A group of 6 people from the Minus 25 Association from Eskişehir for a one-week investigation and follow-up research. arrived in Hatay, where the February 6 earthquakes were severe. The team determined the current situation, services provided, deficiencies, and needs during the district visits they made for a week. In the process, they received information from the campus officials, the public, and official authorities. The team provided and supplied the deficiencies mentioned in the interviews made during the field visits. Team accommodation was provided at the Minus 25 Association member’s home. The site was visited by renting a vehicle. Due to security reasons, a visit could not be made to the Reyhanlı district.
Day 1 Saturday, February 11, 2023: Erzin, Dörtyol, Karaağaç
No damaged buildings were seen in the Erzin district center, one of the safest and least damaged areas in the provincial borders of Hatay. It was learned that 12 people who died in the district lived in Iskenderun or Antakya. Markets, kiosks, bakeries, and clothing stores are open, where the public can meet their needs and continue their routine social life. There is an atmosphere of mourning, fear, and anxiety. Tents were seen in front of some houses because people were afraid to enter them. Psychosocial support studies are needed in this region.
Damaged buildings were seen in the center of Dörtyol.
In the Karaağaç region, the kitchen truck of the Bodrum Municipality on an empty land is in
operation. 12 of the team, consisting of 30 volunteers, with a 3-day meal capacity of 500 people, are in charge of search and rescue, and the others are in charge of cooking and distribution. The staff is equipped and has a strong image. There were about 20 food containers. An organized team also delivers meals to the needy with their vehicles. The point that the team complains about is the unfounded food needs requests made over the phone. There were rich menus such as tea, coffee, fruit, soup, and juicy food.
Accommodation services are provided at the Karaağaç EXPO fairground under the coordination of the officials from the Expo management unit and technical team. Altındağ Municipality distributes 2 hot meals to 500 people living in the Expo indoor area: no heating, toilet, open space problems. There are 6 women, 6 men and 2 disabled toilets, and those who benefit from the accommodation service clean the common areas. It accommodates 50-60 children from all age groups. There are no playgrounds or toys for the kids, and they spend the whole day with the adults in the common area. Adults spend all day lying down and sitting. It is a campus where socialization begins, and psychosocial studies can begin. People talk about the earthquake, what they did on the first day, and their losses.
The needs in Karaağaç region; wind and waterproof, durable tent, mobile toilet, blanket/bath, newborn, baby, child and woman cleaning and hygiene materials, food for children/adults with special needs or chronic diseases (gluten-free, celiac…) Bird food and dog food.
Day 2 Sunday, February 12, 2023: Arsuz/Gözcüler, Çetilli
There is damage and destruction to a site and some houses in Çetilli; other than that, daily life continues. Although there is no serious problem, aid trucks continue to be distributed among the neighborhoods. There was poverty in some houses regardless of the earthquake. There was a tent area at the entrance of the neighborhood. Here, the Syrian settlement was encountered. Children were observed in parentless, safety-risk situations.
In the center of Arsuz, on the coast and coastal road, the destruction is more in the summer and hotels area, but since it is out of season, the population density is low, so the loss of life is also low. Arsuz hotel was completely demolished. While the low-rise cottages were not damaged much, the multi-storey ones were damaged. Although Denizli Çayeli Municipality has a capacity of 5000 people in Gözcüler, it offers hot meals for 3000 people. The team lives in the same tent as the kitchen. 5 liters of water used for food was supplied and delivered upon expressing the need. Meals are served outdoors. People eat their meals standing up or on the ground. The Communist Movement of Turkey distributes tea. Although the glass doors and walls of Şok and A101 markets are damaged, they are not looted.
Considering it is open on the Arsuz beach, a cafe was entered to relax. The owners were 5-6 people and 1 cat; they live in the cafe. They noticed us half an hour later, and they came and offered us tea. They are in a state of shock and emptiness; they are grieving and sad.
Karaağaç EXPO Fair Area: An event was planned for the children living in this area, and the management was informed and accompanied by a security guard. A coloring book (96) and crayons (200) were distributed in the company of the site managers and security. Children and adults showed great interest. Some adults even requested coloring books and pencils, and they were distributed to adults who said they needed them to relax. People are very willing to communicate and talk in this field. At the entrance of the indoor area, 15 children between the ages of 4-12 and their parents met and played activities. Quite positive feedback was received from children and parents. Let’s play the color/ball game again; let’s play outside when the weather is bright; we received feedback in the form of come again tomorrow. We carried out the activity in the empty part of the common living area without letting the children out of sight of their families. Families in this area are very nervous and over-stimulated about child abductions.
For this reason, we supported the participation of families as much as possible and planned the event within the field of view. EXPO area officials also expressed their satisfaction with the work. Metropolitan Municipality Expo officer especially came and met and expressed his thanks.
The baby’s needs in the Expo area, such as food and feeding bottles, were met. The materials and drugs given to the management were delivered to the EXPO management to be delivered to the field hospital. Some of the EXPO volunteer employees requested a mosque. Mandalas and paints were also ordered for adults. The people living in this area needed an event it would be beneficial for them to linger and help something. According to the information received from the authorities, Hatay Metropolitan Municipality will be moved to this area, and the earthquake victims living in this area will be transferred to the tent and container campus of Bodrum Municipality. Since the metropolitan municipality is damaged, it will carry out its activities for a while, and the personnel and their families will stay in this area. The Spanish medical teams established a field hospital next to the tent settlements and the fairground, and they announced that they would start service one day later.
Day 3: Monday, February 13: Samandag, Antakya
The Arsuz-Samandağ coastal road is a rough road that is rarely used; it is open and safe. There are collapses on the asphalt in several spots. Even detached houses in the Konacik neighborhood are damaged, life continues in the houses, and there is no tent settlement. Aid trucks were distributed. In the Işıklı neighborhood, the houses are single-storey and unharmed, so people continue to live in their homes. No aid distribution was observed. Some houses have tents in front of them. Some people stayed in the tent because they were afraid.
Samandağ: A tent camp is set up along the beach, and security forces are everywhere. Civil servants were distributing aid at a beach hotel. The number of damaged houses is relatively high. Especially at the entrance of Antakya, the destruction is more. Houses have been evacuated; people have been placed in tents. Markets were looted. Uşak Municipality’s garbage and cleaning team provides support. Life continues in some damaged houses. No water. There was no electricity for the first two days. There are one or two volunteer university students in a team of 5-6 people in the food container of the Governorship of Eskişehir and the Directorate of National Education of Eskişehir. Eskişehir Chamber of Industry constantly supplies the kitchen. The number of beneficiaries is unknown due to constant circulation and density. Babel Cafe and its garden were opened as a shelter. Women help in the kitchen, help cleaning the toilet, and there is no mains water. Dry legumes are available, and vegetables are needed. A tent camp has been set up in front of the cafe. Kadıköy Municipality, İstanbul Cemevi, Diyarbakır Search and Rescue Team are setting up tents. No materials for children’s needs have been received. Children spend all day in the same environment and doing the same things as adults.
Antakya: Among the places visited, the most damaged places are the central districts of Antakya. There is no water, electricity, natural gas, or toilet. The infrastructure has collapsed. The works to establish a tent campus near the Antakya District Governorate have begun. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Izmir Social Assistance, and Solidarity Foundation. A coordinator manager and his team are assigned to each institution from the directorate of another province, and all institutions work in coordination. Security units have been placed in AFAD and Qatar tents in front of Defne District Governorate. Public Education and the school garden have been designated as a fundraising area. Kadıköy Municipality Soup House distributes food, TTK Zonguldak, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Istanbul Fire Department, Hasan Human Foundation, Cansuyu Aid Association, ŞOK market aid truck, Mersin Orman, UMKE, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Kocaeli Municipality, Republic of Korea, Gebze municipality, Anamur Municipality It has been observed that.
The Sıhhi Pharmacy distributes medicines, and the doctor does the examination. Clothes are still being chosen in front of the district governor’s office. There was a Red Crescent tent campus in this region. Damage assessment studies have started in Antakya. People are still waiting at the wreckage, and the search and rescue continue. Damage increases as you move further into the city center. There is no water, garbage cannot be taken, and vehicles cannot enter many parts of the city due to debris and risky buildings. Hygiene conditions are insufficient. Tent campus areas are intertwined with the debris area; there are garbage and debris between the tents, and the risk of contagious disease is quite high. Base stations are installed. There is no electricity, but people are in queue for the electric stove. For the first time, it was seen that the recording was taken while aid was distributed. There was mourning, gloom, and a heavy smell throughout the city. There were a lot of people in the center, but the environment was tranquil. When people are told, they queue up to get food or help, do not talk, and are depressed.
Serinyol Tent City consists of large tents with water and electricity, a stove, and insulated from the bottom, set up by SML İnşaat and sent to it. Separate mobile toilets and shower cabins are installed for men and women, the toilets of the wedding hall are currently used, and both solid and liquid soap are available. Medicines are provided for those with chronic diseases, and first aid and sanitary tents are at the establishment stage, but the emergency medical technician provides support for first aid and medicine supply. There were both private security and soldiers. One of our volunteers takes part in the tent-building business. The wedding hall is used
as a kitchen. Children can walk around the area without an adult and go to the toilet; it is a risk for children to be so unsupervised in environments with adults and crowds.
Day 4 Tuesday, February 14: Kırıkhan, Hassa
Kırıkhan is the city with the most destruction after Antakya. Although there are low-rise detached houses, the rate of damage to the houses is quite high. Tents are set up on the third day. There is no need for food or clothing. Military units from different provinces came on the second day, and the soldiers warned against looting. There are equipped 1+1 tents. Water was given today, the mobile toilet is spotless, and soap was seen for the first time. A citizen sold underwear and cigarettes to the soldiers. There was roasting, rice, and the meat was seen for the first time, and it was said that there were different kinds of food. On every street, people are trying to get things out of demolished or damaged houses with the help of elevators and cranes. Between the tents, socializing started; there were tea and core conversations. The conditions here are pretty good, the destruction is great, but the service arrived quickly. There were two tent settlements. One area of the sports field was a refugee tent campus, and the other was the settlement of the local people. Selim SYDV is one of the non-governmental organizations that provide aid.
Hassa, the destruction of houses is observed too much. There are too many looting incidents; the security forces are constantly operating in the city. There are military units and security forces in the city. The Red Crescent has set up a tent campus. Earthquake victims are settled in tents. Günoğlu group of companies has established a soup kitchen by the end of April and states that they do not need any supplies or materials.
Day 5: Wednesday, February 15: İskenderun
There were approximately 250 tents in the Iskenderun Millet garden, 150 of which were official, together with individual tents. Üsküdar Municipality has undertaken the task of cleaning. Üsküdar Municipality has seen ambulance and health services, veterinary services, and tea machines. Red Crescent ambulance, Turkcel mobile base station, and technical support team are available. Üsküdar Municipality serves soup for four meals. Hope Caravan, Orphan Eli, Orphans Foundation, IHO Ebrar opened a common soup kitchen. There is a children’s playground and basketball court. There are children riding bicycles in the area. Order prevails, no confusion and the food and tea lines are calm and orderly. All tents have stoves. DAP group has set up a 200/300-person dining tent with a table. There is a toilet and soap. ASDEP is registering in the field and stated that children preparing for the exam need a test book. The children were pleased and roamed freely, the playgrounds are open, they are together with their peers, the children see this as a camp and a holiday because they were having fun.
It is straightforward to approach parentless children to communicate with gifts/help; they are open to abuse.
Fears of child abduction and abuse are widely expressed among earthquake victims. There is much clothing everywhere.
There were 20 tents in the tent area in the Çay neighborhood. Families had just settled in; there was a lot: of garbage in the area, and there was no food or soup kitchen, WC, etc. There are no areas yet. The headman knows the people staying in the tents and knows their needs. Although no babies were in the tents, a woman who bought a pacifier caught our attention. People do not think very clearly about their needs. We have come across people who do not buy unnecessary or excess materials or those who need them.
Earthquake victims were placed in the indoor sports hall affiliated to the Iskenderun Youth Services and Sports Provincial Directorate. There were too many children. There was a water tank outside that everyone could use. It is an area where 10 thousand people are sheltered; some of them were sent to Adana, and some were placed in tents and continued to be settled. Meals come from outside, but as of today, meals have been started in the dining halls. It is a mixed group. The number of immigrants, refugees, and children and patients are high. WC is used and clean. There are cleaning staff. It is stuffy and smells heavy.
