Speakers
Description
Turkey has been significantly affected by earthquakes throughout its history. However, awareness and institutional responses to disasters underwent a major turning point after the 1999 Marmara earthquake, particularly as the country's main economic hub was impacted. More recently, on February 6, 2023, the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes struck eleven provinces in southeastern Turkey, causing major disruptions to the socio-economic structure of the region. Each province and urban-rural area within the affected region displayed distinct characteristics, and therefore, the earthquake’s impact has varied.
The earthquake-affected region has diverse socio-economic and spatial structures. Gaziantep, Adıyaman, and Kilis are strong in industry and trade, while Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Osmaniye are more focused on agriculture and energy. Malatya and Elazığ balance among the sectors of mining, agriculture, and industry, whereas Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır are transitioning from agriculture to industry and services. Unemployment is lower in Gaziantep, but higher in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş. Migration is significant in Gaziantep, Hatay, and Şanlıurfa, while Gaziantep benefits from a strong transport network, and Hatay is strategically positioned for maritime trade. The earthquakes affected 13.9 million people, forcing 3.3 million to relocate (Sağıroğlu et al., 2023). Economic losses exceeded $87 billion (TÜRKONFED, 2023), critical infrastructure suffered severe damage, and unemployment rose above 20% (Artantaş & Gürsoy, 2024). The destruction also disrupted regional supply chains and exacerbated socio-economic vulnerabilities.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the post-earthquake recovery process in the provinces impacted by the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, taking into account both short-term and long-term recovery perspectives. Through a systematic review of research articles, institutional reports, and local news sources, the study identifies actions, challenges, and impact levels, while examining the varying degrees of disaster-impact across provinces. Similarities and differences are highlighted using content analysis.
In this context, the recovery processes of heavily affected provinces, such as Adıyaman, Hatay, and Kahramanmaraş, will be compared with those of less affected areas, assessing how regional differences influence policy-making. This approach will contribute to the development of region-specific strategies and a better understanding of lessons learned from previous experiences. Additionally, an analysis of stakeholders will be conducted to examine the roles of various actors in the recovery process. Government institutions play a key role in the recovery process, focusing primarily on reconstruction, economic recovery, and resource allocation. However, the involvement of local governments, the private sector, NGOs, and international organizations is also crucial. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provided both immediate and long-term assistance, organized community-based solidarity initiatives, and facilitated neighborhood outreach efforts. Whereas international organizations contributed significantly to the recovery process by providing both financial and technical support. However, the roles of these various stakeholders have not been fully analyzed. Therefore, the findings of this study aim to offer new insights into the actors involved and the power dynamics at play, providing a clearer understanding of the obstacles to recovery in the affected areas.
References
Artantaş, E., & Gürsoy, H. (2024). Strategies For Mitigating The Destructive And Economic Impacts Of Earthquakes And Lessons From Turkey’s Earthquake Experiences: The Cases Of The Kahramanmaraş And Gölcük Earthquakes. Journal Of Economics And Administrative Sciences Of Ömer Halisdemir University, 17(2), 192-214.
Sağıroğlu, A. Z., Ünsal, R., & Özenci, F. (2023) Deprem Sonrası Göç Ve İnsan Hareketlilikleri: Durum Değerlendirme Raporu, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi Göç Politikaları Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi
TÜRKONFED. (2023). 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Disaster Status Report.
| Keywords | Recovery; earthquake; actors; power relations; Turkey |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
