Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
The IX. INCSOS International Congress of Social Sciences, Al-Iskandariyah, Mısır, 24 - 26 Nisan 2025, ss.163-175, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
Throughout history, natural disasters have occasionally caused significant destruction, leading to substantial disruptions in the ordinary course of life. Among these disasters, earthquakes pose the most serious threat to humanity due to their frequency, the high number of casualties they cause, and their considerable economic impact. Situated on the Alpine-Himalayan seismic belt—one of the world's most active earthquake zones—Türkiye has experienced numerous devastating earthquakes. The most recent of these, the earthquakes of February 6, affected 11 provinces and resulted in widespread destruction. In the aftermath of the earthquake, alongside public institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also played an active role in search and rescue operations as well as humanitarian relief efforts. NGOs made significant contributions in providing essential services such as food, shelter, healthcare, and psychological support to those affected, particularly during the critical early response phase. Given that no state can permanently maintain sufficient resources and personnel to respond to large-scale disasters on its own, the voluntary, cost-free assistance provided by NGOs to the public sector in the aftermath of such crises becomes particularly vital. This study aims to examine the relief activities carried out by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the aftermath of earthquakes, focusing on the February 6 earthquakes through the lens of search and rescue, food provision, shelter, healthcare, and psychological support services. The research is based on the relevant literature as well as interview notes collected from NGO representatives in four of the provinces most severely affected by the February 6 earthquakes (Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Adıyaman, and Malatya) within the scope of a TÜBİTAK-funded project.