Solidarity of the Century F e b r u a r y 6 , 2 0 2 3 K a h r a m a n m a r a ş E a r t h q u a k e s Contact Kızılırmak Mahallesi Mevlana Bulv. No:144 Çankaya Ankara/TÜRKİYE T +90 312 590 20 00 | webinfo@iletisim.gov.tr Prestij Grafik Rek. ve Mat. San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti. T 0 212 489 40 63, İstanbul Matbaa Sertifika No: 45590 Print 1st Edition, İstanbul, 2023 © 2023 PUBLICATIONS BY PRESIDENCY’S DIRECTORATE OF COMMUNICATIONS February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes Solidarity of the Century Publisher Certificate No: 45482 ISBN: 978-625-7377-82-9 F e b r u a r y 6 , 2 0 2 3 K a h r a m a n m a r a ş E a r t h q u a k e s Solidarity of the Century TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S PREFACE 9 FOREWORD 11 I. EXPERIENCING THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY 17 Why the Disaster of the Century? 18 a) Impact Area of Earthquakes 18 b) Intensity 20 c) Ground Movements 22 d) Length of Ruptures 24 e) Economic Impacts 25 f) The World’s Most Destructive Earthquake 25 What Did Scientists Say? 26 Disaster of the Century from the Perspectives of International Organisations 29 II. THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY IN THE FOREIGN PRESS 35 International Media Working Group’s Activities 40 III. HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION 45 President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Visits to the Region 52 Search and Rescue Efforts Coordinated by AFAD 62 Aid Activities Coordinated by AFAD 67 February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes Solidarity of the Century Turkish Red Crescent’s Blood Donation Campaign 71 Relief Activities by NGOs in the Earthquake Zone 71 Relief Activities by Turkish Armed Forces 72 Earthquake Mobilisation by Turkish Airlines 76 IV. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART 81 Leaders’ Messages of Solidarity 83 International Aid 88 International Donors’ Conference 111 “We Stand with Türkiye “Campaign 112 International Search and Rescue Efforts 112 Solidarity to Save Lives 112 V. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKIYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS 133 Temporary Housing Services 134 Logistics Services 138 Reconstruction Efforts 143 Healthcare Services 152 Educational Services 157 Agricultural Services 161 Culture and Tourism Services 164 Solidarity of the Century F e b r u a r y 6 , 2 0 2 3 K a h r a m a n m a r a ş E a r t h q u a k e s O n February 6, 2023, our country was struck by two large earthquakes, the first with a magnitude of 7.7 centred in Kahramanmaraş, Pazarcık, and the second with a magni- tude of 7.6 centred in Elbistan. More than 50,000 of our ci- tizens lost their lives as a result of the devastation caused by earthqu- akes felt in eleven provinces that were home to approximately fourte- en millions of our citizens. The earthquakes have been categorised as one of the rarest natural catastrophes in the world since they affected an area of 500 square kilometres, which is larger than the territory of several countries, and a population of this size. These massive eart- hquakes were hailed as “the disaster of the century” by the world’s leading earthquake experts. Since the earliest moments of the earthquake, the state has mobili- sed all of its resources, from search and rescue to humanitarian aid, to assist its citizens in the quake-stricken region.We implemented an efficient disaster management strategy in cooperation with all of our institutions. With all of its resources, our nation rushed to the aid of its brothers and sisters in the earthquake-stricken region. As the sta- te, we mobilised all of our resources to alleviate the suffering of our citizens, meet their needs, and restore our cities, while our nation as a whole rallied behind the mobilisation to help heal the wounds.In the face of this disaster, we have demonstrated state-nation solidarity that will serve as an example to the rest of the world, just as we have surmounted every sorrow together throughout our history. In the face of the “disaster of the century,” our nation has demonstrated the “so- lidarity of the century.” Immediately following the earthquakes, leaders from all over the world, as well as representatives from various international institu- tions and organisations, sent messages of condolence and solidarity to our country. P R E F A C E PREFACE | 9 10 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Throughout this process, our friends supported our country by provi- ding field hospitals, medical personnel, and nearly 11,500 search and rescue workers from 90 different nations, as well as supplies delive- red by land, air, and sea transportation. A strong sense of loyalty was demonstrated in response to our country’s helping hand extended to the entire world, as well as its solidarity and generosity in the face of global crises and natural disasters. We are making unrelenting efforts to swiftly relocate our people in the quake-stricken region to their new and safe homes as soon as pos- sible. At the end of ground-breaking procedures, we will construct a total of 650 thousand residences, 319 thousand of which will be allo- cated to our citizens from the quake-hit region in the first year. Thus, we will provide our citizens with earthquake-resistant, safe, and pe- aceful homes, workplaces, and living spaces. In addition to recons- tructing the infrastructure in quake-hit regions, we have also been renovating and restoring historical and cultural sites. While we are alleviating the suffering caused by this massive disaster and reconstructing and restoring the quake-hit region, we do not he- sitate to establish a more comprehensive disaster preparedness and management system for our nation.With the “Türkiye National Risk Shield Model,” we are determined to make our cities safe and peace- ful, as well as resistant to earthquakes, floods, landslides, and fires, as quickly as feasible. I believe that we will demonstrate the same soli- darity of the century as we did in the aftermath of the earthquake as we strengthen our country’s preparedness and resilience in the face of natural disasters. On this occasion, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to our nation, to wish Allah’s mercy on those who lost their lives in the earthquake, and to offer my condolences to their family members. PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN FOREWORD | 11 F O R E W O R D I n terms of magnitude, impact area, loss of life, and destruction, the quakes that struck our country on February 6 were among the world’s biggest natural disasters in recorded history. Wit- hout a doubt, this extraordinary event required an extraordi- nary response. Under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we have stood by our people in the quake-stricken region with rapid and effective coordination from the very beginning in or- der to meet all of their needs, including search and rescue, shelter, supply of food, and evacuation. Meanwhile, every citizen of our country deployed all of their resour- ces to alleviate the suffering caused by the earthquake. The spirit of unity, solidarity, fraternity, and companionship that characterised the Turkish nation re-emerged when the state-country banded together during the disaster of the century. As stated by our president, our na- tion demonstrated the solidarity of the century in response to the di- saster of the century. As the state, we are exerting unrelenting efforts to alleviate the suffering in our earthquake-hit cities, to provide our citizens with resilient and robust housing as soon as possible, and to restore our cities. In the book “Solidarity of the Century,” which the Presidency’s Dire- ctorate of Communications prepared, we intended to chronicle the extraordinary solidarity shown during the Kahramanmaraş earthqu- akes. While expert opinions and scientific data are used to describe the magnitude of the earthquake’s destruction in the book, the acti- ons taken from the onset of the disaster, including search and rescue and humanitarian aid coordination, under the leadership of our Pre- 12 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY sident and as part of the Türkiye Disaster Response Plan, are also out- lined. The book also showcases the solidarity and support of friendly countries that responded to our call for assistance in the aftermath of the earthquakes. This book addresses the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes from every standpoint, highlights the strength and vigour of national and inter- national solidarity in the struggle against natural disasters, and deta- ils the steps we have taken to reconstruct and develop cities as well as the actions taken to alleviate the suffering caused by the earthquakes. Türkiye is determined to become prepared for all natural disasters using science as its guiding light while rebuilding all earthquake-da- maged structures to be stronger, better, and safer. In the future, the implementation of the urban transformation project, which our Pre- sident has advocated for years, will be one of the most important an- ti-earthquake measures in our country. I believe that we can elimina- te the potential destruction, loss of life, and suffering caused by all natural disasters, including earthquakes, fires, and floods, if we app- ly the same sensitivity to disaster preparedness as we do to disaster response. On this occasion, I wish mercy from Allah on our citizens who lost their lives in the earthquake, as well as patience for their surviving loved ones and a speedy recovery for our injured. I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to our nation. PRESIDENCY’S DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE PROF. FAHRETTİN ALTUN FOREWORD | 13 14 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY EXPERIENCING THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 15 01 Experiencing the Disaster of the Century 16 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY T ürkiye woke up to a disaster on the morning of February 6… While the tragic news of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Kah- ramanmaraş at 04:17 shook the whole country, the second 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck 9 hours later caused Türkiye to experience the Disaster of the Century. Earthquakes caused sig- nificant destruction in 11 provinces in the Eastern and South-eastern Anatolia Regions, with the impact extending beyond Türkiye’s bor- ders. The earthquake that struck in the middle of winter and the un- favourable weather conditions exponentially exacerbated the devas- tation. According to the AFAD, more than 107 thousand people were injured and more than 50,000 people lost their lives as a result of the earthquakes. In the wake of the earthquake, the Republic of Türkiye immediate- ly mobilised all its resources for the area. In the provinces hit by the Kahramanmaraş-centred earthquakes, a State of Emergency (OHAL) was declared for three months. More than 270 thousand volunteers and public officials worked in the quake-stricken region. A half-mil- lion people rushed to the aid of earthquake survivors, including those who came on their own. In a relatively short period of time, hundreds of thousands of people from the earthquake-affected provinces were evacuated to other areas, both under the coordination of AFAD and independently. Immediately following the earthquake, Türkiye called for interna- tional assistance. Humanitarian aid began to pour into the region af- ter the fourth-level alarm was sounded for the first time in our coun- try’s history. Thousands of personnel from around the world were I. Experiencing the Disaster of the Century 18 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY dispatched to the region to assist with the research, rescue, and re- covery operations. 70 countries and 14 international organisations of- fered assistance on the second day after the earthquake. The CİMER Call Centre has been made accessible around the clock for our citi- zens calling from the earthquake zone as of 7:00 a.m. on the morning of the disaster. Türkiye, with its 85 million citizens, demonstrated an unprecedented example of solidarity and struggle during one of its most challeng- ing periods of history thanks to the nation’s historical solidarity and unity, the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the coordination between state institutions. Experts deemed the Kahra- manmaraş earthquakes the most catastrophic land earthquake in the previous 100 years, and the entire world united in support of Türkiye. While confronted with one of the largest natural disasters not only in Türkiye but also in the history of humanity, we fought with self-sacri- fice and resolve against the disaster’s devastating effects. With a spirit of solidarity, 85 million people dedicated themselves to helping heal the earthquake’s wounds. Together with state institutions and NGOs, Türkiye conducted a full-scale campaign to alleviate the suffering. In the face of the Disaster of the Century, our state and nation demon- strated the solidarity of the century, setting an example for the entire globe. Why the Disaster of the Century? a) Impact Area of Earthquakes Earthquakes centred on Kahramanmaraş wreaked havoc in 11 Turk- ish provinces. Earthquakes directly impacted around 14 million people and covered an area of 110,000 square kilometres. The area devastated by the earthquake in Türkiye is larger than that of several countries. The area affected by the earthquakes is roughly three times the surface area of Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, larger than the size of Portugal, and very close to the area of England. When the size of the earthquake, affected area, and population are all taken into account, the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes are classified as ex- traordinary earthquakes around the world. EXPERIENCING THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 19 While the Disaster of the Century was felt in a 1.2 million square ki- lometre area in our region that included Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, and Iran, the earthquake also claimed lives in Syria. Compared to pre- vious earthquakes of comparable magnitude, the fact that it occurred at a distance of 7 kilometres from the earth amplified the earthquake’s destructive impact. 20 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY b) Intensity According to the moment tensor analysis, the intensity of the Pazarcık-centered earthquake that struck Kahramanmaraş at 4:17 a.m. was 7.7, while the intensity of the Elbistan-centered earthquake that struck at 13:24 was 7.6. More than 10 thousand aftershocks were reported in the region following the Disaster of the Century. Both quakes occurred approximately 7 kilometres beneath the earth’s sur- face and were of such magnitude that they exponentially exacerbated the destruction. The earthquake was estimated to have caused the de- struction of hundreds of atomic bombs. Experts have described these two earthquakes as independent but triggered by one another and as exceptional ground movements that have no precedent in the world. EXPERIENCING THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 21 The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes have been described as a natural disaster that is unique in the world due to their magnitude, destruc- tiveness, and other technical characteristics. In comparison to other earthquakes of similar magnitude, these earthquakes caused signifi- cant destruction over an extensive region due to the size of the rup- tures. Thus, the Disaster of the Century has been recorded as one of the most devastating disasters not only in the history of the Republic but also in our region and the entire globe. The earthquakes produced a devastating impact three times larger than the 1999 earthquake, the largest disaster in Türkiye’s recent memory. The situation is compa- rable to earthquake-related catastrophes in the history of the Repub- lic. The quakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, were significantly more massive and destructive than the Erzincan earthquake of 1939. It had consequences incomparable with the earthquakes with magni- tudes above 7 including Çankırı of 1943, Çanakkale of 1953, Gerede of 1944, Varto of 1966, Mudurnu of 1967, Gediz of 1970, and Muradiye of 1976. It was stated that the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, which are almost one of a kind in terms of surface rupture, produced an energy density of 30 quadrillion joules. 22 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY c) Ground Movements The plates shifted by sliding after the earthquakes. While surface rup- tures can be observed in a number of locations, the Disaster of the Century has also altered the land dimensions in some areas by caus- ing coordinate shifts. EXPERIENCING THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 23 Experts announced that the Anatolian Plateau had shifted by more than 3 metres in the region where the disaster occurred. Earthquakes also shook the surface violently due to plate movements. In some re- gions, villages and neighbourhoods were split in two, and roads were also severed. 24 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY d) Length of Ruptures The fault line had severe ruptures as a result of consecutive major earthquakes that struck the region. The Narlı fault zone was damaged by the initial 7.7 magnitude earthquake, and the Çardak and Doğanşe- hir fault zones located in farther north were fractured by the second earthquake, which struck nine hours later. With the February 20 Defne earthquake of magnitude 6.4, the Antalya Fault was ruptured. With these three earthquakes, seven faults were broken in 15 days, and the surface rupture exceeded 500 kilometres. Earthquake experts have stated that the length of the fault segment that ruptured is equal to the length of the landmasses of Taiwan, South Korea, and Portugal. Experts have indicated that this earth- quake is not a common occurrence in the world and can be consid- ered as a first, and emphasised that this ground movement may be recorded as the largest earthquake in the last 500 years. EXPERIENCING THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 25 e) Economic Impacts According to the World Bank’s global rapid post-disaster damage es- timation report of February 27, 2023, the earthquakes of February 6 caused an estimated $34.2 billion in direct physical damages in Tür- kiye. This amount is equivalent to 4% of Türkiye’s 2021 Gross Domes- tic Product (GDP). The report also indicates that recovery and recon- struction costs will be much higher, potentially twice as large. The Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) Report estimates that 1.25 million people have been rendered temporarily homeless due to the damage and building collapses. On February 9, the World Bank announced an initial package of $1.78 billion in assis- tance to aid relief and rescue efforts. f) The World’s Most Destructive Earthquakes Since the Antakya earthquake in 526, the most deadly seismic event in Türkiye’s history, the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes have ranked fifth in the list of the deadliest earthquakes in the 21st century, af- ter the 2004 Indonesia, 2010 Haiti, 2008 Sichuan, and 2005 Kashmir earthquakes. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes generated more than 100 million cubic metres of earthquake rubble. The data indi- 26 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY cates that the February 6 earthquakes had a tenfold more devastating effect than the 2010 Haiti earthquake. What Did Scientists Say? The world’s leading scientists have reached a consensus on the mag- nitude and destructiveness of the earthquakes that struck Türkiye. The magnitude of the earthquakes has led to an increase in the num- ber of international studies conducted by scientists. Geology experts from several countries have made significant observations and as- sessments regarding the magnitude of the earthquake based on simi- lar earthquake scenarios in their respective countries. ‘Largest Inland Earthquake of the Century’ President of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK). Hasan Mandal: We must thoroughly understand the magnitude of the earthquake we have experienced and its sever- ity in relation to the 11 provinces it affected. The 1999 Gölcük earth- quake and the subsequent Düzce earthquake were the most recent earthquakes we had experienced before. When compared to them, the magnitude and regional extent of the damage are significantly different. We are speaking of a magnitude about 20 times greater. The extent of the damage is close to 500 kilometres. Therefore, as stated not only by scientists in Türkiye but also by many other scientists around the world, we refer to it as “the largest inland earthquake of EXPERIENCING THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 27 the century,” and in light of the records, we face a significantly worse earthquake in terms of severity and magnitude. The impact of this is thus demonstrated by the earthquakes that we have recently experi- enced in Hatay, Niğde, and Malatya. “An Unprecedented Disaster of Thousands of Years” Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Geophysical Engineering, Head of Seismology Department, Prof. Yusuf Bayrak: The earthquake is the result of about 500 years of stress. The second earthquake, on the other hand, was unexpected. This earthquake on the Elbistan fault had not produced an earth- quake of this magnitude until today. It has never happened before in the history of the world for two destructive earthquakes to strike the same area on the same day. Following the new stress that the first earthquake had transferred, the fault ruptured, resulting in the sec- ond earthquake. These earthquakes are the disaster not of the centu- ry but of thousands of years. “The Largest Earthquake in the Last 500 Years” Director of Dokuz Eylül University (DEU) Earthquake Research and Application Centre Hasan Sözbilir: The rupture of seven faults within fifteen days in the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes is a rare occurrence in the world. Perhaps it can be considered a first. In this light, we can say that this is the largest earthquake in the last 500 years. “Anatolian Peninsula Shifted by 3 Metres” Head of the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanolo- gy (INGV), Carlo Doglioni told the Italian press that the Kahraman- 28 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY maraş earthquakes shifted the Anato- lian peninsula west- ward by three me- tres. Doglioni noted that the earthquakes occurred where the Eastern Anatolian, Arabian, and African plates converge. He added, “One of the two major faults that cross Türkiye was ac- tivated. It is also one of the most active faults in the Middle East, with the Dead Sea fault separating the Arabian peninsu- la from Africa and extending through Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. “Doglioni added that the ground moved horizontally along the fault, that there has been a shift of at least three metres in the area of ​ maximum movement, and that the displacement of three metres is a first estimate, and more precise measurements will be available as soon as they have the satellite data. Doglioni emphasised how mas- sive the earthquakes that struck Türkiye were. “Our buildings would not stand up to such strong shaking” British earthquake expert Stephen Hicks said, “To give you an idea of the sheer scale of the Türkiye earthquake, if we overlay the USGS ShakeMap onto the British Isles, the fault (red colours) would have ruptured from the Severn Estuary to the Humber Estuary. Much of England would have seen at least Intensity Level 7 shaking. Cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, and Bristol would be devastated and all but flattened. Our buildings would not stand up to such strong shaking.” EXPERIENCING THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 29 “One of the Biggest Earthquakes” Shinji Toda, a professor at Tohoku University’s International Research Institute of Disaster Science, told Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper that the earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş are one of the big- gest inland earthquakes ever recorded, adding, “It was an unexpected big earthquake.” Shinji noted that the shallowness of the epicentre caused severe damage in addition to the size of the earthquake. Shinji emphasised that the amount of energy released by the earthquake is more than 10 times that of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. “Earthquakes of that size are relatively rare” David Shelly, a seismologist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), said, “Türkiye has many active fault lines. So the earthquakes that happened were very large. Earthquakes of that size are relatively rare.” “The region has not witnessed such a big earthquake for over 100 years” Stefan Wiemer, Director of the Swiss Seismological Service, said: “Such a large earthquake is really rare. The region between Türkiye and Syria has not witnessed such a big earthquake for over 100 years.” Disaster of the Century from the Perspectives of Interna- tional Organisations BRITISH RED CROSS In its February 13–14 report on the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, the British Red Cross asked, “What would the impact of the earthquakes look like if they had happened in the UK?” The analysis showed that such massive earthquakes would have been felt by most of England and Wales and parts of southern Scotland, while extreme shaking and damage would have stretched from Middlesbrough to London and as far west as Anglesey. The worst-affected cities would include Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, and Birmingham. The report contains up-to- date information on the United Kingdom’s assistance to Türkiye and links to donations to the country. 30 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY WHO: The Worst Natural Disaster for a Century Hans Kluge, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Europe, stated regarding the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, “WHO: We are witnessing the worst natural disaster in the European Region for a century.” UN: One of the Biggest UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the recent earthquakes were one of the biggest natural disasters of our time. EXPERIENCING THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY | 31 “The Deadliest Natural Disaster on Alliance Territory Since NATO’s Founding” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said regarding the Kahra- manmaraş earthquakes, “The earthquakes were the deadliest natural disaster on Alliance territory since NATO’s founding.” RELIEFWEB ReliefWeb, a service of the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coor- dination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), described the Kahraman- maraş earthquake as “Türkiye’s most powerful earthquake recorded since 1939.” 32 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY IN THE FOREIGN PRESS | 33 02 The Disaster of the Century in the Foreign Press 34 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY CNN The flags flew at half-staff at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday, following the deadly earthquake in Türkiye. In a Twitter post, the 30-member alliance, of which Türkiye is a member, outlined its contributions to relief efforts. The post said, “Over 1,400 emergency response personnel from more than twenty  NATO  Allies and partners, including invitees Finland and Sweden, are deploying to Türkiye, helping to respond to the dev- astating earthquakes which struck the country.” WASHINGTON POST In its article on the magnitude and impacts of the earthquakes, the Washington Post underlined the scale of the energy release based on the United States Geological Survey. Accordingly, 30 petajoules of en- ergy were released by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. According to the research, the Kahramanmaraş earthquake released 20 times more energy than the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta, California, earthquake of 1989, which shook with enough force that the San Francisco Bay Bridge partially collapsed on commuters. II. The Disaster of the Century in the Foreign Press 36 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY CNN INTERNATIONAL The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes were noted as one of the world’s largest in a CNN International news story that featured the opinions of experts. Karl Lang from Georgia Tech University pointed out that the area is prone to seismic activity, and said, “It’s a very large fault zone, but this is a larger earthquake than they’ve experienced any THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY IN THE FOREIGN PRESS | 37 time in recent memory.” CNN’s meteorologist Chad Myers said that while we always talk about the epicentre of earthquakes, in this case we should talk about the “epi-line.” NEW YORK TIMES-USA TODAY The Kahramanmaraş earthquake was described as “the deadliest earthquake in 10 years” by a US-based New York newspaper, while USA Today called it “the worst disaster of the century.” WALL STREET JOURNAL In a report on the rising death toll following the earthquakes in Tür- kiye and Syria, the Wall Street Journal stated that this scene “made Monday’s earthquakes one of the most relentless earthquakes of this century.” NATIONAL POST After the initial shock, dramatic photographs depicting the earth- quake’s devastation, such as cliffs, the condition of railway lines, and highways, intensified the discourse surrounding the “Disaster of the Century.” In a news article for National Post, Joseph Brean described the Kahramanmaraş earthquake as “the worst for its human toll since hundreds of thousands died in Haiti in 2010, and the worst in Türkiye since 1939.” REUTERS On his social media account, where he shared the agency’s news about the earthquake, Reuters Bureau Chief Jonathan Spicer said that the catastrophe “ranks as the 7th most deadly natural disaster this cen- tury.” The latest earthquake area updates from Reuters were shared on social media, and the Kahramanmaraş earthquake was frequently referred to as “the worst earthquake in the country’s modern history.” FINANCIAL TIMES In a social media message sharing her article, Financial Times Berlin correspondent Laura Pitel characterised the situation in Adıyaman as “the scale of the destruction and the grief is so huge that it’s hard to comprehend.” 38 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY BILD The German newspaper Bild featured an analysis of what would oc- cur if such an earthquake struck Germany. The newspaper stated, “Should it occur in our nation, the entire nation would be shaken!” LE MONDE Romain Imbach’s news article on France-based Le Monde with the title “The earthquake in Türkiye and Syria is the fifth deadliest earth- quake of the 21st century” The article emphasises that the earthquake was the region’s worst natural disaster in the last century, according to the European Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and cites data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- istration (NOAA), a US agency. It ranks as the fifth-deadliest earth- quake of the century. TASS The Director of the Institute of Seismology and Geodynamics of the Crimean Federal University, Yuri Volfman, said that more than 300 aftershocks were registered in over 36 hours within the same area, and “because of their colossal magnitude,” the events that took place in Türkiye were rare and unique. Volfman said, “The events that are taking place in Türkiye are unprecedented. The earthquake is unique because of its colossal magnitude of 7.8. Such seismic events are rare for the entire globe, and it was one of the most powerful earthquakes.” AL AWSAT Reporting the impressions of the correspondent in the earthquake zone, the media outlet said: “It is not the first time that Ammar al-Hendi, the correspondent of Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath channels, witnessed a great tragedy. I was in Ukraine on the day of the bloody battle of Kiev, and I was also there during the battles on the Tuni- sian-Libyan frontier, but reporting on the earthquake in Türkiye is unlike any other journalistic work I have ever done. The horror of the scene also weighed heavily on Al-Sharq TV reporter Maha Hote- it, who admitted that the earthquake was ‘the most terrifying event she have ever covered.’ What happened with the 2020 Beirut port bombing cannot be compared. “It’s unlike anything I’ve covered be- THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY IN THE FOREIGN PRESS | 39 fore, both in terms of geographical devastation and the number of victims,” she said. NHK TV According to the news source, “The experts discovered that the faults running in opposite directions moved one after the other after ana- lysing the 7-magnitude earthquake that occurred in southeast Türki- ye. Experts stated that this is a very rare ‘twin earthquake’ and that future activity should be closely observed. Based on data from seis- mometers throughout the world, Professor Yuji Yagi of the University of Tsukuba examined the movement of faults during the large earth- quake in southeast Türkiye. “It is common for another earthquake to occur on an extension of a fault line, but it is extremely rare for an earthquake to continue for a short time on a fault that intersects at a narrow angle. Another complicated chain of faults exists in southern Türkiye, and it is likely that not all of the energy was released in a single earthquake. We must closely observe future activity,’ Professor Yagi explained. JOURNALS OF INDIA The Journals of India headlined the Kahramanmaraş earthquake as “the country’s worst disaster since 1939.” The technical elements of the earthquake were included by recalling previous earthquakes. YUZ. UZ The news, which included seismic analysis, emphasised that “the terrible earthquake that struck Türkiye on February 6, 2023 shook the entire world.” The news says that Türkiye is often hit by earth- quakes because, according to experts, it is located in a seismic zone. The significant earthquake that struck southeast Türkiye was caused by stress that was above normal in the earth’s crust, according to seis- mologist Anna Lyusina, lecturer in the Department of Physics at Mos- cow State University. 40 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY International Media Working Group’s Activities Following the devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye, journal- ists from all over the world rushed to the disaster area. Following the earthquake, officials from the Presidency’s Directorate of Commu- nications’ International Media Coordination Office soon arrived in the provinces of Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Adana, and Hatay and began operations. Under the coordination of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the General Directorate of Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), officials from the International Media Coordi- nation Office organised a press tour to the İncirlik Air Base five times and once to the ship that provided shelter to earthquake victims in Hatay, İskenderun. The press tour at İncirlik Air Base was attended by members of the press from four organisations. The press tour of the ship in İskenderun was attended by members of the press from five organisations. Furthermore, the International Media Coordina- tion Office authorised 1,405 temporary accreditation requests from 65 nations, including 1,323 first applications and 82 requests for term extensions. In the first two weeks following the earthquake, officials issued roughly four times as many press accreditations as they nor- mally would in an entire year. Press demands were answered in the field, face-to-face and via phone/e-mail, and they were assisted in car- rying out their tasks. THE DISASTER OF THE CENTURY IN THE FOREIGN PRESS | 41 42 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 43 03 Hand in Hand with State and Nation 44 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY I n the struggle to pass down humanity’s ancient legacy and tra- dition for generations, fertile Anatolian fields have weathered many storms. In all of its struggles from the past to the present, the Turkish nation has bravely resisted every challenge with the strength of unity and solidarity. On February 6, Türkiye launched a full-scale struggle against the Disaster of the Century, working hand in hand with state and nation. Türkiye, like it has done throughout its deep-rooted history, joined together in the Disaster of the Century and provided an unsurpassed example of unity. While all state re- sources were immediately mobilised to the earthquake zone, all steps were taken with the strength of unity and solidarity with thousands of volunteers. Since the first instant of the earthquake, active search and rescue operations have been carried out in the region, as well as intensive work in the field to fulfil the earthquake victims’ shelter, food and drink needs, as well as to deploy assistance equipment and construc- tion machinery to the region. The state and the nation joined hands and contributed to efforts carried out in the region. To carry out the work more efficiently, 11 provinces impacted by the earthquake were declared disaster zones through a three-month state of emergency (OHAL) decision, and all available resources were mobilised to heal the wounds. Two huge earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş’s Pazarcık and Elbistan districts wreaked havoc on a broad area inhabited by 14 million peo- ple. From the moment the earthquake occurred, authorities took ac- tion at the Ankara AFAD Coordination Centre in accordance with the Natural Disaster Response Plan (TAMP), alerting AFAD provincial directorates and dispatching all state institutions and organisations, particularly search and rescue, to the region. III. Hand in Hand with State and Nation 46 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY While the Ministers were assigned to the region to closely monitor the efforts, the deputies assigned in the provinces, the local admin- istrators and the metropolitan municipalities, as well as the mayors of all provinces and the relevant units of municipalities, went to the region to support the works. In the earthquake zone, 40 governors and 160 local administrators were deployed. Governors were selected to work in collaboration with the existing offices of governors in the provinces to offer simpler coordination in the earthquake zone, and the activities were monitored on site. A large number of people from the Ministry of Interior’s security forc- es and the Turkish Armed Forces were deployed to search and rescue efforts, as well as security measures and other tasks in the region. In addition to the land forces, navy ships and cargo planes of the air forc- es, as well as helicopters, aided in the region’s search and rescue, evac- uation, and transfer of relief materials. While the police force contin- ued its activities in the region, thousands of specialist personnel of the Gendarmerie, as well as the ships and boats of the Coast Guard Command, actively participated in the efforts in the disaster area. Un- manned aerial vehicles were used to scan the region for the rapid and detailed detection of the earthquake’s impact spreading over a wide area. HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 47 In addition to public institutions and organisations, Non-Govern- mental Organisations also participated in the efforts in coordination with AFAD from the first moment of the earthquake in order to heal the wounds of Türkiye. NGOs and thousands of volunteers who took part in many fields, from search and rescue efforts to humanitarian relief efforts, united as one heart for Türkiye. While thousands of people from AFAD, the Red Crescent, non-gov- ernmental organisations, municipalities, police, gendarmerie, sol- diers, miners, health workers, religious officials, highway personnel, prosecutors, and other professional groups were assigned to the earthquake region, tens of thousands of volunteers from Türkiye’s 70 provinces rushed to the area to heal the wounds of the earthquake together. Young and old alike mobilised across Türkiye. Thousands of volunteers started the mobilisation with the same feeling, from grandfather Remzi, who was 84 years old, who sent his rainy-day fund to the region impacted by the earthquakes by saying, “We have to do it; it is our homeland, our hometown, there is nothing to think about”, and to Muhammet, who at the age of 8 said, “Stay Strong Tür- kiye” and sent the money in his coin bank to his brothers and sisters. In addition to the basic needs in the region, where 14 million people are affected, in order to reduce the effects of psychological and so- ciological traumas, health personnel working in state institutions as well as non-governmental organisations and thousands of volunteers 48 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY supported the efforts. While activities were organised for children to support the treatment process, the older people were not left alone. While search and rescue teams from all over our country were dis- patched to the region with their equipment, the Presidency’s TUR, CBK, and DAP planes were mobilised to transport severely injured patients, elderly chemotherapy patients, babies, and their compan- ions from the earthquake area. The planes, which carried health and search and rescue teams, hu- manitarian relief, medical equipment, basic food supplies, and field tent hospitals to the region, also transported miners and AFAD tech- nicians to the area according to the region’s needs. HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 49 50 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY With the support of the personnel and volunteers working in the re- gion, the hot meal needs of the earthquake survivors were met with mobile kitchens and soup kitchens. The needs of the earthquake victims were met with food and bread production vehicles coming from all over the country to the region. Thousands of volunteers assisted in the efforts coordinated by AFAD and the Red Crescent, and everyone came together to help heal our wounds. With the declaration of a state of emergency and the designation of 11 provinces as disaster zones, search and rescue efforts and subsequent work were carried out more effectively. All available resources were mobilised to heal the wounds. HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 51 52 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Visits to the Region From the first moment of the Disaster of the Century, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the governors and mayors in the region and obtained information about the situation and search and rescue ef- forts in the region. He monitored the efforts at the AFAD coordination centre and informed the public about the details of the earthquake. President Erdoğan, who went to the earthquake area and followed up on the efforts on-site, received detailed information from the min- isters in the region regarding the search and rescue efforts and the activities carried out. He visited the cities of Hatay, Adana, Gazian- tep, Osmaniye, Kilis, Adıyaman, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa and Elazığ, and particularly Kahramanmaraş, and monitored the efforts on-site. He came together with earthquake survivors in container cit- ies and field hospitals, saying that all state institutions were working with all their strength, the state was mobilising all its resources, and that these difficult days would be overcome with the spirit of solidar- ity, and the state and nation would overcome the painful days uniting as one heart. He also held meetings with representatives of non-gov- ernmental organisations, opinion leaders, and mukhtars. President Erdoğan visited 11 provinces many times, at least twice, and em- braced the earthquake survivors from the very first moment of the earthquake and shared their pain. HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 53 With the signature of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, national mourning was declared in the country. Our crescent and star flag was hoisted at half-mast across the country and in foreign representations until the sun set on Sunday, February 12. We were trying to alleviate our country’s mourning and pain, united as one heart. During the great disaster, where national unity and solidarity were experienced at the highest level, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements about the recovery and construction efforts as well as the works carried out in the region. 54 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY "We will heal the wounds of this disaster as soon as possible hand in hand with our nation" HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 55 56 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY “We will never abandon any of our citizens in their suffering, in their attempts to reorganise their lives or build their future. Together, as a state and a nation, we will safeguard this region, which contains not only our heritage but also that of humanity.” HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 57 58 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY “The state and the nation will stand shoulder to shoulder, and we will soon leave behind these troubled times. We will overcome the Disaster of the Century together, as 85 million people, by demonstrating the solidarity of the century.” HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 59 60 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY “Our top priority is always human and life” HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 61 62 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Search and Rescue Efforts Coordinated by AFAD From the first moment of the earthquakes in the 11 provinces affected by the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, all search and rescue teams were dispatched to the field, and teams comprised of volunteers and assigned personnel did their best to heal the wounds of the disas- ter. Many personnel from the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), Turkish National Police, General Command of Gendarmerie, Ministry of National Defence (MSB), National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE), Ambulance Teams, Local Security, Local Sup- port Teams, and 3 thousand 768 volunteers were among those who worked in the area. Personnel from AFAD, Police Search and Rescue (PAK), Gendarmerie Search and Rescue Battalion Command (JAK), HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 63 64 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 65 66 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Gendarmerie Special Public Security Command (JÖAK), Naval Forc- es Engineering Corps Search and Rescue (DİSAK), Coast Guard, Nat- ural Disasters Search and Rescue Battalion Command (DAK), TCSG Güven, Fire Brigades, Directorate General of Coastal Safety Search and Rescue, Ministry of National Education Search and Rescue Units, NGOs and international search and rescue personnel were assigned to the search and rescue efforts. A total of 18,040 vehicles, including excavators, tractors, cranes, dozers, trucks, water-tenders, trailers, graders, vacuum trucks, and other construction equipment, were sent to the disaster area. A total of 38 vessels, assigned by the Ministry of National Defence and the Coast Guard Command, are operating in the region for the purposes of personnel transportation, material shipment, and evacuation. The Ministry of Family and Social Services dispatched the Mobile Social Service Centre to the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Osmaniye, and Malatya. The number of personnel dispatched to the earthquake zone was 3,772, while 3,620 personnel and 1,655 vehicles were dispatched outside the earthquake zone. Thousands of miners from both state-owned and privately owned mines in the region have volunteered and made significant contributions since the beginning. HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 67 Aid Activities Coordinated by AFAD Türkiye United as One Heart Campaign The “Türkiye United as One Heart” donation campaign, organised by media outlets under the leadership of the Radio and Television Su- preme Council (RTÜK) and held on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 08:00 p.m., was broadcast live on 213 television channels and 562 radio stations in Türkiye and abroad. Many businesspeople, artists, politicians, NGO representatives, and citizens participated in the campaign. A total of 115 billion 146 million 528 thousand TL in cash aid was given to the AFAD and Red Crescent, as well as over 9 million SMS donations. Let My Home Be Your Home Campaign AFAD launched the Let My Home Be Your Home campaign on Feb- ruary 27, 2023, to help with the housing needs of earthquake victims affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes on February 6, 2023. Participation in the Let My Home Be Your Home campaign is possi- ble through the offering of three months of free allocation, one year of discounted rent, or rental assistance. 68 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Priority is given to families with disabled, elderly, and disadvantaged members with chronic diseases requiring regular treatment, as well as families with children who lost relatives in the earthquake. The Let My Home Be Your Home campaign launched by AFAD was supported by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Türkiye Sigorta, and on- line real estate agencies. By March 15, 2023, more than 15,000 houses had been registered for the campaign. HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 69 AFAD Assistance Market “AFAD Assistance Market” was another application launched by AFAD that enables citizens to assist in meeting the needs of earth- quake victims. Baby kits, food parcels, dry food parcels, sleeping bags, hygiene parcels, food for pets or stray animals, blankets, and do- nations for rent or tents can all be offered to those in the disaster zone by benevolent individuals through the AFAD Assistance Market. 70 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY AFAD Bazaar Through AFAD Bazaars established in the affected provinces, AFAD meets the daily food and other needs of earthquake victims. The AFAD Bazaar offers free access to items such as stationery, eyeglass- es, fresh and dried food, cleaning supplies, clothing, dairy products, and electronic supplies for earthquake victims. HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 71 Turkish Red Crescent’s Blood Donation Campaign The Turkish Red Crescent organised Blood Donation Campaigns for the injured across Türkiye from the very beginning of the earthquake. A total of 325,274 units of blood were collected as part of the cam- paign, which was well received by the public, while 413,945 units were transferred by the Turkish Red Crescent to hospitals in the earth- quake zone. Relief Activities by NGOs in the Earthquake Zone Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also participated in relief efforts in the earthquake zone, where all state institutions, especially AFAD and the Turkish Red Crescent, were mobilised. More than one hundred NGOs operating in Türkiye contributed to the “Solidarity of the Century” for the food, clothing, shelter, heating, and other needs of earthquake victims. 72 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Relief Activities by Turkish Armed Forces The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) were on high alert from the first moment of the earthquake. 13 minutes after the first earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 that occurred in Pazarcık at 4:17 a.m. on Febru- ary 6th, the TAF Humanitarian Aid Brigade Command was given the order to “be ready.” At 5:00 a.m., the Ministry of National Defence established the Disaster Emergency Crisis Centre, and at 5:10 a.m., Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar presented the preliminary reports to President Erdoğan. The first search and rescue efforts were launched in the earthquake zone by Army Command troops. Natural Disaster Rescue Battalions were deployed for search and rescue op- erations in Hatay, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Pazarcık district of Kah- ramanmaraş. In accordance with AFAD’s requests, more than 3,000 military personnel were involved in search and rescue operations in the earthquake zone on the first day. The Turkish Armed Forces deployed over 2,000 personnel to assist with search and rescue efforts in Malatya and erected tents there. In Malatya and Kahramanmaraş, commando units were dispatched for search and rescue operations, while in Hatay, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, and Diyarbakır, soldiers distributed hot meals, water, and food boxes to the public. HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 73 The Natural Disaster Relief Team stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also took part in the search and rescue efforts in Gaziantep. 74 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 75 76 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Earthquake Mobilisation by Turkish Airlines Turkish Airlines (THY) responded swiftly to the earthquake in Kah- ramanmaraş by providing evacuation and cargo flights to the region, as well as personnel to assist with the delivery of aid and search and rescue operations for earthquake victims. Turkish Airlines shipped mainly medicines, food, clothes, generators, hygiene kits, and tents. Humanitarian aid supplies were transported from 49 countries in total. Travelling cages were sent to Turkish Air- lines stations so that citizens in earthquake zones could bring their pets on board. ELAZIĞ SİVAS HATAY KİLİS GAZİANTEP ŞANLIURFA DİYARBAKIR ADIYAMAN KAHRAMANMARAŞ MALATYA OSMANİYE ADANA Flights to the Region (Humanitarian Aid and Rescue Teams) Number of Flights Performed - 4,320 Number of Passengers Carried - 572,784 Evacuation Flights from the Region Number of Flights Performed - 4,338 Number of People Evacuated 692,890 Cargo Flights Number of cargo flights performed - 577 Total Tonnage Transported (Domestic + International) - 24,367 tons (GW) Turkish Airlines Flight operations (Humanitarian aid, evacuations, cargo) HAND IN HAND WITH STATE AND NATION | 77 78 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 79 04 The World United as One Heart 80 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY T he Kahramanmaraş earthquakes had domestic and interna- tional repercussions. Messages of condolence and support poured in for Türkiye from citizens all over the world, includ- ing prominent figures in politics, business world, the arts, and sports. Flags were lowered to half-mast at the NATO headquarters in Brus- sels on February 6, and a moment of silence was observed in memory of the earthquake victims at some meetings of the UN, NATO, WTO, G-20, and EU missions, UEFA Champions League matches, Times Square in New York, and in the parliaments of some countries. Begin- ning on the first day, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan started receiv- ing calls from world leaders expressing their condolences. In the initial phase, Turkish teams and teams from 90 other nations worked together to conduct search and rescue operations in the rub- ble. In the aftermath, numerous countries established field hospitals, and their medical personnel significantly contributed to the healing of wounds. Tonnes of aid supplies were delivered by land, air, and sea. Many countries, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations launched aid campaigns. Some leaders personally par- ticipated in fund-raising efforts in their respective countries. Since the quake, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively supported ef- forts on the ground both domestically and internationally; a Coordi- nation and Support Centre was established within the Ministry, and its operations continued around the clock. The international community’s strong support once again demon- strated the value of solidarity in the face of global challenges. Sup- porting nations have disseminated their aid and solidarity campaigns to the global public via social media, urging them to increase their as- IV. The World United as One Heart 82 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY sistance and assume responsibility for healing wounds. Our country welcomed the international solidarity in the aftermath of the earth- quakes. Following the earthquakes, described as the “Disaster of the Century,” the entire world united as one heart and mobilised to support Tür- kiye, which is a reflection of Türkiye’s humanitarian policies. Many posts conveyed the message that now is the time to support Türkiye. The “We Stand with Türkiye” campaign, started by the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Directorate of Communications, received support from well-known figures. For a long time, Türkiye has been highly appreciated in the world for its peaceful and humanitarian pol- icies in the face of regional and global challenges and for the mission it has undertaken in the first place in humanitarian aid and endeav- ours to raise awareness and mobilise the international public in the face of conflicts and crises. According to the Global Humanitarian As- sistance Report 2022 compiled by Development Initiatives, with this effort, Türkiye maintained its top position as the nation that provid- ed the most humanitarian aid relative to its gross domestic product in 2021. The international aid campaigns launched for Türkiye in the af- termath of the earthquakes show a growing positive attitude toward Türkiye’s humanitarian policies. After the earthquakes on February 6, a significant amount of aid was sent to the region along with mes- sages of support from different corners of the world, to which Türkiye extended its hand. The global spirit of solidarity has been reignited by the support Türkiye received during this difficult time. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 83 Leaders’ Messages of Solidarity Antonio Guterres-United Nations Secretary-General “I will never forget the solidarity of people who opened their homes and hearts to millions of displaced people. Now those homes have been destroyed, and those hearts are breaking. It’s time to stand up for the people of Türkiye and Syria.” Jens Stoltenberg- NATO Secretary-General “Full solidarity with our ally Türkiye in the aftermath of this terrible earthquake. I am in touch with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and NATO allies are mobilising support now.” 84 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Ursula von der Leyen-President of the European Commission “A story of catastrophic loss and touching solidarity. When the earth- quakes struck, the world mobilised to support the people in Türkiye and Syria. We now need to support the survivors to rebuild their lives. I invite all nations to contribute.” Joe Biden- President of the USA “I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. I have directed my team to con- tinue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Türkiye and provide any and all needed assistance.” THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 85 Rishi Sunak- Prime Minister of the United Kingdom “My thoughts are with the people of Türkiye and Syria this morning, particularly with those first responders working so valiantly to save those trapped by the earthquake. The UK stands ready to help in whatever way we can.” President of China - Xi Jinping “I would like to express my belief that under the leadership of Presi- dent Erdoğan, your government and people will overcome the disas- ter and rebuild your homes at an early date.” 86 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY President of Russia- Vladimir Putin “Please accept my deep condolences over the numerous human ca- sualties and widespread destruction caused by the powerful earth- quake in your country. Please convey my heartfelt sympathies and support to the families and friends of the victims and my wishes for a speedy recovery to all those affected by the disaster. We are ready to provide the necessary assistance in the wake of the earthquake.” THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 87 President of Brazil- Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva “We look with concern at the news coming out of Türkiye and Syria after the earthquake of great magnitude. Brazil expresses its solidari- ty with the peoples of both countries, with the families of the victims, and with everyone who lost their homes in this tragedy.” Yoon Suk Yeol- President of South Korea “My heart goes out to the people of Türkiye and Syria during this dif- ficult time. Korea sends our deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. We stand ready to assist Türkiye, a brotherhood forged in blood during the Korean War, in any way possible.” 88 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY International Aid The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides the necessary guidance to ensure that foreign monetary aid is transferred directly to the appro- priate AFAD accounts. Additionally, donations collected overseas through accounts opened by our embassies and consulates general are transferred to AFAD accounts. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 89 90 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Germany By February 21, 2023, Germany had sent € 41 million in humanitari- an aid to Türkiye. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser visited Pazarcık district of Kahraman- maraş. Baerbock said, “The extent of these earthquakes cannot be ex- plained in words, even if you are here.” The assistance that arrived in our country as of March 23, 2023: 1) Number of search and rescue personnel and countries sending teams: 11,320 personnel and 90 countries 2) Number of tents: 298,835 3) Number of containers: 7,898. Number of containers currently on the way and scheduled: 8,104 4) Number of portable toilets/bathrooms: 4,673 / 112 5) Number of field hospitals established, reserved and planned: 36 6) Aid in kind (via foreign missions): Number of blankets: 2,495,773 Sleeping bags: 353,756 / Beds: 123,099 / Generators: 41.689 / Heaters/stoves: 176.734 Others: 26.258 tons (clothing, hygienic supplies/medical supplies, food, and others) THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 91 The United States By March 20, 2023, the United States had provided millions of dollars in aid to Türkiye’s earthquake victims. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu made observations in the quake-devastated city of Hatay and its environs. Azerbaijan As of February 21, 867 Azerbaijani medical and search and rescue teams were involved in earthquake-related efforts in Türkiye. The government and people of Azerbaijan provided significant in-kind and monetary assistance to the earthquake victims. After the earthquake in Türkiye, Azerbaijani citizen Server Beşirli gathered essential basic needs such as beds, pillows, and food and delivered them to an aid centre in Azerbaijan. 92 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY The United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates organised a campaign called “Bridges of Goodness” for the earthquake victims. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 93 The United Kingdom The United Kingdom raised more than £100 million for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the Unit- ed Kingdom packaged relief supplies for the earthquake victims to- gether with students. “To the people of Türkiye and Syria, know that the UK stands with you,” Rishi Sunak wrote on Twitter. Bosnia and Herzegovina In response to the earthquake, 55 vehicles of aid supplies were sent to Türkiye as part of the aid mobilisation initiated by the Sarajevo-based 94 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY humanitarian aid organisation Pomozi.Ba. Five vehicles filled with aid were collected through a campaign initiated by Kenan Dautovi, the mayor of Travnik, and Amir Vrhovac, the mayor’s advisor, who are both graduates of Turkish universities. Bosnia and Herzegovina Television and Radio (BHRT) organised a live fundraising event for earthquake victims. Emine Şeçeroviç Kaşlı, the President of the In- ternational Union of Democrats in Sarajevo, stated that among the aid were parcels that the Turkish military had previously disseminat- ed in this region. Şeçeroviç Kaşlı addressed the matter by stating, “A plate from a brother or neighbour should not be returned empty.” THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 95 China China dispatched search and rescue teams as well as emergency aid supplies to the earthquake victims and established a tent city in Kah- ramanmaraş. 96 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Palestine After Friday prayers in mosques in the West Bank, the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs of Palestine organised a campaign with the slogan “Relieve Their Pain” and collected nearly one million dol- lars in aid for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria. Hale Hashim, a 13-year-old Palestinian, bought a doll with her own money for a child in Türkiye who was affected by the earthquake. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 97 France Fondation de France, a humanitarian organisation, and France TV or- ganised a fundraising concert for earthquake victims that raised € 10 million. 98 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY The Netherlands In the Netherlands, earthquake relief campaigns raised approximate- ly € 150 million. Additionally, the National Anthem of Türkiye was played at the Peperbus cathedral in Zwolle. The Turkish-Dutch per- former Karsu Dönmez took part in the aid campaign, which raised nearly € 89 million. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 99 Ireland Ireland announced on the evening of February 6 that it would donate €2 million to earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria and €8 mil- lion on February 13. In addition, on February 17, the country sent 110 tonnes of aid, the largest aid shipment in the history of its republic. The Embassy of Ireland in Ankara announced that the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 17, 2023, would be cancelled out of respect for the earthquake victims. 100 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Italy Following the earthquakes, Italy dispatched rescue and medical teams to Türkiye, along with humanitarian aid and a field hospital. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 101 Qatar Qatar Television launched a campaign called “Aid and Support” to collect aid for disaster victims in Türkiye. Qatar donated 10,000 con- tainer houses for earthquake victims in Türkiye. In response to the earthquakes, Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani trav- elled to Türkiye and met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Embassy of Qatar in Türkiye tweeted, “We are always here for you, through the good times and the bad.” 102 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Kazakhstan As of March 3rd, a total of $15,054,382 had been donated by Kazakh- stan. Kazakhstan donated 450 tonnes of aid supplies and over 100 tent houses to Türkiye. In an act of solidarity, the Turkish flag was projected onto the Nur Alem Future Energy Museum, one of the fa- mous landmarks of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The people of Kazakhstan expressed their condolences and solidarity with the Turkish people by leaving flowers, letters, and toys at the Turkish Embassy. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 103 Uzbekistan Aid campaigns were organised in Uzbekistan to support the earth- quake victims. Volunteer chefs from Uzbekistan made Uzbek pilaf for the victims of the earthquake in Hatay. 104 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 105 Pakistan In an act of solidarity, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan trav- elled to Türkiye, and made observations in Adıyaman. 106 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Poland Poland launched an in-kind and cash aid campaign and collected 11 tonnes of humanitarian aid for the earthquake victims. Russia In addition to deploying search and rescue teams and establishing a field hospital in the region, Russia organised in-kind and monetary aid campaigns and dispatched 200 tonnes of aid supplies as of Febru- ary 12, 2023. Residents of the capital came to the Embassy of Türkiye in Moscow, laid flowers on the embassy building, and said prayers in memory of the earthquake victims. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 107 108 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Saudi Arabia As of March 21, 2023, 16 plane loads of supplies for relief and 6,000 temporary dwellings had been sent to Saudi Arabia as part of the aid campaign. 150 million dollars were raised for the earthquake victims. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 109 Somalia As part of the “Somalia-Türkiye United as One Heart” campaign, So- malia donated over 90 million Turkish Liras to earthquake victims in Türkiye. The Federal Parliament of Somalia donated twenty percent of the February salaries of its MPs to earthquake victims. 110 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Ukraine Ukraine delivered 101 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the İncirlik base in Adana for earthquake victims by Antonov AN-124 aircraft on March 3, 2023. In addition, 22 tonnes of humanitarian aid packages were sent to Gaziantep on February 25. Additionally, Ukraine dis- patched a search and rescue team of 90 people to Türkiye. Ukrainians expressed their condolences by leaving flowers in front of the Embas- sy of Türkiye in Kiev, the capital. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 111 International Donors’ Conference On March 20, 2023, Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun de- livered a speech at the International Donors’ Conference organised by the European Union for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria in Brussels, Belgium. Nearly €7 billion in aid for earthquake victims were pledged at the conference. 112 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY “We Stand with Türkiye “Campaign The Directorate of Communications organised the “We Stand with Türkiye” campaign, which was supported by Morgan Freeman, Mark Eliyahu, Jamala, Matwe Middlelkoop, Azerin, Maher Zain, Reshad Strik, Amir Khan, Per Hillo, Yasmin Levy, Della Miles, and Antonio Guterres. International Search and Rescue Efforts Efforts to save lives were also an expression of the Solidarity of the Century. Türkiye’s call for help, issued in the early morning hours of February 6, was quickly responded to by many countries. Initially, many countries dispatched their search and rescue teams to Türkiye. Many people’s lives were saved thanks to the search and rescue op- erations coordinated with Turkish teams. Foreign search and rescue professionals, many of whom have worked all over the globe, praised the success of the AFAD-coordinated search and rescue operation and the Turkish people’s spirit of solidarity and hospitality. Solidarity to Save Lives According to the Republic of Türkiye, Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ data, search and rescue teams from 90 countries were deployed to the affected areas, particularly Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, and Adıya- man, after two earthquakes struck 11 cities of Türkiye. Thousands of foreign search and rescue personnel fought selflessly to reach earth- THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 113 quake victims trapped beneath the debris and heal the wounds of the disaster of the century. The foreign teams’ social media posts and their coordinated efforts in Türkiye revealed the common language of grief and the magnitude of the disaster. Emotional times came during the work of the teams in the region, who exerted tremendous efforts to save lives. In addition to search and rescue teams, friendly paws from several countries joined search and rescue teams to help those affected by the earthquake. Many individuals were rescued beneath the debris thanks to the efforts of 440 specially trained dogs from 54 countries. During operations, volunteer translators translated for the foreign teams. GERMANY A video of Germany’s search and rescue team shared on social media shows team member Daniel Lankers consoling an earthquake vic- tim in Turkish. The video, which rapidly went viral on social media, showed a member of the support team addressing the woman under- neath the rubble in a few words he had learned: “Ms. Zeynep, Daniel is here; don’t be afraid!” Miss Zeynep don’t be afraid, ok? 114 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 115 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) Under the coordination of AFAD, two urban search and rescue teams from the United States Agency for International Development (US- AID) conducted search and rescue operations in the most affected areas. The teams consisted of 159 individuals, 12 rescue dogs, and 77 tonnes of specialised gear. John Morrison, a search and rescue per- sonnel from the US who travelled to Türkiye, said, “This country is incredibly resilient,” noting that the earthquakes caused widespread destruction in the country. 116 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY AZERBAIJAN As it does every time there is a need, Azerbaijan was the first nation to assist Türkiye in the early hours of the Disaster of the Century. A 360-person Azerbaijani search and rescue team arrived in Türkiye hours after the earthquake and provided assistance in operations. The Azerbaijani team, which expanded in number over the following days to a total of 899 people, rescued 53 individuals from the debris. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 117 CHINA The Chinese search and rescue team carried out intensive search and rescue operations in the area. A video showing an offer of herbed cheese to Chinese personnel operating in coordination with Turkish search and rescue teams garnered significant social media attention. 118 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY PALESTINE The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Palestine organised an award cere- mony for the search and rescue team of Palestine that operated in the earthquake zones of Türkiye and Syria. During the ceremony, an hon- our certificate and a medal were presented to the Palestinian search and rescue team. FRANCE The head of the French search and rescue team that came to help af- ter the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes said, “I have worked with the United States and United Nations teams in disaster zones for 25 years. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 119 I have never before encountered such an organisation. The AFAD was extraordinary. When we required assistance, dozens of people came to our aid immediately. I reiterate that I have 25 years of experience. There will never be enough search and rescue teams. In my opinion, Türkiye had everything it required.” SPAIN The Spanish search and rescue team Bomberos Girecan posted a tweet emphasising the Turkish people’s solidarity during the earth- quake. The search and rescue team said, “They literally stopped us on the road to give us these foods. They won’t let us pay for breakfast or desserts. All of the people are working with the emergency teams. Remember, they are the real heroes. We are only their hope.” 120 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 121 THE UK David O’Neill, team leader of the UK ISAR, the UK’s largest search and rescue organisation that conducted search and rescue operations in Türkiye, spoke with The Times. O’Neill described the earthquake di- saster in Türkiye as unprecedented, noting that his team of 77 peo- ple rescued many people from the rubble in the hours following the earthquakes. O’Neill said, “This is the most successful rescue oper- ation in the history of the UK ISAR,” noting that they were able to rescue many people from the debris. 122 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY ITALY Fabrizio Curcio, the Head of the Civil Protection Department of the Italian Prime Ministry, commented on the search and rescue team sent by Italy to Türkiye, the aid provided, and the emergency situ- ation confronting Türkiye as a result of the Disaster of the Century: “Let us not forget that we are discussing a major, dramatic, cata- strophic event whose effects will last for weeks or months.” JAPAN On their way back to Japan, the Japanese search and rescue team, which had come for search and rescue operations after the earth- quake, observed a moment of silence at İstanbul Airport in memory of those who had passed away. THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 123 KUWAIT Kuwait search and rescue team leader Ayman Almufarreh said, “We are very proud to cooperate with the official authorities of the Repub- lic of Türkiye, Turkish search and rescue teams, and search and res- cue teams from other countries. We are deeply saddened by this great tragedy that Türkiye is going through. Since the first day, there have been constant earthquakes in our areas of operation, but we will con- tinue our work with all the means we have, no matter what.” 124 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY KYRGYZSTAN 108 bristle tents sent by Kyrgyzstan were set up on the football field in the Nation’s Garden in Kahramanmaraş. Traditional bristle tents called Bozui provide advantages in harsh weather conditions, as they are not affected by rain, snow, or sunlight. HUNGARY Laszlo Pavelcze, the leader of the Hungarian search and rescue team, could not hold back his tears while describing what happened in the region. The leader of the Hungarian team, who rescued many peo- ple from the wreckage, said in a statement that he did not usually get emotional in such situations and cried, “I have seen more than 50 di- sasters; I didn’t get emotional for the most part.” THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 125 MEXICO Mexican search and rescue teams sent off a search and rescue dog named Proteo, who took part in the search under the rubble and lost his life on February 12, with his casket wrapped in the Mexican flag. At the airport, a moment of silence was observed and a memorial service was held. At the ceremony, Mexican Army officials expressed their gratitude to Proteo, while the dog’s trainer, Carlos Villeda, said, “I’m sorry you’re gone, my friend. Now run, have fun, and protect those in the afterlife. Goodbye, my friend, we’ll meet again. Mission completed, champ.” 126 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 127 POLAND State Fire Service Chief Andrzej Bartkowiak of Poland stated that the team that supported the efforts after the earthquakes in Kahraman- maraş’s Pazarcık and Elbistan districts did their best and said, “We saved 12 people, and we saved 12 worlds.” SUDAN After the Disaster of the Century, the Sudan search and rescue team arrived in the area and began operations. Brigadier General Almatri Ahmed, Commander of the Sudan Search and Rescue Team, said, “Our job was not easy, but the coordination was quite good. The Turk- ish people supported us in every way and showed great hospitality. 128 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY We are happy and proud to be a part of these search and rescue ef- forts. May Allah prevent such disasters from befalling the brotherly state and people of Türkiye. I wish Allah’s mercy on those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the injured.” TAIWAN After completing their laborious mission, search and rescue teams from Taiwan were applauded as they departed İstanbul Airport. The Taiwanese Embassy in Ankara thanked the İstanbul Airport Police, Customs Personnel, Turkish Airlines and IGA personnel for the kind- THE WORLD UNITED AS ONE HEART | 129 ness they showed and the convenience they provided to the Taiwan National Search and Rescue Team and for their farewell worthy of he- roes. The Embassy shared a post, stating, “We will always remember this deep friendship in our hearts. Our prayers are with you.” GREECE Konstantinos Nikas, a member of the Greek Special Disaster Re- sponse Unit, could not hold back his tears after pulling little Fatma out of the rubble. It turned out that Konstantinos Nikas’ father also saved a child in the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that hit Greece in 1995. 130 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 131 05 Building Hope: Türkiye Heals Its Wounds 132 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY W ith the conclusion of the search and rescue efforts carried out with the mobilisation and coordination of the state fol- lowing the Disaster of the Century, the restoration and con- struction works for the region were started by carrying out debris re- moval and damage assessment. In order to determine the structures damaged in the earthquake, damage assessment was conducted in 1 million 538 thousand buildings and 4 million 765 thousand 345 inde- pendent sections. As a result of the damage assessment, temporary sheltering efforts were carried out under the coordination and mobili- sation of the state to meet the shelter needs of the earthquake victims in the earthquake region. Under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, the construction of temporary shelters consisting of masonry structures, prefabricated houses, and containers for earthquake survivors continues through TOKİ and the General Directorate of Emlak Konut. Under the leadership and directives of President Recep Tayyip Er- doğan, an initial resource of 100 billion TL was allocated to the re- gion. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, a solidarity package of 50 billion TL in total, together with a certain percentage of 2022 profits, was allocated by the banking sector for the earthquake. In addition to the solidarity package, it was an- nounced that 15 thousand TL of relocation assistance, between 5,000 and 2,000 TL of rental assistance per uninhabitable household, and 10,000 TL of support assistance per household would be granted ini- tially. It was decided to provide 100,000 TL in cash assistance to the relatives of our citizens who perished in the earthquake to meet their immediate needs. V. Building Hope: Türkiye Heals Its Wounds 134 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Temporary Housing Services Tent Cities Tent city sites were built at 332 points in 11 provinces. While the in- stallation of 598 thousand 934 tents has been completed, including individual tent requests, tents continue to be set up throughout the region as needed under the coordination of AFAD. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 135 136 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Container Cities More than 30 thousand containers were set up by AFAD at 289 points in the provinces impacted by the earthquake. Infrastructure work and the installation of 90 thousand 914 containers continue concur- rently with the container city construction in the region. 34 thousand 120 citizens have been provided shelter in containers. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 137 In the shelter areas, 2,284 additional mobile showers and 5,058 ad- ditional container toilets were installed. The total number of our cit- izens who have been provided with housing in the region affected by the earthquake is 2,739,679. On the other hand, a total of 32,960 citizens affected by the disaster have been provided with housing in other provinces. One million 915 thousand 598 people are sheltering in tents, containers, dormitories of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, hotels, public guesthouses, and facilities of the Ministry of National Education, both inside and outside the disaster zone. 138 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Logistics Services To date, a total of 274,645 individuals have worked in the affected region to provide all the necessary services. There are still 228,591 personnel deployed to the region. A total of 18,053 construction ma- chines continue to operate in the region. 37 ships, 73 planes, and 116 helicopters are employed in the efforts. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 139 To meet all the needs of our earthquake survivors, many logistical ef- forts are ongoing in the disaster zone. A total of 17,155 sorties were carried out with 73 aircraft affiliated to the Air Forces Command, the Land Forces Command, the Naval Forces Command, the Coast Guard Command, the Turkish National Police, the General Command of Gendarmerie, and the General Directorate of Forestry. 140 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 141 142 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY The Red Crescent, AFAD, Ministry of National Defence, the Gendar- merie, and NGOs have dispatched 370 mobile catering vehicles and 47 mobile bakeries to meet the nutritional needs of those affected by the disaster. A total of 210 million 217 thousand 251 hot meals were served in the region. The distribution of food included 17 million 349 thousand 612 cans of soup, 212 million 445 thousand 416 loaves of bread, 25 million 73 thousand 550 meal boxes, and packaged food. Logistics services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in various locations, particularly in the temporary housing centres that have been established. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 143 Reconstruction Efforts Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reconstruc- tion has begun in the region. In his speech during his visit to quake- hit Osmaniye, President Erdoğan made a commitment and said, “We will build these houses within a year through TOKİ”. Upon Erdoğan’s instruction, the reconstruction of the region was initiated immediate- ly under the coordination of TOKİ and the relevant ministries. 144 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY With the start of the 10-Item Recovery and Reconstruction Process planned by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, the efforts carried out in the region have been accelerated. In accordance with Article 9 of the process, TOKİ has assumed respon- sibility for the reconstruction process. In line with the directives of President Erdoğan, the construction of the first 200 thousand houses built by TOKİ, which already provides the temporary accommoda- tion needs of our citizens, has begun. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 145 As a result of consultations, rapid construction efforts have been ini- tiated in areas deemed suitable for housing construction and where ground surveys and micro-zoning studies have been completed. The first excavation was carried out by TOKİ on March 2, 2023, for 839 residences in Pazarcık, Kahramanmaraş and 501 residences in Afşin. 146 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Under the leadership of President Erdoğan, the Ministry of Environ- ment, Urbanisation and Climate Change will construct 485 thousand 654 houses, including 405 thousand 505 houses and 83 thousand 149 village houses, in the quake-hit region. In the regions impacted by the Disaster of the Century, a total of 653 thousand 178 houses are planned to be constructed, including those with moderate damage. All types of village houses will be 3+1 and between 122 and 127 square metres in size, and different types of buildings will be constructed in villages based on regional requirements. In villages containing more than 100 homes, a village mansion and a place of worship will be con- structed and put into use. For citizens whose barns were destroyed, 80-square-meter barns will be constructed and delivered. After con- ducting a ground survey and micro-zoning studies, and in accordance with local and traditional architecture, houses will be constructed under the direction of scientific studies. Planned construction of residences will follow a three-phase urbanisation model. The envis- aged urbanisation model will be applied by renowned architects. For post-earthquake reconstruction efforts, architects with talent and experience from across the globe will come together as volunteers. TOKİ houses, whose construction has begun in accordance with the recovery and reconstruction process, will be constructed entirely in accordance with earthquake measures. In the study conducted after identifying the fault lines, it was determined that the houses would be constructed at least 500 metres from the fault lines. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 147 The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change will construct 319 thousand residences within one year, and will continue to construct 650 thousand residences in total. The construction of 319 thousand homes for the disaster’s survivors, which began in the first three months, will be completed and delivered to the citizens within one year. In addition, the construction of 650 thousand houses, for which a damage assessment has been completed, will proceed con- currently. 148 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 149 150 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 151 152 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Healthcare Services Since the first day of the earthquake, including the teams dispatched from other provinces, 15 thousand 764 personnel from UMKE and 112 emergency call centre, 21 thousand 277 doctors, and 136 thousand 333 healthcare personnel have been working in the region. In the region, there are 2,560 ambulances, 388 UMKE vehicles, 6 air ambulances, and 11 helicopter ambulances. A total of 51,645 injured people were transferred from the earthquake zone to other provinces: 2,560 by air ambulance, 48,758 by land ambulance, and 327 by sea vehicles. The Ministry of Health has also taken the necessary measures against the risk of epidemics. In eleven disaster-stricken provinces, nearly 300 thousand people were examined for primary care, 2,846 people for pregnancy follow-up care, and 9,685 infants and children for fol- low-up care. More than four thousand water samples were collected, and chlorination was performed in areas deemed inadequate. Teta- nus, rabies, and paediatric vaccines have been delivered in sufficient quantities to the area. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 153 Psychosocial Support Services in the Disaster Zone Within the framework of the Türkiye Disaster Response Plan (TAMP), the Department of Mental Health of the General Directorate of Pub- lic Health immediately initiated psychosocial support services for earthquake survivors and their family members in order to provide psychological support to earthquake survivors following the Disaster of the Century. Volunteers and trained staff from 71 provinces, aside from those op- erating in the disaster-stricken area, were assigned to the quake-hit provinces and began fieldwork under the guidance of the Ministry of Family and Social Services. Requirements evaluation, psychological first aid for earthquake survivors and their family members while identifying potential risk factors, individual interviews, psychoedu- cation, group work, referrals, and counselling are the basic compo- nents of psychosocial support services. As part of psychosocial sup- port teams, a total of 9,500 personnel, including psychologists, social workers, and child development specialists, have provided services in the earthquake-affected area. Individual psychosocial interviews were conducted with 4,274 people as part of the psychosocial support services. 40,092 households (tent cities, dorms, guesthouses, hotels, residences, etc.) were visited as part of the psychosocial support ser- vices. 154 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 155 156 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY In 71 provinces outside the disaster-stricken area, 1,320 psychosocial support personnel have provided psychiatric assessment and psycho- social support services to earthquake survivors temporarily residing in hospitals and other residences (dorms, guesthouses, hotels, etc.). To date, 733 individuals have been psychiatrically examined, 2,592 households (tent cities, dormitories, guesthouses, hotels, residences, etc.) have been visited as part of psychosocial support services, and 1,936,909 individuals have participated in psychosocial interviews. TCG BAYRAKTAR and TCG SANCAKTAR, the largest landing ships of the Turkish Armed Forces that brought construction equipment to the region immediately after the earthquake, began providing health services in the quake-hit area once the items they carried were trans- ported. By virtue of their Role 2 assets, the largest landing ships of the Turkish Naval Forces Command each have a capacity of 560 beds, for a total of 1,120 beds, and serve as hospitals. The Turkish Armed Forces continue to operate the field hospital, which was established with the conversion of two massive landing ships into hospitals. 1,910 earthquake survivors were treated, and 93 surgeries were performed at the Kahramanmaraş field hospital. In addition, 34 surgical proce- dures were performed on TCG Bayraktar and TCG Sancaktar, and 8,107 survivors of the earthquake received medical care. The Turkish soldiers continue to perform their duties aboard ships and in the field hospital. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 157 Educational Services There are 416 psychological support tents, 236 preschool education tents, 111 primary school classrooms, 108 secondary school class- rooms, 93 hospital classrooms, two prefabricated schools, and 510 support and training courses for students preparing for the High School Entrance Exam (LGS) or Higher Education Institutions En- trance Exam (YKS). For educational purposes, 4,500 televisions were installed in containers and classrooms so that young students could watch cartoons as a social activity and keep up with TRT EBA dis- tance learning broadcasts. 158 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Since March 1, the formal education system for disaster-affected chil- dren has been reinstated. Alongside formal education, support efforts continue. In 1476 locations across ten provinces in the quake-hit area, educational and training activities continue unabated. Approximate- ly 242,904 students who desired to continue their studies in other provinces were transferred. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 159 Within this time frame, the Ministry of National Education contin- ues to distribute stationery packages and books to the area. 200 thousand stationery sets have been distributed to students in the quake-hit provinces as of March 5. A total of 26 million textbooks and supplementary materials were sent to students in the quake-hit area, with 11.5 million textbooks and supplementary materials reprinted specifically for students studying for exams. 160 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 161 Agricultural Services As of March 14, the Turkish Grain Board had purchased 142 thousand tonnes of unrestricted produce from disaster-stricken provinces and paid farmers 810 million Turkish Lira. In the same vein, in areas de- clared as Disaster Areas Affecting General Life as a result of earth- quakes, bee hives, cattle, sheep, and poultry breeders will receive one- time sugar aid to feed live animal husbandry in order to ensure the continuation of livestock activities in their regions, increase their pro- ductivity, and ensure animal health and welfare. Livestock that per- ished in the earthquake will be identified by the relevant provincial/ district damage assessment commissions of the Ministry of Agricul- ture and Forestry. In light of this, breeders will receive as many free cattle, sheep, chickens, and beehives as the number of their perished livestock. Additionally, 12 thousand beekeepers in earthquake-af- fected regions will receive up to 4 kilogrammes of sugar per hive for 1,483,000 hives. Following the completion of the provincial/district damage assessment commissions’ work, the distribution of livestock, beehives, and sugar will commence immediately. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry transferred 115,508,658 TL worth of agricultural support payments to the accounts of producers on March 17. 162 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Payments 67 million 332 thousand 366 TL in Grain Legumes-Seed Corn assis- tance, 23 million 265 thousand 109 TL in Compensation for Animal Diseas- es, 15 million 832 thousand 402 TL in Certified Sapling Use assistance, 6 million 472 thousand 800 TL in Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources assistance, 2 million 605 thousand 981 TL in Turkish Grain Board purchase pre- mium support.  Five separate deposits totalling 115 million 508 thousand 658 Turkish Lira were made to the accounts. 1 billion 364 million 608 thousand 700 TL in feed assistance was granted to breeders in provinces declared disaster zones by the Min- istry of Agriculture and Forestry. Furthermore, 65 million 109 thou- sand 592 TL of grain legumes and seed corn assistance and 8 million 581 thousand 288 TL of rural development investment assistance will be transferred to farmers’ accounts. Therefore, the ministry will pro- vide producers with a total of 1 billion 438 million 299 thousand 580 TL in assistance. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry conducted 19,910 food in- spections with 1084 specialised personnel assigned to the Kahra- manmaraş-centred quake-hit area. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 163 164 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Culture and Tourism Services As a result of damage assessments conducted by the Ministry of Cul- ture and Tourism, valuable cultural assets that can be salvaged have been identified among the registered buildings buried beneath the rubble in earthquake-hit areas. During the initial phase, the Director- BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 165 ate of Disaster Area Excavation was swiftly established with expert teams. Artefacts and cultural assets that can be recovered from the rubble of recognised heritage sites will be excavated and put under protection. Within these ruins, building materials that can be repur- posed for reconstruction and restoration will be salvaged and moved to secure locations. As a result of the earthquakes, numerous natural, historical, and cul- tural assets that had existed in Anatolia for thousands of years were severely damaged or completely wiped out. According to the exam- inations, the repair of the damaged natural, historical, and cultural assets will cost around 56 billion TL. 166 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY The handshake stele located in the 2,000-year-old Karakuş Tumulus of Adıyaman collapsed in the Kahramanmaraş-centred earthquake. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 167 A portion of the Diyarbakır Fortress, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, was destroyed. 168 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Built in 638, Hatay’s Habibi Neccar Mosque, one of the first known mosques in Anatolia, was destroyed in the earthquake. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 169 The courtyard of the mosque, which housed the tombs of Jesus’ three messengers, was also a key centre for Christians. The earthquake devastated the Protestant Church of Antakya, which had withstood several millennia. 170 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY Commonly known as Teze Mosque (New Mosque) among the locals, the 180-year-old Hacı Yusuf Taş Mosque was destroyed following the earthquakes. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, none of the 29 mu- seums in the quake-stricken region were completely destroyed, and only the Hatay Museum sustained significant damage. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 171 However, only the Malatya Aslantepe Mound on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites was severely damaged, and a small portion of the city walls of Diyarbakır revealed minor deformations. In addition to conducting the examinations, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will draw up a tourism plan for the area in order to re- build the region’s tourism potential. As part of this initiative, the Min- istry of Culture and Tourism will work diligently to develop provinces with significant cultural and gastronomic tourism assets. 172 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY At the same time, local tourism businesses will be promoted. Im- provements will be made to the transportation infrastructure in order to facilitate tourism trips. Individuals and businesses that preserve intangible cultural heritage by creating distinctive, local, and tradi- tional products for visitors to purchase as tourism products or that communicate this wisdom, will be supported. Promotional merchandise will be revised to emphasise cultural and gastronomic tourism, and marketing initiatives will be initiated. The necessary tourism facilities, especially housing facilities, will be iden- tified, and the private sector will be directed. In addition, it is planned to delay loan payments as a result of cancellations experienced by travel agents and housing facilities on both domestic and internation- al markets. Existing tourism routes will be reviewed, touristic spots located on the routes or with a high number of visitors will be repaired based on prioritisation, and the routes will be redesigned if deemed necessary. Additionally, a “Memorial Museum” will be constructed to ensure the earthquake is always remembered. BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 173 174 | SOLIDARITY OF THE CENTURY BUILDING HOPE: TÜRKİYE HEALS ITS WOUNDS | 175 Solidarity of the Century F e b r u a r y 6 , 2 0 2 3 K a h r a m a n m a r a ş E a r t h q u a k e s