages were made to WFP, who claimed they could deliver dry food packages to the quake-hit areas. WFP representatives stated that 110,000 boxes of food packages could be provided, prioritising the most quake-damaged provinces. Out of a total of 110,000 parcels, 30,720 were delivered to Adıyaman, 2,560 to Gaziantep, 46,080 to Hatay, and 30,640 to Kahramanmaraş by April 17, 2023. A total of 2,560 additional food parcels were deliv- ered to Osmaniye. • Tent for Mobile Social Market, Prefabricated Building for Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation (SYDV) Office, Logistic Sup- port: The World Food Programme expressed its capability to provide support for mobile warehouses and transportation. In this context, 50 tents for mobile social markets, 50 prefabricated structures for SYDV warehouses and office areas, and at least 18 trucks to support the transfer of domestic aid between warehouses were requested. • Tents: Eight of the tents that were intended for the social market have been delivered thus far. Three of these tents have been dispatched to 494 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Hatay province, while five have been sent to Kahramanmaraş prov- ince, where the installation has been completed. • Prefabricated Structures: 14 of the 24 prefabricated buildings were requested to be built in Hatay and 10 in Adıyaman. As of April 10, 2023, 14 prefabricated buildings planned for Hatay have been installed and delivered at three different points. The installation of the remaining 10 prefabricated structures in Adıyaman completed on April 17, 2023. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) “Care and Rehabilitation Support Project for People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens Affected by the Earthquake” in Cooperation with UNDP • The project aimed to provide care and rehabilitation services to peo- ple with disabilities and senior citizens staying with their families in tent cities or container cities in the earthquake zone. Psychosocial support services were also provided to them and their families. • Each care and rehabilitation unit employed care personnel, psychol- ogists, nurses, and physiotherapists, and two lift vehicles were rented for the transportation of people with disabilities and senior citizens. The first rented chauffeured vehicle was delivered to Adıyaman prov- ince, and the second one was delivered to Kahramanmaraş province. • Additionally, within the project’s scope, personal care materials needed by people with disabilities and senior citizens and support technologies required for their independence (walker, crutches, white cane, wheelchair, hearing aid, etc.) were provided. World Health Organisation (WHO) Training Refresher Training on Psychological First Aid for Children: A total of 913 personnel participated in the training held on March 6 and 16, 2023. Consult an Expert Sessions: Sessions were conducted between March 14 and April 7, 2023, with attendance from 883 psychosocial support personnel. Furthermore, 172 personnel from Kahramanmaraş and 166 personnel from Hatay participated in “face-to-face employee support sessions” held in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay on April 2 and 9, 2023. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 495 “Thematic expert consultation sessions” were organised on May 2 and May 15, 2023, with the participation of 203 personnel. Between June 12 and June 17, 2023, “Face-To-Face Employee Support Ses- sions” were attended by a total of 317 personnel, held in Adıyaman, Malatya, and Gaziantep provinces. Commencing on May 8, 2023, Self-Help Plus Trainings were initiated in Ankara. A comprehensive training programme was provided to 200 per- sonnel, including the group that continued during the week of June 19. International Organization for Migration (IOM) The International Organization for Migration (IOM), expressing its com- mitment to meeting in-kind aid needs on the earthquake emergency list, delivered 35,000 blankets on February 21-22, 2023, along with 96,000 bed linen sets and 10,000 mattresses on February 23, 2023. A meeting was arranged with the International Organization for Migra- tion to discuss psychosocial support, and evaluations were conducted regarding support areas. IOM established teams to collaborate with the Ministry of Family and Social Services for the implementation of psy- chosocial support and protection activities in the earthquake-affected region. Operating in Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya and Şanlıurfa, IOM psychosocial support and protection teams have been deployed. Articles Covered by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Powerbanks: 1,500 powerbanks, Large tent: Large tents to be used in Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Adıyaman, Family tent: 115 family tents, for use in the 10 provinces affected by the earthquake, Hygiene kit: 5,000 hygiene kits, Vacuum bottle: 2,000 vacuum bottles from the UNHCR, Adult diapers: 1,127,928 sets of women and men adult diapers for people with disabilities and senior citizens, 496 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Diapers: 483,242 diapers, Sanitary pads: 100,000 sanitary pads, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Powerbanks: 510 powerbanks were delivered to the Ministry of Family and Social Services by UNFPA. Female hygiene kits: 1,000 female hygiene kits arrived in Adıyaman on March 10, 2023. In addition, due to the urgent need in the field, 350 more female hygiene kits were delivered to Hatay on April 27, 2023. Mother-Child Kits: 500 kits were delivered to Adıyaman. Container and furnishing: The purchase and furnishing of 4 contain- ers to serve as ŞÖNİM in Adıyaman and Hatay was completed on May 29, 2023. Within the scope of furnishing, 16 desks and chairs and guest chairs, 8 filing cabinets, 16 laptops, 4 printers and 4 air conditioners were provided. Staff support: The service delivery capacity of ŞÖNİM organisations in Adıyaman and Hatay was supported with 10 professional staff between May 2023 and August 2024. Educational support: Training on Violence Against Women During Emergencies was conducted in Ankara between June 5–7, 2023, for 47 personnel from the Directorate General of Women’s Status (KSGM) and its Provincial Directorate, Directors of ŞÖNİM, Women’s Guesthouses (KKE), and Social Service Centre (SHM). United Nations Women (UN WOMEN) 2,500 cleaning towels (for the body) were delivered.. Funding for some of the essential requirements was sourced from the aforementioned one-billion-dollar budget, while others were secured from the existing budgets of the UN agencies involved. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 497 5.15. Media, Communication and Publications 498 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Activities Conducted with Relevant Institutions under the Coordination of Presidency’s Directorate of Communications The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications’ certain activities and services for media members and earthquake survivors in the earthquake zone were conducted in an orchestration with public institutions. The primary efforts in this context are as follows: • National media personnel travelling from İstanbul to the affected region were accredited, and transportation was provided. Coordina- tion was established with relevant institutions to assist international media representatives arriving from abroad, who were offered host- ing services, in obtaining filming permissions when needed. • A series of daily activity reports titled “Efforts in the Scope of Kahra- manmaraş Pazarcık and Elbistan Earthquakes” was compiled, out- lining earthquake-related activities carried out by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications in collaboration with its related and affiliated institutions, namely TRT and Anadolu Agency. • Adopting a 24/7 working principle from the onset of the disaster, permanent personnel were assigned to the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority’s (AFAD) Disaster Coordination Centre. • The Türkiye’s Disaster Response Plan (TAMP) Disaster Communi- cation Working Group commenced its activities, ensuring continu- ous data flow with high-level coordination among institutions. Con- tinuous and immediate communication was ensured with all rele- vant public institutions, the Turkish Red Crescent Society, TRT, and Anadolu Agency within the framework of TAMP. Information flow was maintained through AFAD, the Security and Emergency Situa- tion Coordination Centre (GAMER), the Health, Disaster, and Coor- dination Centre (SAKOM), the Disaster Management and Decision Support System (AYDES), the Ministry of National Defence (MSB), the Turkish Red Crescent Society, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the National Intelligence Organisation (MİT), the Anti-Cyber Crimes Department of the General Directorate of Security (EGM), and municipalities. This data flow enabled the preparation of up-to-date briefings and press releases. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 499 • Crisis communication activities were conducted with high-level coor- dination among institutions concerning the disaster. Information flow was established among TAMP working groups, and the public was no- tified of rescue efforts, shelter and aid issues in the disaster area. • As part of initiatives for the unity of discourse, the concept of the “Disaster of the Century” was disseminated. • Necessary coordination was ensured to maintain unity of discourse among the briefings and statements by AFAD, GAMER, SAKOM, and the Turkish Red Crescent Society. Coordination of Data, Discourse, Action, and Measures under 26 Headings Data, discourse, actions, and measures were coordinated with MİT, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Defense, EGM, AFAD, the Presidency of Migration Management, and the Turkish Red Crescent Society through reports under 26 headings. Moreover; • Assistance was extended for the coordination of evacuation requests in the disaster-stricken area. • Food distribution points, health centres, fuelling stations, and ac- commodation centres that were notified to the Presidency’s Director- ate of Communications were verified through official channels. The dissemination of accurate information has been ensured through national and local channels. • The unity of discourse was reinforced among official statements, briefings, and press releases by various institutions. • Needs and demands were gathered via social media channels and notified to AFAD’s in-kind aid store. • A list of names of disaster and earthquake experts sourced from AFAD were shared with the media, enabling these experts to con- tribute to the conveyance of accurate information to the public. • Content that could potentially hinder the activities of public institu- tions was identified and removed from media outlets. 500 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Coordination of Data, Discourse, Action, and Measures under 26 Headings S/N File Name 1 Crisis Communication Activities 2 Strategic Communication Activities 3 Discourse Analysis on Mainstream Media 4 Social Media Reflections Report 5 Twitter Reflections 6 Instagram Reflections 7 YouTube Reflections 8 TikTok Reflections 9 Discourse Analysis on International Media 10 News Sites and Google Trends 11 Verification Cards 12 Post-Earthquake Allegations Report 13 Manipulative Allegations against Public Institutions and Organisations 14 Allegations against Immigrants 15 Verification Platforms Report 16 Chronology of Allegations Report 17 Response Analysis of the 10 Disinformative Content Elements with the Hig- hest Engagement 18 Manipulation Activities regarding the Earthquake by Threat Groups 19 Public Opinion Polls Report 20 Earthquake Chronology 21 Official Statements 22 Condolence Messages 23 Infographics 24 Miraculous Rescues 25 Twitter Posts by Celebrities 26 Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Activities on Earthquake TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 501 Coordination of Visits by Famous Artists and Athletes to the Disaster Zone As part of the “We Stand with Türkiye” campaign, the Presidency’s Di- rectorate of Communications coordinated a programme of solidarity visits organised with the participation of numerous prominent figures in arts and sports communities in February and March 2023.⁣⁣ Regional directorates of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communica- tions provided support and guidance to visitors on various issues. With- in the scope of the programme, 23 groups of artists and numerous ath- letes visited the region, engaging with earthquake survivors in container and tent cities, distributing gifts, and playing games with children. The TRT News and Anadolu Agency correspondents coordinated the re- porting of these visits and the return trip of teams from the region upon completing their visits. Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s vocal artist and the TRT Music Pro- grammer, Züleyha Ortak; fashion designer and soloist Beste Korkmaz; and actress Deniz Akkaya were among the visitors to the region. 502 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Similarly, the TRT’s television series actors and search and rescue teams came together for a special broadcast and visited tent cities. The TRT, together with the producers and actors of the television series Gönül Dağı (An Anatolian Tale) and Al Sancak (The Hunter), visited fami- lies of earthquake survivors in various provinces, and paid visits for uplift- ing the spirits at the dormitories of KYK and hospitals in other provinces. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 503 Stratcom Hackathon 2023 (Sch23): National Disaster Communication Exercise The duties and responsibilities of the Presidency’s Directorate of Com- munications include “formulating policies on strategic communication and crisis management and ensuring coordination across all public in- stitutions and organisations in activities to be conducted in this context in the national and international realm.” In order to effectively carry out these responsibilities, the “Stratcom Hackathon 2023 (Sch23): National Disaster Communication Exercise” was held in Ankara on April 29, 2023 as an inter-institutional event focused on communication-oriented cri- sis management activities in the context of the earthquake. SCH23, which had its planning activities initiated in January 2023 with- in the Stratcom Hackathon-CMX (Crisis Management Exercise) plat- form, took place at the end of April, after the Stratcom Academy Disaster Communication Training programme, featuring the participation of 45 representatives from eight public institutions and organisations, along with one association. In its generic scenario, SCH23 served as a platform for discussing com- munication activity proposals for the disaster preparedness, disaster response, and disaster recovery periods, focusing on the theme of a high-magnitude earthquake that could potentially occur in Türkiye. Strategic Communication Management Platform (SİYP)/ “Stratcom Disaster Communication Training and Hackathon National Disaster Communication Exercise Evaluation and Proposal Survey” and “Post-Earthquake Crisis Communication Survey” The Strategic Communication Management Platform (SİYP) was de- signed as a constantly updatable structure put in place to ensure efficient and rapid coordination among all public institutions and organisations, aligning with the duties and responsibilities of the Presidency’s Director- ate of Communications. SİYP, an integral part of Türkiye’s Communica- tion Model, creates an up-to-date, dynamic, and easily accessible bridge between public institutions and the Presidency’s Directorate of Commu- nications, facilitating an ecosystem where the strategic communication needs of the public are met. Within the SİYP framework, user information was requested from over 100 public institutions and organisations, and user registration was performed on the system based on the feedback. 504 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS An evaluation and proposal survey was crafted within the framework of the “Stratcom Disaster Communication Training” held on April 27 to 28, 2023, and the “Stratcom Hackathon: National Disaster Communication Exercise,” organised on April 29, 2023, by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communica- tions. Additionally, a “Post-Earthquake Crisis Communication” survey was prepared to gather opinions and proposals from the relevant stakeholders in crisis communication following the earthquakes of February 6. TAMP (Türkiye’s Disaster Response Plan) National Disaster Communication Plan The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications and AFAD are the main solution partners of the Communication Group in line with Türkiye Disas- ter Response Plan. In this framework, a National Disaster Communication Plan was prepared for stakeholders in order to lay down the duties and re- sponsibilities of the Disaster Communication Group, prior to, during and in the aftermath of a disaster. As part of the publication, the concepts of hybrid threat and strategic communication were explained, the hybrid threats against Türkiye were analysed and the strategic communication frame- work in relation to combating these threats was presented. Combating Disinformation Disinformation Bulletin (DMM-Centre for Combating Disinformation) Disinformative news reports on the earthquakes centred in Kahraman- maraş were addressed in the February and March 2023 issues of the Dis- information Bulletin released by the Presidency’s Directorate of Com- TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 505 munications. Some of the allegations addressed in a total of 21 bulletins published in February and 16 bulletins in March as well as in the efforts carried out subsequently are as follows: • “Construction machines heading to the disaster area are being blocked”, • “Consulate General in Milan asks Italians to send donations to the Diyanet Foundation”, • “The aid team from Israel is kept waiting”, • “Hatay Airport was repaired by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality”, • “Just when a survivor was about to be pulled out from the rubble, an- other team with cameras arrived and pulled out the survivor”, • “AFAD registration will be a prerequisite to benefit from support and other facilities for earthquake victims”, • “The work of the Ahbap Platform is being hindered”, • “There was no earthquake aid from Arab countries”, • “Search and rescue operations are not carried out unless AFAD re- ceives a report that ‘the person is alive”, • “In Antakya, where thousands of citizens died, bodies are buried with numbers instead of names”, • “Documents at the Directorate of Building Inspection in Hatay are being destroyed,” etc. • “After the February 6 earthquake, bodies were carried in bags in the back of a truck in İskenderun, Hatay”, • Head of AFAD Okay Memiş said, “There was no delay (for the Febru- ary 6 earthquake), but we could not make it on time.” • “The allegation that 10 countries recalled their ambassadors from Türkiye 24 hours before the earthquakes on February 6, 2023” • “The allegation that there was no national mourning declared in the aftermath of the February 6 earthquakes”, • “The allegation that earthquake survivors were ‘asked for waiver’”, • “Images of disconnected sockets allegedly recorded in earthquake residences built by TOKİ in Hatay”. 506 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Reports Studies on Disinformation Following the earthquakes of February 6, 2023, the Presidency’s Direc- torate of Communications has led efforts to identify and confirm dis- information activities, especially those on social media platforms, that could negatively impact disaster management efforts. In this context, efforts were made to identify and analyse earthquake-related claims in the media, and coordination was established with relevant public insti- tutions to assess the accuracy of these claims. The primary documents prepared and regularly updated on the earth- quake within the scope of combating disinformation include: • Verification Cards Report • Allegation Report • Report on Allegations against Immigrants • Verification Platforms Report • Chronology of Allegations • Disinformative Content Analysis Report • Report on Common Misconceptions About the Earthquake Disinformation Reporting Service Shortly after the great disaster, a significant amount of information pollu- tion regarding the earthquakes emerged, jeopardising the lives of earth- TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 507 quake survivors. The Disinformation Reporting Service was commis- sioned by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications to combat disinformation alongside citizens. Citizens were able to download the ap- plication to their phones and report the news generated and disseminated in relation to the earthquake disaster that they deemed suspicious or fake. Anadolu Agnecy(AA) Fact Check Line The AA Fact Check Line Editorial Office has analysed 184 pieces of con- tent with misinformation regarding the disaster of the century since Feb- ruary 6, 2023. Of these pieces, 150 allegations were refuted, 34 were shared as blog posts. With regard to the February 6 earthquakes, 23 pieces of content were published, titled “Fact Check Kit in Times of Crisis”, “The Glossary of Fact-Checking”, and “4 Cases of Disinformation Discussed Yesterday and the Most Read Articles of the Past Week”. 508 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Artificial Intelligence-Based Fake Account Analysis (SM Analysis) TÜBİTAK Informatics and Information Security Advanced Technolo- gies Research Centre (BİLGEM) Twitter analysis application has been deployed to counter disinformation and fraud using fake accounts on social media. The application utilises artificial intelligence to detect suspicious accounts and tweets that collect donations using the names of organisations such as AFAD, AKUT, and the Turkish Red Crescent, which are actively engaged in aid activities in the earthquake-affected zone. The identified accounts are reported to BTK (Information and Communication Technologies Authority), contributing significantly to combating disinformation on social media. To date, the application has analysed over 2 million tweets on Twitter, removing “retweet” interac- tions and identifying nearly 400 suspicious tweets. The system has also been introduced with a feature to detect bank accounts and crypto wal- let addresses that are not approved by the governorship. TRT Broadcasts In response to allegations concerning the ‘safety of children’ in the earth- quake zone that prompted fear and panic, the statements released by the authorities, particularly those of the then-Minister of Family and So- cial Policies, Ms. Derya Yanık, along with the diligent work conducted in this matter, were frequently featured in publications. Damage assessment was one of the primary subjects of disinformation following the earthquakes. TRT broadcasts consistently delivered es- sential information regarding the quality and quantity of damage as- sessment work carried out by the state. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 509 Activities to Inform the Public Preparing Warnings and Informative Content for Citizens in the Earthquake Zone and Sharing Them on Social Media The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications developed informative and warning content for citizens in the earthquake zone, sharing this content through corporate social media accounts. Visual content was prepared and shared with the public via the social media accounts of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, featuring the introduction of the AFAD Emergency App as well as visualized data and alerts from the Turkish Armed Forces, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Education, and the Presidency of Religious Affairs regarding food distribution points, accommodation areas, and similar information. Some of these are “Ministry of Family and Social Services Psychosocial Support Working Team,” “State Mobilised for the Nation,” “Evacuation Points,” “Healthcare Teams Mobilised for Earthquake,” “Ministry of Na- tional Education Food Distribution Centers,” and “Turkish Soldiers Stand by Our Citizens.” News Production and Information Flow in the Post- Earthquake Period Anadolu Agency (AA) teams continue to cover the developments in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Malatya, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Adana, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Osmaniye, Diyarbakır, and Elazığ, which were affected by the February 6, 2023, earthquakes. 510 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Efforts in the Field AA teams were swiftly mobilised following the earthquake and deployed to the region. A total of 328 assignments were made to the provinces of the region in the three-month period between February 2023 and April 2023. As of April, a total of 91 employees, including 70 journalists and 21 administrative officials, have enlightened the public with accurate and verified information regarding the disaster zones. After the disaster, live broadcasts were transmitted 24/7 in earthquake zones to international and national media via 19 4G live broadcasting devices, 19 drones and 1 live broadcasting vans. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 511 From March 2023 to the present date (January 2025), developments in these 11 provinces covered by AA Adana, Gaziantep, and Diyarbakır re- gional directorates have been reported by a total of 45 reporters, com- prising 2 outsourced and 43 permanent staff members. The freelance and staff member journalists based in other provinces reporting to the same regional directorates contributed to the news coverage. Between February 6, 2023, and January 15, 2025, a total of 7,135 news reports, including 2,670 special and 4,465 routine, were serviced by AA from the 11 provinces in the earthquake zone. 1,214 news reports were published with regard to the examinations of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and ministers in the earthquake zone, groundbreaking and turnkey ceremonies of earthquake-resistant residences and their state- ments on the earthquake. Photograph and Video In the first three months of the disaster, AA produced 74,559 photo- graphs, 9,424 videos and 461 infographics on the earthquake. • 13,946 photographs, 3,734 videos of search and rescue operations, • 20,171 photographs and 4,516 videos of humanitarian aid trucks, • 4,974 photographs and 934 videos on Turkish Armed Forces and its op- erations were shared. 512 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS From March 2023 to the present day (January 2025), 24,550 photographs of the earthquakes have been disseminated from the earthquake zone spanning 11 provinces, namely Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adıya- man, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, Kilis, Adana, Malatya, and Elazığ. • 264 photographs from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visits to Hatay, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Şanlıurfa and Adıyaman during this period; • 4,145 photographs on the reconstruction process and on earthquake victims obtaining houses; • 1,257 photographs related to relief activities; • 2,557 photographs of the regional visits of ministers the activities of ministries; • 1,927 photographs taken by drones reflecting the current situation in provinces; • 717 photographs of restoration efforts in museums, monuments be- longing to foundations, places of worship, and historical structures; • and 123 photographs of court proceedings were published. Digital Media While the AA informed the public of the developments in the earth- quake zone through its posts on social media platforms such as X and Instagram, partner agencies—i.e., Getty, AFP, Reuters, and DPA— shared the photographs in English with the world. In the first three months of the disaster, a total of 122 POOL live broad- casts and 242 VTR broadcasts were aired. From March 2023 to the present day (January 2025), a total of 5,729 earthquake-related videos have been disseminated from the earthquake zone covering 11 provinces, including Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Osmani- ye, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, Kilis, Adana, Malatya, and Elazığ. • The majority of the videos focused on reconstruction and restoration efforts in the earthquake zone, with a few clips showing the liveli- hoods of beneficiaries who had moved into the completed residences. • Construction processes in the zone were recorded from the air with drones. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 513 • Videos also included the visits of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and ministers to the zone. These visits were also streamed live to subscribers. • Videos also included the life stories of people affected by the earthquake. In addition to the 461 infographics produced in the first three months, 35 infographics encompassing 17 on residences under construction, 12 on support and investment activities in the zone, and 6 on the activity in the fault lines under the zone after February 6 were published. Contents shared on the X social media platform during the first three months of the disaster are as follows: • 462 posts on earthquake survivors rescued alive, • 667 posts on support convoys, • 243 posts on the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF)/Turkish soldiers. Beginning in March, social media posts included 36 posts on residences under construction, 19 posts on delivered residences, 43 posts on peo- ple’s stories, and 84 posts on other topics. The AA social media account started 57 live streams regarding the Disaster Emergency Crisis Centre, groundbreaking ceremony, and urban transformation. 514 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Effective Public Broadcasting During Earthquakes Türkiye’s public broadcaster, TRT, conducted broadcasts on the unprec- edented scale of the earthquake, the zone it affected, and the coordinat- ed efforts of the state from the moment of the disaster to Türkiye and many parts of the world through its national and international televi- sion channels, digital news platforms, and radio channels. The mobilisation and support efforts rallied under the banner of Nation and State United as One Heart were widely covered in the TRT broad- casts and publications. TRT mustered all its strength to report on the search and rescue endeavours on the field. The following are significant statistics on the TRT broadcasts within this scope during the first year after the earthquakes: • Total Length of News Broadcasts: 54,084 min. • Total Number of News Content: 33,297 • Total Number of Guests: 1,668 • Total Broadcasts of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: 6,773 min. • Total Broadcasts of Vice President and Members of the Cabinet: 10,900 min. • Total Broadcasts of AFAD, Search and Rescue, and Assistance: 20,027 min. • Total Broadcasts of Correspondent Segments and Graphics: 16,384 min. The TRT has played a major role both in the delivery of aid and in strengthening the sense of social solidarity. In addition to its major tele- vision broadcasts since the first moment of the earthquake, it has under- taken significant efforts to heal wounds as Türkiye’s public broadcaster on an institutional level by mobilising all its resources with its overarch- ing support in terms of institutions, stakeholders, and personnel and ac- tivities and broadcasts for healing wounds, as well as motivational visits to the region. Each and every update on the reconstruction and recovery process in the region was also shared with the viewers regularly and in detail in the second year of the earthquake. Every step taken for the development of the region was meticulously covered in the broadcasts. Throughout the two-year period, the TRT remained steadfast in its efforts, preparing TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 515 detailed reports on the project implemented to support the social and economic development of the earthquake region and raising awareness about the economic recovery process in the region. In addition, TRT aired a range of programmes on psychological support and social recov- ery activities, providing content to boost people’s morale and motiva- tion. The TRT News prepared 910 news pieces about the Disaster of the Century and shared with its viewers all the details from the region with 279 live broadcasts just in 2024. They organised special broadcasts to raise awareness and provided in- formative content to ensure that the public had quick access to the infor- mation they required. The TRT not only covered the efforts that healed wounds but also showcased the strongest example of social solidarity by providing media coverage that raised hopes about the reconstruction and redevelopment of the region. Moreover, the TRT shared the national and international aid and cooperation efforts in the aftermath of the earthquakes with a wide audience by reaching international audiences through its broadcasts in various languages. Responsible Broadcasting Since Day One The TRT conducted significant activities within the first 48 hours, tak- ing prompt action by mobilising its staff in the regional directorates from the moment of the earthquake. The TRT broadcasted live from the zone with its 200 personnel on the ground, six live broadcasting vehicles, and 44 pieces of 4.5G devices. The TRT News and other TRT channels—TRT 1, TRT Türk, TRT Avaz, TRT Kurdî, TRT Müzik, TRT Spor, and TRT Spor Yıldız—as well as 15 other television channels, conducted joint broad- casts and simultaneous live streaming on social media. The news coverage in the early days focused mainly on the rescue oper- ations, the accounts of the rescued citizens, and the assistance provided to the area. In the days that followed, the focus was placed on a range of areas such as international rescue teams, psychological support efforts, non-governmental organisation efforts, support from the sports indus- try, miracle rescues from beneath the rubble days later, the experiences of those who mobilised to assist and support earthquake survivors, aid to rural areas, tent cities and field hospitals, funeral burials, and the im- pacts of the earthquake on the earth. 516 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The public was given accurate information about completed, ongoing, and planned projects to alleviate the suffering as the effects of the earth- quakes began to wear off through news, exclusive broadcasts, and live broadcasts from the region. Since the earliest moments of the disaster, viewers were provided with live updates on the talks, visits, and directives of President Recep Tayy- ip Erdoğan throughout the disaster management process. Moreover, the President’s positive news announcements and housing lottery ceremo- nies were aired via various formats, such as on-ground and pre-recorded broadcasting. The actions of the state were directly shared with the public through ex- clusive live coverage with the then Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar, Minister of Transport and In- TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 517 frastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Vahit Kirişçi, and Minister of Family and Social Services Derya Yanık. Over the past two years, the region has received on-the-ground and pre-recorded coverage during the numerous visits of relevant minis- ters. Furthermore, in contrast to other media outlets, the content of the ministers’ social media messages concerning the earthquake zone was broadcast either on-site or as part of reporter packages. In the aftermath of the February 6 earthquakes, the TV and radio chan- nels of TRT addressed a diverse range of subjects, including the efforts of relevant institutions and organisations to mitigate the social and psy- chological repercussions of the earthquake on society, particularly on children, as well as the state’s reconstruction and restoration efforts in the region; the earthquake reality in Türkiye; the mandatory measures to be taken before, during, and after an earthquake; the subject of earth- quake insurance; and the importance of earthquake-resistant buildings in terms of security, featuring officials and field experts. The broadcasting of defence industry investments, specifically in Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Adıyaman, was carried out on the ground with permits from governorships as part of the efforts to establish the earth- quake zone as a base for the defence industry. The restoration of histor- ical and cultural heritage damaged by the February 6 earthquakes, the most recent progress in the restoration efforts, and the inaugurations were reported. 518 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The agenda items for each day included the housing construction work in the earthquake zone, which transformed into a massive construction site, along with personal stories and support for earthquake-hit trades- people and producers, which were featured in live and pre-recorded broadcasts. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 519 Exclusive Broadcast on the Sixth Month of the Earthquake On August 6, 2023, which marked the sixth month of the Disaster of the Century, TRT News installed a mobile studio in Kahramanmaraş, the epicentre of the earthquakes. Thirteen teams, including anchors, live broadcast vehicles, reporters, and camera operators, were stationed in 11 provinces within the earthquake zone. The exclusive broadcast lasted six hours, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The mobile studio in Kahramanmaraş was used to make live video calls to ten other provinces hit by the earth- quake. All aspects of the disaster were reported across the earthquake zone. The news reports covered the restoration efforts in the region. Some of the news packages that were broadcast include the following: • How Devastating Was The Quake? • How Was The Suffering In The Earthquake Zone Alleviated? • What Actions Have Been Undertaken In Each Province? • Post-Earthquake Container Cities • What Actions Have Been Taken To Benefit Children? • Defne State Hospital Completed within 60 Days • The Lifesaving Work of Search and Rescue Teams 520 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Live Television Programme on Agricultural Activities in the Earthquake Zone Officials and field experts were hosted at the headquarters studio to pro- vide viewers with an update on the situation in the earthquake zone as part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Agriculture and Forestry Agenda” live broadcast show. The show was screened twice on the “Agriculture and Forestry Monitor” on the day of the broadcast. You can watch the broadcasts in WebTarımTV’s programmes menu (www.tarimtv.gov.tr/ tr/videolar/tarim-orman-gundemi-124), which is accessible at www. tarimtv.gov.tr. The Ministry of Agriculture posted 61 news reports re- garding the earthquake zone across its social media platforms: “www. youtube.com/tarimtv”, “https://twitter.com/tarimtv”, and “www.face- book.com/tarimtv.gov.tr”. CİMER on February 6 Earthquakes CİMER “Earthquake Emergency” Button The state’s relevant institutions maintained coordinated efforts in the af- termath of the earthquake. As part of these efforts, the “Earthquake Emer- gency” button was enabled (in web and mobile applications) by the Pres- idency’s Communication Centre CİMER within the Presidency’s Director- ate of Communications. The capacity of all GSM operators was increased to prevent the earthquake from victimising the local population. At the same time, efforts were made to re-establish the closed telephone lines and provide internet service. CİMER Call Centre The operator service of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications and the CİMER Call Centre was made available around the clock to serve citizens who were calling from the earthquake zone. Approximately 300,000 calls were received until the end of May. In-depth application analyses led to the preparation of 56 reports, with an additional 37 Call Centre Reports systematically identifying problems and interventions in the earthquake zone. These reports were shared with competent au- thorities based on the calls received. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 521 “CİMER received over 7.5 million applications in the aftermath of the earthquake on February 6” Presidency’s Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun mentioned the function of CİMER during the Disaster of the Century in an interview with the Mynet website on October 23, 2024. Speaking about how CİMER operates, Head of Communications Altun stated that rapid state-nation engagement has become feasible in light of the opportunities that technology offers. Head of Communications Altun stated that CİMER serves a crucial role in state-nation communication by enabling the public to promptly voice their complaints, wishes, and de- mands to the relevant authority, adding: “The most concrete evidence that 522 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS CİMER is an effective and efficient mechanism is the favour shown by our people towards it. Let us recall the fact that in 2023, CİMER received over 7,500,000 applications in the aftermath of the earthquake on February 6. On certain days in the three to four months following the earthquake, we received 250,000 to 300,000 applications. Throughout the period, we received an average of 75,000 applications per day. It is easier to com- prehend the magnitude of the figures I have provided given that the daily average is approximately 15,000 during routine days. We made an effort to serve our country around the clock at that time. CİMER has received approximately 3,500,000 applications during the first 10 to 11 months of this year. By the end of the year, this number will have somewhat in- creased. I would like to stress the fact that occasionally, individuals who are unhappy with the existence of CİMER or who do not believe that the relationship established by our state with its nation is in alignment with their interests attempt to instil a belief in the public that the applications are not answered, read, or considered.” Media Regulations Following the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, both local and interna- tional media focused their attention on this particular region. In this re- gard, the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications initiated a swift and intensive activity to ensure accurate information dissemination to both the national and international public. The unit personnel, in addi- tion to those in the relevant regional directorates overseeing the earth- quake-affected provinces, conducted the following efforts: • The authorities were briefed on the media members’ requests, and efforts were made to find solutions. • Media representatives received updates on the press statements made by ministers and officials actively involved in the affected region. • Constant communication was maintained with field-based media per- sonnel, and support was offered upon request to facilitate their work. • Media members were accompanied during the news production pro- cesses related to buildings damaged by the earthquake, tents set up, and the interactions of officials. Numerous meetings were convened with both national and international media representatives during this period. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 523 • Guidance was provided through television channels, newspapers, and websites, fostering close communication and contact with me- dia personnel in the field. • Members of the press were enabled to livestream from debris areas where search and rescue operations were underway and demon- strated that the state was on the ground with all of its resources. • Necessary guidance was provided for reporting on aid and activities from both media entities and non-governmental organisations. • Information was shared about the activities of non-governmental or- ganisations operating voluntarily in the earthquake zone, as well as topics determined on a daily basis. • A daily press bulletin in English was issued to be delivered to accred- ited international media members in the earthquake-affected region. • Over the past two years, the relevant departments have addressed questions concerning press tours and filming requests from jour- nalists seeking to report on the impact of the earthquakes that took place in Türkiye on February 6, 2023, and Syria. 524 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS International Media Coverage of Abdulalim Muaini’s Treatment Process After Being Trapped Under Rubble in Hatay Earthquake The news publication process on Reuters was managed regarding the successful treatment of Abdulalim Muaini, who was rescued from un- der the rubble during the Hatay earthquake on February 6, 2023. The related news article emphasised the success of the treatment process for Abdulalim Muaini, who lost his wife, two children, and 21 relatives in the earthquake and was injured himself. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 525 Legislative Regulations and Administrative Decisions Facilitating and Supporting Media Members in the Earthquake Zone Immediate legislative measures and social assistance for media mem- bers were implemented by the Press Advertisement Agency (BİK) in the aftermath of the earthquake. Aligned with the earthquake report, short-, medium-, and long-term recovery plans—primarily focused on economic aspects—have been put into effect for the local press in the affected region. To address the extensive aftermath of a disaster of this magnitude in a thorough and professional manner, close cooperation was established with relevant state institutions, striving to offer contin- uous support to the affected region. Operating with 7 directorates and 36 personnel in the earthquake zone, BİK served 130 newspapers and approximately 700 press members across 10 provinces and districts severely impacted by the disaster. The agency, whose directorate buildings in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş were severely damaged, convened an extraordinary meeting of its Board of Directors on the first day of the earthquake and implemented the follow- ing decisions to aid the press in the region. Establishing a (Caravan Type) Communication Tent A Caravan Type Communication Tent was set up in an area designated by the Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department, and person- nel from the central units of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communi- cations and the Diyarbakır Regional Directorate were assigned in order to determine the food, drink, shelter, equipment, internet access, and other needs of the journalists and citizens affected by the earthquake in Malatya, where the earthquakes of February 6, 2023, caused great destruction, as well as the local/foreign media members who were in the disaster area to follow news, and to immediately convey the needs and requests of the affected citizens submitted via CİMER (Earthquake Emergency) to all relevant institutions and organisations (AFAD, Turk- ish Red Crescent, Fire Department, 112 Emergency Call Center), and/or deliver them directly. Establishing Press Centres/Caravans and Providing Essential Supplies The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications switched to a 24-hour working order at its headquarters and regional directorates in affected ar- eas to meet the needs of local and international media members in earth- 526 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS quake-affected provinces. Media members were supplied with necessary materials such as power banks, vacuum bottles, bags, cleaning supplies, PPEs, and masks. Necessary measures were taken to ensure that journalists without press cards too could work comfortably in the field. In addition to that, to fa- cilitate the works of international media, temporary accreditation cards were issued, meetings were conducted with national and international media representatives, and Directorate of Communications Desks were established at İstanbul and Sabiha Gökçen airports, with personnel as- signed to ensure the flow of information. As part of the efforts, media personnel received services at regional directorates in Adana, Diyar- bakır, Gaziantep, and Şanlıurfa, as well as at the tent press centre estab- lished in Kahramanmaraş and the AFAD Crisis Centre in the İskenderun district of Hatay. Moreover, a total of 13 caravan-type vehicles, three each in Kahraman- maraş, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, and Hatay, and one in Malatya, were pro- vided for the use of the press members. Decisions of the Board of Directors of the Press Advertisement Institution (BİK) dated February 6, 2023: • Repayments of loans received from BİK by the press members in Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Adana, Os- maniye, Gaziantep, Malatya, and Hatay—provinces severely affected TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 527 by the earthquakes centred in Kahramanmaraş—were postponed for 3 months. Subsequently, this period was extended to 5 months with one-month postponements. • It was decided that the receivables of periodicals in the region, aris- ing from the publication of announcements and advertisements, would be included in the early payment plan, and the implementa- tion of finalised deduction and sanction decisions was suspended for 3 months. The Board of Directors, in a subsequent decision on the matter, opted not to impose any sanctions, taking the grievances of the press organisations into consideration. • A delegation led by BİK Deputy General Manager was dispatched to the zone to observe damages, losses and issues BİK service offic- es and personnel, local press, and press members faced as a conse- quence of the earthquake on-site, and to collect real field data form- ing the basis for efforts to be carried out under AFAD’s coordination to address the problems of the local press and press members. • The General Manager of the Press Announcement Institution was authorised to take immediate initiatives and measures to make swift decisions in response to the consequences of the earthquake’s im- pact in the region or potential developments. Decisions Adopted at the General Assembly of the Press Advertisement Institution (BİK) with the Earthquake Agenda on February 23, 2023: During its meeting on February 23, 2023, the General Assembly of the Press Advertisement Institution made the following decisions on provid- ing financial support to newspapers in the earthquake zone, exempting newspapers from certain provisions of legislation, increasing the amount of money available for journalists’ loans, and postponing repayments: • Initially, it was decided that the 800,000 TL transferred to the Oth- er Tasks Fund would be distributed to newspapers published in the earthquake-affected provinces, based on their losses and damages, as determined by the Board of Directors. • It was decided to exempt newspapers published in the 10 provinces within the earthquake zone from the provisions of the Regulation on Official Announcements and Advertisements regarding minimum actual sales requirements until January 1, 2024. Furthermore, the 528 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS application deadline for online news websites associated with these newspapers to publish official announcements, initially set as March 31, 2023, was extended until June 30, 2023. Additionally, the deadline for meeting the minimum traffic requirements, initially set as Sep- tember 30, 2023, was extended until January 1, 2024. Additionally, the Board of Directors was authorised to extend the implementation period by 3 months or more if the impact of the earthquake persisted. During the final meeting of the year on December 26, 2023, the Board of Directors decided to extend the period by an additional 4 months in the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Malatya, Adıyaman, and Osmaniye, as well as the districts of Islahiye and Nurdağı in Gazian- tep. The exemptions applicable until May 1, 2024, were extended un- til August 1, 2024, then until December 31, 2024, and then until June 30, 2025, in the provinces of Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya, where the adverse effects of the earthquake persisted. • An amendment to General Assembly Decision No. 68 regarding loans and aids for individuals working in the press, either intellectually or physically, was decided as follows: “In cases of fire, earthquake, flood, and other disasters, the Board of Directors may increase the loan amount by up to two times the original sum and postpone installment repayments for up to 6 months, specifically for the affected areas.” Postponement of Financial Obligations for Media Members Operating in the Earthquake Zone It was decided to defer the financial obligations of media service pro- viders broadcasting in the 11 provinces affected by the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, for a period of one year. In this context, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) decided to: TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 529 • Postpone the obligation to submit a declaration of commercial communication revenues for the 2023 period to January 31, 2024, allowing the declaration of the entire 12-month commercial communication revenues for 2023 through a single form to be prepared by the Supreme Council; • Set the final payment date of the Supreme Council fees for the period of 2023 as April 30, 2024, and update the obligation for submitting a certified public accountant report and balance sheet-income statement for the periods of 2022 and 2023 as the obligation to submit only balance sheets and income statements for broadcasters in the earthquake area; • Set the final submission date for the balance sheet and income statement for the 2022 period as June 30, 2024; • Set the final payment date for the Supreme Council fees for the periods of October, November and December 2022 as January 20, 2024; • Set the final date for instalment payment of license fees accrued in 2023 as February 29, 2024; • With regard to the radio frequency/television channel usage fee payments of 2023, postpone the January 2023 payment to January 31, 2024; the April 2023 payment to April 30, 2024; the July 2023 payment to July 31, 2024; and the October 2023 payment to October 31, 2024; • With regard to overdue debts that are not subject to enforcement proceedings, freeze the calculation of late payment interest for the period between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, and begin calculating late payment interest for the aforementioned debts starting from January 1, 2024. Visits to Media Members in the Earthquake Area Immediately following the earthquakes, delegations of executives and relevant personnel from the Press Advertisement Institution (BİK) vis- ited the region on three separate occasions: February 15-21, 2023; March 16-20, 2023; and October 30 - November 3, 2023. During the visits, physi- cal inspections were carried out, and mutual assessments were conduct- ed by meeting with owners of media outlets, journalists, representatives of press professional organisations, administrative managers, and rele- vant public institutions. 530 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Following the visits, it was decided that newspapers published in the earthquake area would retain the right to publish official announce- ments and advertisements for six months while being exempt from all audits and controls. Some of these decisions are still in effect in the provinces where the effects of the earthquake persist, and it has been de- cided that the inspections of periodical publications regarding the right to publish official announcements, which are carried out at least every two years, will be carried out with a palliative method in the provinc- es of Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya, thereby enabling newspapers to continue publishing while also assisting internet news sites that have recently gained the right to publish official announce- ments to adapt. Regarding this matter, numerous visits were made to the provinces in question, and information was given on the spot to address the issues faced by periodicals. Aid Collected Through Conditional Donations The aid campaign, which was launched nationwide by the General Man- ager of the Press Advertisement Agency, Cavit Erkılınç, was led by nine newspapers in Artvin and involved over 400 newspapers and Press Ad- vertisement Agency (BİK) employees. The aid collected through condi- tional donations was used as follows: • A total of 4,958,476.96 TL was collected and transferred to AFAD ac- counts on February 23, 2023, including 1,672,514.79 TL collected by the Agency’s General Assembly members and staff and 3,370,038.54 TL by media organisations. • Moreover, 84,076.37 TL were transferred to Ahbap and Turkish Red Crescent accounts in line with the request. • Technical equipment was purchased for use by journalists with the do- nations collected through the campaign organised in coordination with the Press Advertisement Agency. 43 computers, 34 cameras, 27 print- ers, 8 containers and 19 office supplies, which were purchased through a conditional donation made by the Agency to AFAD to be delivered to press organisations, were delivered to earthquake-survivor journalists in Malatya, Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Gaziantep through AFAD officials. • The Agency staff also provided aid worth 564,828.26 TL to their col- leagues affected by the earthquake. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 531 National Events (Panels/Forums/Symposiums) “We Hear Your Voice: Journalism in Times of Disaster and Crisis” Panel Under the coordination of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communica- tions, videos were produced in which professionals share their journal- istic expertise on disaster-crisis, war, health, judiciary-police, diplomacy, and economic reporting for the benefit of all segments of society who need journalistic experience, particularly communication faculty stu- dents and media members new to the profession. In order to share the videos in question with the public, the “We Hear Your Voice: Journalism in Times of Disaster and Crisis” panel was held on March 21, 2023. Under the titles “Journalism in Times of Disaster and Crisis,” “In the Shadow of the Guns, In Search of Truth: War Journalism,” and “Health Journalism in the Framework of What the Pandemic Has Taught,” the panel featured sessions that addressed disaster-crisis, war, and health journalism. Panel on Accuracy in Journalism during Extraordinary Times in the Context of Media Ethics To facilitate the work of media members committed to accurate report- ing, the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, which prioritises the fight against disinformation and advocacy of truth in the establish- ment of Türkiye’s Communication Model, prepared a guide featuring principles compiled and systematised based on global examples and held a panel titled “Accuracy in Journalism during Extraordinary Times in the Context of Media Ethics” on March 28, 2023, to discuss the accu- rate reporting guidelines prepared. In the panel, where experts in the field had discussions, sessions titled “Media and Ethics: Disinformation, Privacy, and Fictional Reality” and “News Ethics in New Generation Media” were held, in which ethics in media were discussed in various dimensions. 532 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS “One and a Half Degrees” Climate Literacy and Disaster Communication Forum The “One and a Half Degrees” Climate Literacy and Disaster Commu- nication Forum took place in Konya on October 22, 2023, organised in collaboration with the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, Ra- dio and Television Supreme Council, Konya Metropolitan Municipality, Selçuk University, and Necmettin Erbakan University and under the co- ordination of the Social Innovation Agency (SİA). Disaster Communication Symposium on the First Anniversary of the Disaster of the Century The Directorate of Communications held a symposium on disaster com- munication in Ankara on February 5-6, 2024, in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the disaster of the century. Numerous experts, academics, writers, and members of the media in the fields of communi- cation, crisis, and disaster management attended the symposium. The Presidency’s Head of Communications, Fahrettin Altun, delivered the opening address at the symposium, which also featured presenta- tions from the President of Strategy and Budget of the Presidency, İbra- him Şenel, and the Head of AFAD, Okay Memiş. The symposium items discussed were disaster communication management and coordination, fighting disinformation in crisis communication, the role of national and local media in disaster communication, public broadcasting and media ethics in natural disasters, and social media and citizen journalism. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 533 Crisis Communication Workshop The Directorate of Communications of the Presidency held a “Crisis Communication Workshop” in the Directorate’s Conference Hall on De- cember 10, 2024. The workshop addressed critical issues, including the development and implementation of effective communication strategies during crises and the February 6 earthquake, from various perspectives. The Presidency’s Head of Communications, Fahrettin Altun, and the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, delivered the workshop’s opening remarks. 534 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS International Events Panel on International Cooperation and Solidarity in Natural Disasters A panel titled “International Cooperation and Solidarity in Natural Disas- ters” was organised on April 4, 2023, hosted by the Directorate of Commu- nications. The panel’s opening speeches were delivered by the Presiden- cy’s Head of Communications, Fahrettin Altun, and the President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Serkan Kayalar, as the panel featured two sessions titled “The Spirit of International Soli- darity in Natural Disasters” and “The Human Dimension of International Security.” Furthermore, a video on “International Cooperation and Soli- darity in Natural Disasters” was screened at the beginning of the panel. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 535 Panel Series and Press Conferences in the US on Earthquakes The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications organised a series of panel discussions on the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, which were dubbed the “disaster of the century,” between April 16 and 21, 2023, in New York and Washington, DC, US. In this context, the panel titled “Disaster Diplomacy: Recoding International Solidarity for a Resilient World,” held in Washington on April 17, emphasised that the earthquake demonstrated the importance of international cooperation and the need for solidarity in the face of natural disasters for international security. Additionally, at the panel on “Humanitarian Diplomacy in Natural Di- sasters: An Indispensable Necessity” held on April 19, 2023, at the Unit- ed Nations Headquarters in New York, the significance of humanitarian diplomacy in natural disasters was highlighted, and a video about the “disaster of the century” and the humanitarian aid provided in its after- math was screened. The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications delegation, which held a series of meetings in Washington and New York as part of “disaster diplomacy,” met with Turkish media members in New York on April 19 and international media members on April 20, 2023. In addition, the del- egation held meetings with the US Chamber of Commerce, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the US Agency for Interna- tional Development, the US State Department’s Türkiye Desk, the World Bank and the Atlantic Council. A panel titled “The Effects of Natural Disasters on International Relations: Reassessing Natural Disasters as an Instrument for Political Conflict Res- olution” was held in two sessions at the Turkevi Centre (Turkish House). Address by Presidency’s Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun at the European Parliament The Presidency’s Head of Communications, Fahrettin Altun, attended the panel titled “Solidarity to Overcome Disaster” organised by the European Parliament in Brussels on March 13, 2023, and delivered the closing speech of the panel, which he attended as a guest of the European Parliament. Stating that Türkiye was going through a very challenging period, Head of Communications Altun provided information on the country’s loss of life and property from the February 6 earthquakes. Altun emphasised that Türkiye overcame the disaster through the unity of the state and 536 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS the nation, noting that the disaster zone received in-kind and in-cash aid; search and rescue teams were dispatched; and numerous lives were saved with the assistance of international friends, including numerous European countries. Altun emphasised that Türkiye has implemented numerous measures over the past 20 years to prepare for earthquakes and other disasters, ref- erencing President Erdoğan’s recent statement that 98 per cent of all col- lapsed buildings were constructed before the 1999 earthquake. Altun also highlighted the clear need for strong and stable political will to rebuild cities following the disaster of the century and maintain ongoing urban renewal projects with an eco-friendly approach based on urbanisation. Head of Communications Altun explained that, in terms of disinforma- tion, the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications has been active both on the ground and at the crisis centre in Ankara since the first day of the earthquakes. He added that right after the earthquake, they took steps necessary to facilitate the work of the national and international press while also combating disinformation and information pollution. In this context, Head of Communications Altun stated that, in addition to the Turkish media, approximately 400 international media members based in Türkiye and nearly 1,400 media representatives temporarily ar- riving from abroad were accredited, with ensured access to suitable and safe conditions in the region for them to conduct their work. Noting the recently enacted law to combat disinformation by the Turk- ish Parliament, Head of Communications Altun stated that they were striving to capsize the systematic dissemination of fake news, partic- ularly, on social media, and he went on to make the following assess- ments: “At that time, some people criticised Türkiye under the guise of freedom of expression. Particularly, our European friends criticised Tür- kiye over a vital issue such as the combat against disinformation, while taking strikingly similar precautions themselves. Naturally, that raised some questions. After the earthquakes, however, it became evident that disinformation threatens people’s lives and property, not just the secu- rity of the state.” Highlighting that they attach great importance to the Donors’ Confer- ence by the European Commission scheduled for March 20, 2023, Head of Communications Altun said, “This event shall highlight the European states’ support for Türkiye and raise funds for long-term projects for earthquake survivors. It is possible to say that the whole world support- TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 537 ed us, partly because Türkiye has long rushed to the aid of those in need during humanitarian crises and natural disasters. As you know, our country has been a world leader in humanitarian aid based on gross na- tional product. Following the recent earthquakes, we saw that states with the resources extended varying forms of assistance. We extend our appreciation and gratitude for all those efforts. We pray that similar di- sasters do not occur anywhere in the world.” Panel on Crisis Information Management and Public Relations in Natural Disasters The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications organised a panel on Crisis Information Management and Public Relations in Natural Disas- ters in Tokyo on April 28. The panel covered topics such as crisis infor- mation management, crisis communication, public relations in natural disasters, disinformation in natural disasters, and the role of the media in crisis communication. Stratcom Disaster Communication Forum The “Stratcom Disaster Communication Forum” was organised on April 25–26, 2023, at the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications with the theme “Resilience, Response, Recovery.” The forum, which featured nine panels and seven speeches, was attended by 55 speakers from 17 countries, including strategic communication experts, leaders, academicians, repre- sentatives from the public and private sectors, and media professionals. 538 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Ambassadors of Japan, Hungary, Greece, and the UAE discussed inter- national solidarity and communication in natural disasters during the panel titled “International Solidarity and Disaster Response: We Stand with Türkiye,” moderated by Ambassador Hakkı Emre Yunt, and foreign experts who came to Türkiye for search and rescue operations following the earthquakes shared their experiences in the earthquake zone with the attendees in the panel titled “Heroes Without Borders.” In addition to panels, the forum featured events such as the Disaster Communication Training and the Hackathon: The National Disaster Communication Exercise. The programme also included an Anadolu Agency exhibition. Supporting Natural Disasters Victims: Mental Health Awareness Training For Helpers The project titled “Supporting Natural Disaster Victims: Mental Health Awareness Training For Helpers” focuses on providing citizens with the essential knowledge and skills required to effectively support disaster survivors and aims to promote empathy, self-care, and social resilience while increasing awareness of the potential traumas experienced by nat- ural disaster survivors. Through the project, modular training resources and comprehensive guidance will be developed for disaster survivors, and support will be pro- vided in terms of empathy, cultural sensitivity, and psychological care. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 539 The Association for the Promotion of Social and Cultural Competences (SOKO) hosted a meeting on the aforementioned project in Vienna on April 4–5, attended by the officials from the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications of Türkiye, the Institute for Psychosocial Counselling and Social Innovation (GEA) in Slovenia, and the Information Commu- nication Technologies for Education and Social Impact Company (CON- NEXIONS) in Greece. Many project-related matters were addressed during the meeting, with views exchanged on the partners’ next course of action. During the meeting, each partner discussed: • Their respective organisation, • The disasters they have experienced in their countries and the mea- sures taken to respond to them, • Types of traumas that disaster survivors experience, • Their duties and responsibilities throughout the project period, • The project calendar, • The steps that must be taken to ensure that the project reaches more people, • The agenda of the meeting planned to be held in Gaziantep, • The budget distribution, • The activities planned to be carried out during the project. The meet- ing resulted in positive outputs for the project’s objective. 360-Degree Communication Approach in Aid Campaigns In order to promote national and international solidarity and support/ aid campaigns regarding the earthquakes epicentred in Kahraman- maraş, such as “Let My Home Be Your Home,” “Türkiye United as One Heart,” and “We Stand with Türkiye,” to a wider target audience, the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications undertook several initia- tives by adopting a 360-degree strategic communication approach, in- cluding content in digital and conventional channels. “Let My Home Be Your Home” Communication Campaign The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications also supported the promotion of the “Let My Home Be Your Home” campaign and the dissemination of press releases and the social media posts of relevant ministries, while also making efforts towards public service announce- 540 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS ments, promotional films, social media content, Twitter hashtags, and outdoor advertisements. A public service announcement was produced with artists Gülben Ergen and Kutsi to encourage participation in the campaign, which was broadcast on TV channels on March 3, 2023. A film with infographic visuals was pro- duced and shared on the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications’ so- cial media accounts on March 4, 2023, to explain the details of the campaign to citizens. All content related to the campaign was disseminated across 18 provinc- es via conventional and digital advertising channels between March 4 and March 17, 2023. The public service announcement, infographic film, and social media activities coordinated with the Ministry of Internal Af- fairs, Ministry of Industry and Technology, and AFAD were shared on the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications’ social media accounts. Through the dissemination of the post on the social media accounts of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, it reached approx- imately 500,000 views. Furthermore, a large audience was informed about the campaign via social media posts by prominent figures on so- cial media explaining the system. ‘’Türkiye United as One Heart’’ Communication Campaign The donation campaign organised jointly on television and radio chan- nels was expanded with the “Türkiye United as One Heart” campaign, which was launched to emphasise the solidarity of the state and the na- tion in the natural disasters experienced by Türkiye and to show that our country can overcome this disaster with a collective kindness campaign with the aim of drawing more attention to unity, fraternity, and solidarity. Within the scope of this campaign, which appealed to the national pub- lic, media, policymakers, NGOs, public and private sectors, academia, cul- ture-art and sports communities with the slogan “Türkiye United as One Heart,” the “Get Well Soon, Türkiye” event was organised by the Associa- tion of Anatolian Publishers, with support from the Presidency’s Director- ate of Communications, as part of a visit by local journalists to the region. The programme also included a meeting of national and local media representatives in the aftermath of the earthquakes. National and local media members visited the earthquake zone and highlighted the impor- tance of solidarity through news reports and columns. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 541 As part of the same communication campaign, the Presidency’s Direc- torate of Communications coordinated the national press regarding the activities of Turkish non-governmental organisations in the disaster zone, and efforts were made to ensure that search and rescue and relief efforts of non-governmental organisations in the disaster zone were fea- tured in national media outlets and gained visibility. The event organised by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications between February 12 and March 4, 2023, was coordinated and attend- ed by 94 prominent figures, 50 of whom were from the arts and sports community. In addition, a public service announcement, a promotional film, outdoor advertisements, and X (formerly Twitter) hashtag activi- ties were conducted for the campaign. “We Stand with Türkiye” Communication Campaign Films and content were produced, including messages of support from internationally recognised figures, emphasising the spirit of solidarity on a global scale for the “We Stand with Türkiye” campaign launched by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications. In the aftermath of the “disas- ter of the century,” campaigns of “solidarity of the century” and “mobilisa- tion of the century” were implemented to stress the global solidarity of the international community following the disaster with the main theme “We Stand with Türkiye.” Five commercials, two of which were feature-length, were produced and shared on social media accounts to effectively convey the messages de- signed within the campaign. The commercials revealed the scale of the damage to the international public, while images of solidarity conveyed the steps taken to heal the wounds and the importance of aid from all countries. In addition to these videos, support videos from notable figures such as António Guterres, Aamir Khan, Mark Eliyahu, and Yasmin Levy were composed into a collage. At the end of the videos, the celebrities shared the message, “We Stand with Türkiye.” In addition to these videos shared on social media, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and You- Tube pages were created in Turkish and English, with the campaign’s so- cial media accounts available in approximately 20 countries. At the same time, the hashtags “Seninleyiz Türkiye” in Turkish and “We Stand with Türkiye” in English were disseminated. To increase social media engagement with the “We Stand with Türki- ye” campaign, outdoor advertisements were placed in New York’s Times Square, one of the most well-known and visited spots in the US, and the 542 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS slogan “We Stand with Türkiye” and visuals were displayed on the streets of the US using LED display trucks.The target groups were divided into the Americas, Europe, the Far East, and Muslim geography, with visual advertisements appearing on digital media outlets in over 50 nations. Contacts were made with the Turkish diaspora’s strong civil society plat- forms to place advertisements in international media, incorporate cam- paign concepts in newspaper headlines, and ensure that the campaign was covered not only on social media but also in conventional media. “We Stand with Türkiye” campaign images were published in newspa- pers in the United States, Belgium, Germany, Azerbaijan, China, Malay- sia, the Netherlands, and a number of other countries. As part of the campaign, Turkish and English web pages—www.senin- leyizturkiye.com and www.westandwithturkiye.com—were created with information that revealed the magnitude of the disaster and the national and worldwide mobilisation in its aftermath. Additionally, a manifold of content and images were created specifically for digital media publication. Bilingual social media accounts with the slogan “We Stand with Türkiye” were created, and the prepared content was shared. As part of the “We Stand with Türkiye” communication campaign, the “Tür- kiye United as One Heart Joint Broadcast” was made, a digital media engage- ment campaign was carried out, and global media coordination was facilitated. SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 543 Closing Report on the “We Stand with Türkiye” Campaign The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications prepared a closing report on May 8, 2023, on the “We Stand with Türkiye” project. First Year of the February 6 Earthquakes Public Service Announcement Post by Presidency’s Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun Presidency’s Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun shared a public service announcement on his social media account made marking the first anniversary of the February 6 earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş. In his post, Altun stated that since February 6, the hearts of 14 million peo- ple continued to beat in the chest of all of Türkiye, and said: “Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, all units of the Republic of Türkiye are working with great optimism and determi- nation to precisely coordinate the healing of the wounds caused by the earthquake. We stand tall today with the same determination as we al- ways had. We will grow stronger with what we have achieved together and the strength we draw from our past. We are Türkiye together. The state and the nation are hand in hand; we are together, strong. With hope in our hearts, we look toward the future. This is the unity of the century.” The public service announcement emphasised the tag lines “We are Türkiye together” and “State and nation hand in hand,” and used the “Unity of the century” logo. 544 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Earthquake Zone Media Programme The Earthquake Zone Media Programme was organised by the Interna- tional Media Coordination Office of the Presidency’s Directorate of Com- munications between 1-11 February 2024 to communicate the ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts in the earthquake region to the na- tional and international public opinion, to ensure that members of the press are properly informed first-hand, and to contribute to their cover- age of the situation on the first anniversary of the earthquakes. In this context, the programme was carried out in four separate tours that encompassed the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya, Hatay, and Gaziantep. Approximately 200 members of the press from 107 international news agencies, 36 national news agencies, and over 50 news agencies from 26 countries and regions participated TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 545 in the event. The Earthquake Zone Media Programme began with a tour of Gaziantep-Hatay on February 1-2, followed by separate press tours to Malatya-Adıyaman on February 3-4, Kahramanmaraş on February 4-5, and Kahramanmaraş-Adıyaman-Malatya on February 9-11, and these tours allowed international members of the press to interact with offi- cials and affected citizens in the earthquake zone. The International Me- dia Coordination Office ensured coordination with public institutions and organisations in the provinces visited, and the necessary steps were taken to accurately communicate the progress made in the earthquake zone in one year to national and international public opinion. In this context, a document containing the programme’s details and a briefing note written in English and Turkish regarding the efforts con- ducted in the first year of the earthquake were given to all members of the press. Informative meetings held at the governorates in the five provinces provided an opportunity for representatives of public institutions and or- ganisations to share statistical data on the ongoing efforts in the region with members of the press. Journalists’ requests for interviews were ac- commodated, and visits were arranged to permanent housing sites that had either been completed or were still under construction in the earth- quake-affected areas. Members of the media also visited container cities, where they had the chance to meet with earthquake survivors. Further- more, they were able to observe commercial zones established to support local tradespeople, as well as social support centres set up to meet the needs of those affected, enabling them to gather on-the-ground material for their reporting. 546 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 547 Gaziantep The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications organised a visit to the earthquake zone for 200 national and international press members in February 2024. On February 1, members of the press first received in- formation about the efforts carried out in the area from Governor Kemal Çeber at the Gaziantep Governorate and then went to Nurdağı and Isla- hiye, which were affected by the earthquake and observed the ongoing efforts first-hand on-site. Members of the press received information from the authorities about the efforts taking place in the districts and reported on a variety of topics. The programme was attended by the Coordinator of the Centre for Com- bating Disinformation of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communica- tions, İdris Kardaş; Gaziantep Regional Director, Mücahit Taşkın; and other officials. As part of the programme, members of the press visited Hatay, Malatya, Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş, respectively. 548 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Hatay On February 2, 2024, media members visited the earthquake survivors in the Üsküdar Municipality container city in the İskenderun district, toured the Karadeniz Lifeship Rauf Bey Ship, which was later used as a school, and the Karadeniz Lifeship Süheyla Sultan Ship, which ac- commodates approximately 1,000 people, and afterwards, they also ob- served the efforts on-site at the Arpaderesi Permanent Village Houses in the Arsuz district. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 549 Hatay Governor Mustafa Masatlı informed media members about the efforts in the area at the Disaster Coordination Centre of the Hatay Pro- vincial AFAD Directorate, followed by a tour of the rebuilt Hatay Train- ing and Research Hospital. The programme was also attended by offi- cials from the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications. 550 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Malatya A total of 45 members of the press, 33 international and 12 Turkish, visited the earthquake-resistant residences in Malatya on February 3. Malatya Governor Ersin Yazıcı briefed the members of the press about the earthquake at the Public Library. Members of the press then toured the TOKİ residences and show flat in İkizce. On February 11, Malatya Governor Ersin Yazıcı provided information to members of the press from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus about the efforts carried out in the city following the earthquake. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 551 Adıyaman The delegation of 45 members of the press also visited Adıyaman on February 4. Governor Osman Varol briefed members of the press about the ongoing efforts in the city. Members of the press then toured the TOKİ residences and the show flat in Örenli. Members of the press who participated in the tours shared their impressions with AA reporters. Thirty-four members of the press, including journalists from Kazakh- stan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, visited Adıyaman on February 10, 2024. 552 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Kahramanmaraş Sixteen members of the national and international press, including nine from Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Greece, the Netherlands, the United States, and Russia, as well as seven from Türkiye, were briefed by Gov- ernor Mükerrem Ünlüer on the earthquake at the Disaster Coordination Centre on February 4. The programme, during which AFAD Provincial Director Tayfun Temur gave a presentation on the efforts, concluded with Governor Ünlüer an- swering questions from the press. Members of the press then visited the TOKİ houses completed in the Dulkadiroğlu district’s Ferhuş neighbourhood and the Koç Umutkent container city, where they observed the services provided to earthquake victims and interviewed citizens. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 553 On February 5, a delegation of 26 people, including members of the press from the United States, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, the Netherlands, Korea, and Russia, visited Kahramanmaraş and toured the site of the 738 residenc- es constructed by TOKİ in the Karaelbistan neighbourhood of the Elbistan district and the show flat. After being briefed by officials, the members of the press visited the Elbistan Temporary Accommodation Centre, observed the facility, and shared their impressions with Anadolu Agency (AA). On February 9, 34 journalists from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmen- istan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were briefed at the Onikişubat Municipality conference hall on the post-earth- 554 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS quake efforts carried out in the city. The programme concluded with Governor Ünlüer answering the questions of the members of the press. Members of the press then visited the TOKİ houses completed in the Dulkadiroğlu district’s Ferhuş neighbourhood and the Koç Umutkent container city, where they observed the services provided to earthquake survivors and interviewed citizens. Celebrities Visit Container Cities Celebrities visited the earthquake zone and provided a morale boost to the survivors residing in the container city as part of an effort coordi- nated by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications. At the K11 container city in Yeni Mahalle, Züleyha Ortak — a vocal artist with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and a TRT music presenter — along with a group of celebrities including Gönül Dağı TV series actor Burak Haktanır, presenter Melike Öcalan, actors Muhammed Emre Kaya, Fu- lya Soybaş, Neslihan Durna, Serkan Aydın, Naz Şimşek, Buse Turan, and Banu Güngörmez performed a mini-concert for the children following the distribution of food packages to the survivors of the disaster. As part of the celebrity visits to the region, a group of celebrities visited earthquake survivors residing in the Nur-2 container city in the Nurdağı dis- trict of Gaziantep province, Şekeroba container city in the Türkoğlu district of Kahramanmaraş province, and the Beyoğlu container city in Kahraman- maraş province on February 3. Visits to earthquake-affected citizens were hosted and facilitated by the Gaziantep Regional Directorate. Following conversations between the artists and the earthquake survivors, essential supplies were distributed to those in need. The event was coordinated with reporters from TRT News and the Anadolu News Agency for coverage, and the group had a scheduled flight from Gaziantep to Istanbul. The Diyarbakır Regional Directorate provided personnel and transporta- tion support for an event organised by a group of 11 artists for quake-hit children residing in container cities in Malatya on February 5. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 555 Exclusive TRT Broadcasts for the First Anniversary of the Earthquake TRT television and radio channels offered exclusive coverage and shows to viewers and listeners on the first anniversary of the Disaster of the Century. As part of the exclusive broadcast, TRT News dispatched special teams to each province impacted by the earthquakes. The exclusive broadcast began airing at 04:17, the exact time when the Disaster of the Century struck. The 24-hour exclusive broadcast informed viewers about the recovery efforts in the earthquake zone and the developments that followed in the wake of the disaster. During this time, 21 teasers showcasing the lives of earthquake survivors who had moved into their new houses were shown on the screens. On the occasion of the anniversary, 75 news packages and the documenta- ry “Habercinin Gözünden: Asrın Felaketi” (Through the Eyes of a Reporter: The Disaster of the Century) were broadcast throughout the day. Throughout the day, commemoration programmes and events held in the region were broadcast, featuring both live reports and news packages. 556 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS As part of the “Yeniden Hayat 04.18” (Life Again 04:18) programme, the officials, locals, and project staff discussed the state’s efforts in the re- gion in the year following the earthquake. Vice President of the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), Hamza Taşdelen, Vice President of the Turkish Red Crescent, Professor Fatma Meriç Yılmaz, and then Director-General of Türkiye’s National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) Associate Professor Eray Çınar attended the broadcast held in the TOKİ Houses completed in the İslahiye district of Gaziantep province. The programme, which highlighted the activities carried out in the first year since the 6 February 2023 earthquake, was broadcast simultaneously on TRT 1 and TRT Türk on February 6, 2024. The “Türkiye United As One Heart” campaign was also broadcast on TRT 1 and TRT Türk. Additionally, the exclusive content “Felaketin Ardından AFAD” (AFAD in the Aftermath of the Disaster) was broadcast on TRT 1. TRT News’ “Disaster of the Century Earthquake Exclusive Broadcast” aired live on February 6, 2024, at 04:00. In addition, throughout the day, the events of the earthquake and the developments over the past year were brought to the screen through studio discussions, guest interviews, and in-depth news reports. TRT Kurdî and TRT Arabi networks also broadcast exclusive earthquake coverage. The TRT World exclusive broadcast began at 04:00 local time on Feb- ruary 6, 2024, and continued throughout the day. As live broadcasts continued throughout the day, expert guests were hosted at the studio, and eight news packages were aired, each exploring different aspects of the earthquake and providing coverage from various locations. In ad- dition, the TRT World’s programming department prepared exclusive programmes from the earthquake zone. The TRT World brought the re- TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 557 building efforts of the state to the screens through not only the exclusive broadcast but also its exclusive programming. The TRT Arabi Channel broadcasted live from a number of cities that were affected by the earthquakes on the first anniversary of the earthquakes and outlined reconstruction and development efforts via graphics. The TRT Voice of Türkiye Radio conducted a joint broadcast with TRT News at 4:00 a.m. local time. During the live broadcast, victims of the disaster were commemorated, and viewers were informed of what has been done in the past year, what needs to be done, the traces of the di- saster, earthquake awareness, and risks and precautions, with experts and correspondents reporting from the region throughout the day. The broadcast continued throughout the day. Exhibitions Disaster of the Century Photo Exhibition As part of a series of panels and meetings organised by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications in the United States between April 16 and 21, 2023, regarding the earthquakes epicentred in Kahramanmaraş, the Directorate organised a Disaster of the Century Photo Exhibition at the Congressional Rayburn House Office Building in the United States. In addition to the Turkish delegation, members of the US Congress—Joe Wilson, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on the U.S.–Türkiye Rela- tions and Turkish Americans and Representative of South Carolina, and Pete Sessions, Representative of Texas—attended the exhibition’s opening. 558 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Photography Support for Domestic and International Exhibitions Anadolu Agency (AA) offered support to exhibitions in Türkiye and abroad by providing photographs, helping people grasp the scope of the disaster. These included the exhibition of drawings of children affected by the earthquake and the exhibition hosted at the Council of Europe. Projects RE-DIS JOURNALISM-Recovery Disaster Journalism Project The project’s goal is to develop communication strategies that empha- sise the role of journalism in disaster recovery efforts. The recent earth- quakes in Türkiye have served as a timely reminder of the importance of having effective strategies in place to reduce damage from disasters and ensure a well-coordinated recovery process. The Re-Dis project, in partnership with the Gaziantep Regional Directorate of the Presiden- cy’s Directorate of Communications, is anticipated to offer guidance for post-disaster recovery efforts in the region, which has been severely af- fected by the recent earthquakes. Activity Trucks for the Earthquake Zone Project The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications organised a variety of activities at shelter centres and other shelter areas as part of the Activity Trucks for the Earthquake Zone Project to assist earthquake-affected chil- dren in adapting to social life and, to some extent, alleviate the traces of the disaster. During activities organised in Kahramanmaraş and its El- bistan district, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, İskenderun, Malatya, Hatay, Adıya- man, Osmaniye, and Gaziantep under the theme “A truckload of happi- ness is on its way to your city,” children had a great time with clowns. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 559 TRT Travelling Cinema Truck In an effort to heal the wounds, Türkiye’s public broadcaster TRT launched the TRT Travelling Cinema Truck project in the region. As part of the project’s scope, movies were screened in all of the earth- quake-stricken provinces. TRT executives met with children in Kahra- manmaraş, where the first screening was held. Movie Premieres of “Aslan Hürkuş 3: Phoenix Island” The TRT Kids Channel Coordination Office organised the premieres of the movie “Aslan Hürkuş 3: Phoenix Island” in Kahramanmaraş and İskenderun for earthquake survivors. Documentaries/TV Shows The TRT is making concerted efforts in the production of documenta- ries on the February 6 earthquakes in addition to its news, investiga- tive news, and exclusive broadcasts featured on its channels during and in the aftermath of the earthquakes. A number of these documentaries have been published, with plans for others to be published in the future. There are also documentaries in the development and design stages. 560 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Disaster of the Century The documentary that was broadcast on May 24, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. depicts the February 6 earthquakes, recognised as the disaster of the century. United as One Heart 04:17 The heroic stories of citizens during the earthquake were brought to viewers in a 13-part docuserie. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 561 A Natural Threat: Disasters The “A Natural Threat: Disasters” documentary delves into the life stories of people affected by disasters. The second earthquake, epicentred in Elbistan, Kahramanmaraş, and the events that followed were narrated by the survivors of the said earthquake. The documentary was published in three parts on the anniversary of the earthquakes on February 6, 7, and 8. 562 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Protectors United as “One Heart” The documentary showcases people’s efforts to unite as one heart amidst destruction and catastrophe. Witnessing the harsh realities of the moment that the earthquake struck while witnessing human perse- verance, unity, and solidarity offers viewers a hopeful perspective. The striking details of Türkiye’s process in overcoming such a devastating earthquake are narrated from the perspective of the survivors. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 563 Awaiting Tomorrow The 45-minute documentary explores the earthquake reality in Türkiye through the experiences of three earthquake survivors—a married cou- ple, Kemal Can Ataş and Beyza Ataş, and Mehmet Ali Şakiroğlu, who was rescued from the collapsed hospital at the 261st hour. 564 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Holding on to Life The documentary offers a portrayal of three distinct individuals’ strug- gle for “Holding on to Life” in the aftermath of the earthquake. Impact The documentary opens a portal to the physical, sociological, economic, and psychological impacts of the three major earthquakes that struck the Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş in February 2023 and the Defne district of Hatay on February 20, 2023. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 565 The Base of Solidarity: “Gaziantep Airport” The documentary depicts how Gaziantep airport became a communica- tions centre in the aftermath of the February 6 earthquakes and coordi- nated relief efforts. The Remnant The documentary chronicles the story of the gradual return to normal life over a year after the earthquake with a particular emphasis on AF- AD’s activities. Earthquake survivors share their personal stories, high- lighting the unity of the nation and the state in the face of disaster and the profound impact of state-led efforts on their lives in the documenta- ry. The documentary is planned to be released on February 6, 2025—the second anniversary of the earthquakes. 566 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The Disaster of The Century The documentary, prepared for the first anniversary of the earthquake disaster on 6 February 2024, featured expert discussions on the geolog- ical impact of the earthquake and the efforts to heal the wounds and rebuild the region. It was aired on the TRT World channel. The Disaster of The Century The documentary, produced by the TRT Arabi, is a comprehensive over- view of the cause of the Kahramanmaraş-epicentred earthquakes, their magnitude, and the state’s management of the Disaster of the Century, narrated by experts. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 567 105 Seconds The documentary, produced by TRT Arabi, chronicles the events that transpired within the first 105 seconds of the earthquake and examines how the state coordinated search and rescue operations with all of its agencies. Those Who Held on to Life The documentary, produced by TRT Arabi to mark the first anniversary of the Kahramanmaraş-epicentred earthquakes, recounts the experienc- es of earthquake survivors. 568 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The Night With No Tomorrow The radio documentary “The Night With No Tomorrow: February 6” fea- tures an archive of voice recordings capturing the earthquake survivors’ stories, the experiences of medical staff and rescue teams, the recollec- tions of volunteers who came to the region to help, and the initial reac- tions of journalists upon learning about the event. “İki Seher Arasında” (Between Two Dawns) and “Kırık Köyler” (Broken Villages) Documentaries News and documentaries featuring Ministry of Agriculture and Forest- ry personnel and citizens affected by the Kahramanmaraş-epicentered earthquakes were produced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The documentary “İki Seher Arasında” is dedicated to the employees of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry who lost their lives. Prepared by the Department of Training and Publication of the Ministry of Agricul- ture and Forestry, the documentary “Kırık Köyler” recounts the stories TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 569 of those who lived in the villages where the fault line crossed and were severely impacted by the disaster of the century. Earthquake Documentary Prepared by NOS TV The Netherlands-based NOS TV’s documentary, filmed in the earth- quake zone, reflected the tragedies in the region, the disaster’s scale, relief initiatives, the conduct of post-earthquake recovery, as well as other efforts undertaken throughout the region with an emotional and insightful commentary. The production process of the documentary was facilitated, and its broadcasting was coordinated by the Presidency’s Di- rectorate of Communications’ International Media Coordination Office. International Broadcasts on the Earthquakes The TRT World closely followed up on the Kahramanmaraş-epicentered earthquakes in February, conducting an exclusive uninterrupted broadcast for the first two weeks. The TRT World correspondents in the earthquake zone exerted metic- ulous efforts to report the developments as a whole to the international community, from the magnitude of the destruction caused by the earth- quake, search and rescue efforts, the mobilisation of state agencies, aid activities, and the efforts of the people and civil society to the expert opinions on the earthquake’s magnitude and impact, foreign assistance and support, and visits of various foreign leaders to Ankara. The TRT World teams were permanently present in Gaziantep, Hatay, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Adana, and Adıyaman provinces in addition to Kahra- manmaraş, the epicentre of the earthquake. With their special reports from the field and significant interviews, they brought the scale of the disaster of the century and all efforts for recovery to the forefront of the news agenda. In 2023, the TRT World teams prepared over 210 news packages and conducted 1,230 live broadcasts during the uninterrupted coverage. In the meantime, the newsroom maintained the prompt flow of accurate information with graphics and live broadcasts. The TRT Arabi was deployed to the field as swiftly as possible follow- ing the Kahramanmaraş-epicentred earthquakes, delivering the latest developments to the viewers with live broadcasts and special reports. Throughout the process, the anatomy of earthquakes centred in Kahra- manmaraş was explained through maps and graphics, while assistance from foreign countries was illustrated with visuals. 570 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS In addition, through its international digital news platforms—TRT, TRT World, TRT Arabi, TRT Deutsch, TRT Russian, TRT Français, TRT Bal- kan, and TRT Afrika, as well as TRT Español (launched in April 2024)— TRT has conveyed the actions and efforts of the state not only to Türkiye but to audiences around the world in multiple languages. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 571 The TRT World Digital News Platform prepared 1,500 pieces of content on the Disaster of the Century, including videos, infographics, and news pan- els. Rescue operations, relief efforts, and human stories from the earth- quake zone were covered, with social media posts on the topics receiving 200,000,000 views and 10,600,000 interactions in total. Twelve pieces of content in the form of videos, infographics, cards, and panels were published in 2024 on the anniversary of the earthquakes. Moreover, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s speech was broadcast live on the anniversary of the earthquakes. These contents received nearly 3,000,000 views and 250,000 interactions. From the very beginning, coordinated efforts were carried out on TRT VOT (Voice of Türkiye) web pages and shortwave radio broadcasts, which operate in 41 languages, dialects, and scripts. The international community was accurately informed with the prepared written, au- dio-visual, and infographic content while preventing disinformation. 572 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 573 International Media Coverage of Post-Earthquake Recovery Efforts The International Media Follow-Up Unit of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications scanned major international news agencies and me- dia outlets in 35 languages on the State Information System (DES) from the day of the earthquakes, between February 6, 2023, and December 31, 2024, enquiring about the activities conducted in the earthquake zone. The following are some examples of the scanned items: 574 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTAINER CITIES PROVIDE LIGHT FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS Publisher : Berita RTM Date : 14 February 2024 Country : Malaysia Translated In : Kuala Lumpur Translation Type : Summary We would like to recall the tragic event on February 6, when 1.5 million people were left homeless after the earthquake disaster in Türkiye. Following this disaster, the container camp reportedly provided shelter to local people in Malatya, Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş. Malatya was one of the hardest hit areas of the disaster. More than a thousand people were killed and 6444 injured in the earthquake, which has been described as the worst disaster in 100 years. Governor Ersin Yazıcı stated that the disaster destroyed 6643 buildings in the city, more than 35 thousand houses were severely damaged and 2525 houses were moderately damaged. After the earthquake, 88,561 tents were set up for those in urgent need of shelter and they were moved from these tents to container cities last July. In total, 69 container cities were built and used to shelter 32,295 people. These container cities provided basic amenities and improved the living conditions of earthquake victims. Children in Malatya are housed in container houses, which have been temporarily provided by the Turkish government. In addition, the psychological and social needs of the earthquake victims are taken care of by organizing various activities in the container cities. Construction work in the region is ongoing and modern housing is being built in Adıyaman. Once completed, these houses will be distributed to earthquake victims and a special loan repayment plan will be offered for 20 years. The Turkish government is making a great effort to meet the needs of earthquake victims and these efforts are setting an example in supporting people affected by the earthquake disaster. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 575 TURKISH GOVERNMENT CARRIED OUT 5500 ACTIVITIES IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE YPublisher : Bernama Date : 03 February 2024 Country : Malaysia Translated In : Kuala Lumpur Translation Type : Full Text One year after the devastating earthquake that shook southern Türkiye, the Turkish government has carried out a total of 5533 activities aimed at alleviating the psychological impact of the seismic disaster on the surviving victims. The activities, carried out by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and involving mental health experts, volunteers, trainers and coaches, benefited 420,236 survivors. According to the “Activities carried out on the First Anniversary of the Earthquake” statement made by the Presidential Communications Directorate, a total of 1163 trainers carried out over a thousand activities such as table tennis, football, ceramics, exam preparations and communication for young people. “A wide range of trainings and activities ranging from personal development to sports, from art to science were carried out in the youth centers in the region. Currently, 1 million 305 thousand 539 children and young people have benefited from 62 thousand 410 activities.” it was said. On February 6, 2023, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred in southern Türkiye and northwestern Syria, and its effects were reportedly felt in Cyprus and Lebanon. The earthquake affected 11 provinces including Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Diyarbakır, Adana, Kilis and Elazığ. According to the statement, the Ministry of National Education conducted psychosocial support activities in the affected provinces and organized various courses in 576 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS areas such as clothing, handicrafts, embroidery, art design, visual arts, decorative arts, food and beverage. A total of 754 thousand 180 disaster victims were provided with accommodation and food services in teacher training centers and evening art schools. “A total of 80 thousand stationery sets were donated to students, 82 special education support tents or container classrooms were created for students, 416 psychosocial support, play and activity tents were established for children in tent and container cities,” the statement said. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 577 “TIGHTENED EARTHQUAKE AND BUILDING REGULATIONS... AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ECO-CITY WILL BE BUILT”... ONE YEAR AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE IN TÜRKİYE Publisher: Segye Ilbo Date : 05 February 2024 Country : South Korea Author : Yun Sol Tranlated In : Seul Translation Type : Full Text The main cause of the devastation caused by last year’s earthquake in Türkiye was the large number of old buildings in the region that lacked earthquake-resistant design, and the fact that even relatively new buildings were not built in accordance with the authorities’ building codes. Having learned from this disaster how devastating the consequences can be, the government and local authorities want to build a completely new city, different from the past. In an interview at the Malatya Yüzüncü Yıl State Public Library on Wednesday, Malatya Governor Ersin Yazıcı said that while he “accepts responsibility” for the government’s revision of building codes after the 1999 Izmit earthquake (magnitude 7.4, which killed more than 107,000 people), these codes were not properly implemented and maintained and contributed to the damage caused by last year’s quake. “We take seriously the criticism that buildings and poor construction, not earthquakes, are killing people,” he said: “We will do everything we can.” The governor said he had a better understanding of the devastation, having lost family and friends in the 1999 earthquake and another that followed. Yazıcı emphasized the importance of eliminating “ghost buildings” in this process. He defined ghost buildings as buildings that have lost their function due to collapsed walls and other structures. 578 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS He said that the large number of such buildings leads to dust and deterioration of security, causing additional harm to residents, which hinders the construction of new cities and the establishment of a stable residential environment. The abandonment of ghost buildings with broken doors and windows has led to an increase in burglaries. “We increased sanctions in every possible way and reduced the crime rate by 40 percent to pre-earthquake levels,” Yazıcı said. Today, only two percent of the ghost buildings remain in Malatya’s center and commercial district, Yazıcı said, adding that this rate is far below the average for Türkiye. Ghost buildings also pose an environmental problem. “More than 2,500 ghost buildings generated a lot of dust, and the restoration and demolition process also generated dust,” he said. ”(The) amount (of dust) has increased more than five times compared to before the earthquake, resulting in numerous complaints from residents.” Indeed, it was not uncommon to see many cars driving around the streets of Malatya covered in dust. “We are trying to use the 2023 earthquake as an opportunity to create a greener and more ecological urban environment,” Yazıcı said. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 579 TÜRKİYE IS BEING REBORN... AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE WE WILL HAVE A HOME AGAIN YPublisher : Il Messaggero Date : 07 February 2024 Country: Italy Author : Silvia Sfregola Translated in : Roma Type : Full text --Delivery of the First Houses at the End of One Year. -After the Earthquake. Erdogan Among the Homeless: ‘Buildings Have Been Built Safer”-- Ahmet pokes his head out of the container door, smiles and points to the construction site of the new buildings and says: ‘My home is there.’ He does not need to say anything more. For 10 months he has been living with his mother and siblings in Malatya, where an incredible amount of buildings are going up just beyond the earthquake victim camp. He is only 7 years old, but he has not forgotten the inferno that devoured lives and cement in south-east Türkiye exactly one year ago. It was 6 February, 4.17 am, when the strongest double earthquake ever recorded on the mainland shook the country. The first tremor was magnitude 7.9, and the second, nine hours later, was magnitude 7.5. A catastrophe in the provinces of Adana, Malatya, Gaziantep, Diyarbakır, Hatay, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis and Elazığ: 53,000 dead, over 200,000 destroyed buildings and millions left homeless... At the time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was speaking from the affected areas and promising: ‘Reconstruction within a year.’ A difficult challenge, and an important promise that the Turkish leader is trying to fulfil at all costs, 365 days after what the world recognises as the tragedy of the century. --New Neighbourhoods-- Among the Taurus Mountains, apricots and the ruins of ancient civilisations of the past, on the Malatya Plain, unexpected Türkiye... Here, in this province of Eastern Anatolia, an earthquake has destroyed residential centres and the government has 580 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS immediately set the record straight, has embarked on a reconstruction. After a year of uninterrupted work, mountains of debris in the disaster-stricken areas are now only a memory. Roads, shops, workplaces and houses have taken an astonishing shape among the still open construction sites. The city - with a population of over 400,000 - is breathing the air of rebirth. ‘The first government-built houses are expected to be handed over in March,’ Governor Ersin Yazici proudly announced, because what has been done seems like a miracle. Debris removal is 98 per cent complete in the city centre and 65 per cent complete across the city. The new residential neighbourhoods are ready to receive some of the 117,232 citizens who have been living for 12 months in 32,295 containers set up in the city’s 69 municipalities. To give a new shape to the earthquake-affected urban centres and villages, the government has planned to build 307,000 houses across the southeast. Lotteries have begun to deliver 75,000 houses in the next two months. From Malatya to Adiyaman stretches an area of colourful buildings surrounded by green fields, playgrounds and pavements. Newly born neighbourhoods waiting for people to come and settle. In Malatya, 14,636 of the 34,000 buildings planned to be constructed on a 313-hectare area, where new commercial activities will also arise, have broken ground. The first batch of flats will be delivered at the end of the month. The construction operations have been entrusted to TOKİ, the Housing Development Administration of the Ministry of Environment. --Inside Containers-- ‘We have built better and safer,’ President Erdoğan said during a tour of Hatay and Gaziantep to start the first handover exactly one year after the earthquake. No one in Europe or the US could have overcome a disaster of this scale.’ In the containers, families have started the countdown. ‘I have been living here for about seven months with my four children. I thank the government for what they have done for us,’ says Emine, cradling her youngest child, who was born in the camp set up by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) under the Ministry of Interior. The children’s laughter, running back and forth on bicycles, running behind a ball along the narrow paths drawn by the containers add joy to the long days. They hope to be neighbours and meet each other again in their new homes. Container cities have schools, mosques, playgrounds, health centres and psycho-social support activities. Because the government’s reconstruction work over the last year has not only been a material reconstruction. --Villages-- ‘This is the beginning of a major reconstruction project,’ promises Osman Varol, Governor of Adıyaman. In Adıyaman, the second hardest hit province by the 6 February disaster, TOKİ is building 45,000 flats, three thousand of which are about to be delivered. But the government has not forgotten the villages where people TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 581 survived the tremors but lost everything in the rubble of that hell of dust, smoke and stones. In the rural area of the city in southeastern Türkiye, 300 modern detached houses, each 100 square meters, will be delivered in May. “I would love house number 29,” says Osman, 6, who comes every day with his brother Fatih to check on the work. He and his family lost their house and their barn with all their animals in the earthquake. “I want that house because there is a big area behind it, there is room to put all the animals. And it is close to the school.” Today, a year after the disaster, gratitude and anticipation accompany the Turkish people with hope for the future. 582 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS “WE ARE NOT EXHAUSTED” TÜRKİYE, ADIYAMAN’S UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN RECONSTRUCTION Publiser: Newsis News Agency Publication Date: February 04, 2024 Country: South Korea Author: Kim Myoung-nyoun Translated in: Seoul Translation Type: Full Text When I visited Adıyaman on Sunday, April 4, more than a year after the earthquake in Türkiye, the city still bore the marks of destruction. Collapsed walls, gutted buildings, and a pile of roofing stones in the corner of a mosque were evidence of the damage. One of the mosque’s walls, which had caved in at several places like a blunt knife, bore the words “We’re done” or “We’re done,” as if to express the pain and despair of a year ago. Just then, as the call to prayer echoed, worshippers began to stream into the mosque. A large number of locals entered the mosque, including a child holding his father’s hand and smiling brightly, and an old man with deep wrinkles on his forehead that spoke of his years. Contrary to their words, “We’re done,” they walked past the wall with strong eyes and powerful steps. The same eyes could be seen from far away. Not far from the city center, a large number of workers were working hard at a construction site building permanent housing for earthquake victims. Despite the cold weather, sweat was pouring from the workers’ foreheads as they assembled the paving stones one by one. When asked, “Isn’t it hard work?” they replied, “Good, good.” As they worked carefully and meticulously on a single brick, their eyes were filled with faith, just like those of people who had gone to the mosque before. Meanwhile, in a temporary settlement made up of containers not far from the construction site of the permanent housing, children were building their dreams for the future by doing physical exercises and studying science and technology. In a technology and science workshop center in the settlement, children were learning how to build drones with university student volunteers, while in a gym in the TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 583 settlement, children were using treadmills to improve their physical fitness. One child smiled as he lifted a large dumbbell with one hand. The expression in her eyes was no different from the expression in the eyes of the children who had been working to rebuild their homes earlier in the day. 584 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE... A JOURNEY BETWEEN RECONSTRUCTION AND HOPE TO EARTHQUAKE-HIT PLACES Publisher : NOVA.news Date : 5 February 2024 Country : Italy Translated in : Ankara Translation Type : Broad Summary One year ago, on 6 February 2023, three strong earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye, killing 53,537 people and injuring over 107,000 in 11 different provinces. A total of 14 million people were indirectly affected by the earthquakes, which occurred on the Syrian border and had epicentres in three different locations. The epicentres were Kahramanmaraş-Pazarcık, where the first and strongest earthquake of magnitude 7.7 occurred at 04:17; Gaziantep-İslahiye, where the second earthquake of magnitude 6.5 occurred at 04:36; and Kahramanmaraş- Elbistan, where the third earthquake of magnitude 7.6 occurred at 13:24. The ‘disaster of the century’, as it is called in Türkiye, revealed the fragility of many buildings, the rubble of which can still be seen. These buildings buried thousands of people and left some of them both physically and psychologically ill. There is a structural fragility, mainly due to a lack of care in the construction phases, for which those responsible are being prosecuted. But at the same time, relief, rescue and reconstruction mechanisms were immediately mobilised, led by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (Afad) of the Turkish Ministry of Interior. The earthquake destroyed 676,000 homes, 115,000 businesses and factories, while over 215,000 containers equipped with basic services, schools, playgrounds, social services and psychological support have been set up in more than 400 sites in all affected areas. Much remains to be done, but projects for the construction of the first 307,000 units of earthquake-resistant housing, partly financed with public money to coincide with the first year of the earthquake, and for the repair of infrastructure and cultural sites have started immediately. Funding was also made available for companies to restart their activities and for the agricultural sector. ‘Agenzia Nova’ visited the provinces of Gaziantep and Hatay to talk to the local population, still severely traumatised by what TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 585 they have been through, to inspect the sites where containers have been installed and where new buildings and houses are being constructed. Our journey started in Gaziantep, where Governor Kemal Çeber explained the projects developed in the last twelve months. While acknowledging that the province was not ready for an emergency, the Governor explained that an ‘Earthquake Resistant City’ project was being prepared and work was underway to create a risk map for each province in the country. Since the southeast of Türkiye is located at the junction of the Arabian and Anatolian plates, new earthquakes of high magnitude are not ruled out. Over 27,000 food cards were distributed to meet the needs of the population and funds were allocated for rent payments. The projects also aim to give the people affected by the earthquake a perspective. In Nurdağı, about 70 kilometres west of Gaziantep, the effects of the earthquake are still visible, but a European Union- funded Social Entrepreneurship Centre with a library and a small commercial area has been built opposite the containers housing the displaced population. The library is a well-maintained place, open daily from 9 am to 10 pm, with internet connection, where about 200 students go to forget their experiences, at least for a while. The centre also has a cookery school for young people who want to open a restaurant or work in hotels or other buildings. Idal, a twenty-year-old girl, tells ‘Nova’ that she has been attending the cookery school for a month and lives in one of the nearby containers: ‘Some want to learn skills to work in hotels, others just want to learn how to cook.’ Idal is saddened by the death of her brother in the earthquake, but she and her mother ‘have hope for the future.’ The Entrepreneurship Centre also has teachers who help the students. Marvel, who has been teaching maths and science for the last six years, says that the aim of the structure, which has students of different ages, is to help children socialise, forget their traumas and concentrate on studying. ‘This is the disaster of the century. There are infrastructure problems in the district, such as blocked internet, but all services are here, including a good connection. In the morning the students go to schools in containers. It’s a kind of after-school programme where we follow up with them and explain what they didn’t understand well in school.’ Marvel is also a mother who lost her eight-year-old daughter in the earthquake and underwent three operations in hospital. There is an air of normalisation in the Nurdagi container zone. Some children play with their dogs on the lawn next to the shops set up to stimulate the local economy. Young people chat on benches outside the Entrepreneurship Centre, but in the background, construction sites and uninhabitable houses appear. The first signs of a new life are beginning to appear on the muddy roads paved by lorries carrying construction materials, giving peace to those who will perhaps never forget the night of 6 February 2023. There are games for children and a seamstress has set up a room where she and other women sew clothes and bags together. While everyone is waiting to have a house, they are busy doing something to have at least a part of the normality that the 586 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS earthquake took away. In Islahiye, close to Nurdagi, 17 four-storey buildings have been constructed. ‘Everyone who lost their home will have a home,’ local authorities assure. Starting from 80 square metres, there are apartments of different sizes, with two or three bedrooms. The allocation of apartments will be made according to the lottery, one of which was held on Saturday 3 February by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Mehmet Soylu, District Governor of İslahiye, where approximately 20 thousand people live in containers, said, ‘In İslahiye region, over 200 buildings collapsed in the earthquake. More than 400 were badly damaged and we had to demolish them.’ This area was one of the first places where new homes began to be built. ‘Construction of these buildings started on 20 February 2023, two weeks after the earthquake. We take great pride in building these houses,’ he said, explaining that buyers will have to pay interest-free loans. Our journey continues to Iskenderun, Hatay, where a car park where earthquake victims were temporarily living has been turned into a container site. One woman said, ‘This is a nightmare. Sometimes the containers we live in move and we relive the moments of the earthquake.’ Also living in the container camp is 63-year-old Aysel, who looks after her 6-year-old grandson Yusuf. Aysel said, ‘I would like to thank God and our mayor for these beautiful days. I look after the child who has no mother and whose father is in prison. My husband is disabled. God willing, we’ll move into a house. Ours was demolished because it was dangerous. We still feel the effects, we are scared, we are terrified when there are small tremors. We help each other among our container neighbours.’ Sultani, 67, whose five-storey house was completely destroyed, also expressed her faith in God and the authorities. ‘I lost six members of my family. God bless those who helped us, especially our President. I underwent 4 operations on my leg and then it was amputated. Only my eldest son survived but his arm was amputated. The municipality gave me a wheelchair. We do not know when we will get our house but thank God we do not live on the street. We do not know what will happen in the future. I receive psychological support once a week. They give me sleeping pills because I cannot sleep.’ In Arsuz, villas were built on a hill overlooking the sea in a state-owned area. The construction manager said that 30 villas will be delivered in March and 110 villas will be built later. Although life seems to continue as usual in Iskenderun district of Hatay, you can still see the ruins of the destroyed buildings and the standing buildings while walking on the street. We are approaching the harbour where the Black Sea energy ship İrem Sultan, which was heavily damaged in the Kahramanmaraş earthquake and became the floating headquarters of Osman Ötken Anatolian High School, which was demolished after the earthquake, is anchored. One thousand 200 students are accommodated on board and there is also a dormitory for 800 young people. The ship’s various rooms, classrooms and meeting spaces where students can study and spend their free time TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 587 playing board games and admiring the horizon, have become a scenario of hope. Not far away is Antakya, where Erdoğan inaugurated a 550-bed hospital built over 129,000 square metres over the weekend following the devastating earthquake on 6 February. The hospital has 12 operating theatres, 76 outpatient clinics, radiology, MRI and other services. Italy has been at the forefront of providing assistance to Türkiye in the fight against the earthquake, with rescue teams and aid from the first days, including a €4.8 million field hospital made available by the Piemonte Region and humanitarian aid supplies sent to Türkiye on the navy ship ‘San Marco’. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation also allocated financial contributions to provide assistance to the affected population. Immediately after the earthquake, the first aid was allocated to Ficross. Subsequently, additional contributions were made to Unicef and UNHCR. Unicef’s project is an initiative for the construction of three schools with prefabricated materials, through co-financing with other donors. The UNHCR project provides forms of legal assistance for the benefit of persons in need of international protection and support to facilitate access to income for the earthquake-affected refugee population and local communities. 588 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOUSES IN THE DEVASTATED EARTHQUAKE-HIT REGION Publisher : REUTERS Date: 03 February 2024 Country : The United Kingdom Translated in : Ankara Translation Type : Broad Summary A year after the deadliest disaster in the country’s modern history, Türkiye on Saturday handed over the keys to newly completed houses to some of those left homeless after last year’s devastating earthquake. President Tayyip Erdoğan said at the ceremony organised in Hatay, which was most affected by the earthquake, ‘Today, we are delivering 7 thousand 275 houses in Hatay. As soon as their construction is completed, we will gradually deliver 40 thousand houses throughout the region.’ Stating that 75 thousand houses will be delivered in the next two months, Erdoğan said that the government plans to deliver a total of 200 thousand houses this year. Urbanisation Minister Mehmet Özhaseki told reporters on Friday that around 680,000 houses had been destroyed in the earthquake zone and 390,000 families had registered to buy houses to be built there. Özhaseki said, ‘The tender for 200 thousand houses has been completed, some of them are under construction. Some of them are finished, and their deliveries will be made soon. The tender process for approximately 100 thousand houses continues.’ After the earthquakes, Erdoğan promised 319 thousand new houses until February 2024 and 680 thousand new houses in total one year later. TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 589 Publications of Public Institutions Regarding the Earthquake Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes DISASTER OF THE CENTURY Book (In 3 Languages) February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Book (In 3 Languages) 590 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS The Türkiye National Risk Shield Model Opinions and Recommendations Book TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 591 Disaster Communication Forum Resilience, Response, Recovery Book 592 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Struggle for Truth Newspaper TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 593 594 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 595 596 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Disaster of the Century’s First Anniversary: Reconstruction and Recovery Efforts Book (In 2 Languages) TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 597 598 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS “Ayın Tarihi” Journal (History of the Month)(February 2024 Issue Focused on Unity in Disaster Communication) TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 599 Disaster Communication Symposium on the 1st Anniversary of the Disaster of the Century Book TRT TRT Academy Journal’s “Disaster Management and Media” Issue 600 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS Ministry of Health Health Journal of the Disaster of the Century Book TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 601 Health Care Services in the Disaster of the Century Book Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Special Issue of the Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Journal on the “February 6 Earthquake” 602 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS In the Aftermath of February 6 Book TÜRKİYE’S MOBILISATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY | 603 Ministry of National Defence Booklet on Social Media, News Reports, Press Releases 604 | DISASTER OF THE CENTURY’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY: RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS