Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
Izmir Earthquake Rapid Assessment Report November 2020
Izmir Earthquake – October to November, 2020 Page 1 of 12
Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
Contents 1. Overview ...... 3 2. Dünya Doctorları Derneği Response ...... 4 3. Introduction ...... 5 4. Sector Assessment ...... 6 4.1. Shelter...... 6 4.2. Non-Food Items (NFIs) ...... 8 4.3. Food Aid ...... 8 4.4. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) ...... 9 4.5. Education ...... 9 4.6. Health ...... 9 4.7. Protection ...... 9 4.8. COVID-19 ...... 10 5. DDD’s response ...... 11 6. Recommendation ...... 11
Izmir Earthquake – October to November, 2020 Page 2 of 12
Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
1. Overview response is comprehensive isolated On October 30 2020, the western groups such as affected refugee province of İzmir, Turkey was hit by a communities are at risk of exclusion to 6.6-7.0 earthquake that primarily aid for a variety of reasons such damaged Izmir city. 1 The earthquake reluctance to leave their damaged was followed by a tsunami which homes or language barriers. damaged coastal areas and towns of the province and was felt in provinces Dünya Doktorları (Doctors of the World- as far as Muğla and Manisa. It was Medecins du Monde) is on the ground followed by over 1,400 aftershocks with providing health services such as 43 of them being over a magnitude of psychological support services and 4.0 geologists expect these aftershocks Covid-19 kits. Based on staff to continue for several weeks.2 observations, and needs assessments, the following gaps in services are More than 100 people have died while highlighted: over 1,000 have been injured. 3 ➢ Aid and services in the larger Hundreds of people have been left encampments are being provided homeless and face prolonged to the detriment of the small displacement over the coming winter camps, which are reporting more months as their homes and buildings needs. have been damaged by the initial ➢ More hygiene kits including earthquake or the subsequent COVID – 19 PPEs (masks and aftershocks. Businesses, hospitals, and child-masks) and disinfections are municipality buildings have also been needed. damaged and will require renovation to ➢ More mobile lavatories and ensure that services can be safely showers. provided to people in the future. This ➢ Psychosocial support, for situation is exacerbated by the COVID- residents of all ages as well as 19 crises, which threatens to rapidly refugee communities. increase among Izmir communities, as ➢ Mobile psychosocial support to people seek shelter in crowded areas reach those staying in smaller and with families and friends. encampments or suburbs. ➢ Awareness raising on available More than 86 encampments have been support mechanisms in response established to host displaced people, to the earthquake, particularly with the response being led and targeting isolated groups such as coordinated by AFAD, Izmir refugees. Municipalities, and NGOs. While the
1 While the magnitude of the earthquake is https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10- reported as 6.6 by Turkish state institutions, 31/earthquake-shakes-turkey-greece-buildings- international institutions such as The United States destroyed/12834300 Geological Survey and The European- 2 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10- Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported the 31/earthquake-shakes-turkey-greece-buildings- magnitude of the earthquake as 6.9 and 7.0 destroyed/12834300 3 https://bianet.org/english/crisis/233694-death- toll-rises-to-79-in-izmir-earthquake Izmir Earthquake – October to November, 2020 Page 3 of 12
Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
2. Dünya Doctorları Derneği Response
Since 2016, Dünya Doktorları Derneği and non – state actors to respond to the (DDD), has been working in Izmir, needs of the affected population. providing a range of services to refugees, undocumented migrants, and In addition, DDD has also been seasonal workers through its Mobile coordinating within the Civil Society Medical Units (MMUs). With the support Organizations Disaster Platform (Sivil of Directorate-General for European Toplum Afet Kordinasyon Platformu- Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid SITAP), of which it is a member Operations (ECHO), DDD provides organization. SITAP was established in Psychosocial Support Services (PSS), response to the Elazığ and Malatya MHPSS (Mental Health and earthquake on 24 January 2020. SITAP Psychosocial Support Service), and members have been coordinating primary health care. Through Mobile ongoing needs assessment covering 86 Medical Units, DDD has provided encampments. Most of these camps or primary health care, sexual and encampments have been set-up by reproductive health (SRH), and health local municipalities to accommodate awareness services including Covid-19 displaced people. awareness to disadvantaged communities such as Bayrakli district as 30 of the 86 encampments consist of well as rural district of Torbalı. more than 30 individuals and 9 of them more than 200. A total of 13,266 The response to the Izmir earthquake is individuals are recorded as having being coordinated by AFAD (The been sheltered at the visited sites. Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency) with the support of the This report provides a situational Gendarmerie, Turkish army forces, the assessment of the impact of the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC), and civil earthquake with a particular focus on society organizations including I/NGOs vulnerable groups, gaps in services, and 41 provincial-level AFAD and DDD’s response. Information is directorates. There are aid distribution based on data from the SITAP needs Assembly Areas in all districts of Izmir assessment, DDD staff reports, and totalling almost 400.4 DDD has joined other field assessments. the coordination platform led by AFAD and has been collaborating with state
4 https://izmir.afad.gov.tr/izmir-toplanma-alanlari Izmir Earthquake – October to November, 2020 Page 4 of 12
Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
3. Introduction
Numb Izmir is Turkey’s third largest city with a Number Area name7 District er of of tents population of over 4.5 million. There are people 147.134 Syrians registered under Âşık Veysel Bornova 827 4135 Temporary Protection throughout Izmir Recreation province, 5 though there are large Ege numbers of undocumented refugees University Bornova 120 720 and migrants. Izmir province’s strategic Campus Bornova old location on the Aegean coast, a few Bornova 215 1075 city town miles from the Greek islands of Lesbos Buca Buca 194 1164 and Chios attracts migrants seeking to Hippodrome enter Europe, while many more find Buca Buca 159 795 work in the industry and factories Stadium around Izmir city and in the surrounding Seferihisar district Seferihis rural areas as seasonal workers. 90 360 Sigicak ar region Bornova, Bayraklı and Buca are some Bilal Cakircali Bayraklı 171 1026 of the districts most impacted by the Park earthquake. Bornova in particular is an Eceler Park Bayraklı 130 650 Smyrna area primarily built upon old river-bed Bornova 270 1620 composed primarily of alluvial soil or Square Bayrakli Skate loose sediment, which increased the Bayraklı 110 550 Park duration and thus the impact of the 75. Yıl Park Bayraklı 50 250 6 October 30 earthquake. The area was Tepekule additionally affected by urban Neighborhood Bayraklı 50 250 transformation as it is host to older Other buildings or those not built in - 405 2025 accordance with regulations. These locations districts are also host to some Syrian families under temporary protection in The majority (99%) of the refugees the city. Refugee communities also living in Izmir are Syrian. Most of them reside in Doganlar, Pinarbasi, Isikkent are with irregular registrations (60%) and Mevlana neighbourhoods and while the rest do not have any Konak as Basmane neighbourhood. registration at all. Other nationalities, in More refugees and migrant’s residence these informal settlements include in the outskirts of Izmir city in often Afghans and other central Asians 8 poorly constructed housing, which may nationalities. The main barriers for the have been damaged. refugee population is legal documentation - 35% reported they are
5 Directorate General of Migration and https://www.milliyet.com.tr/ege/bayraklinin- Management, Statistics, October 28, 2020. aluvyon-zemini-yikimin-onunu-acti-6343766 https://www.goc.gov.tr/gecici-koruma5638. 7 Data is available on the AFAD website. 6 See the reported interview with the lead of 8 DDD (internal) needs assessment of refugees and Chamber of Geophysics in Izmir in Turkish language migrants, Izmir, August 2020. Izmir Earthquake – October to November, 2020 Page 5 of 12
Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
unable to acquire legal documentation - and are therefore largely excluded from About 39 of the 86 encampments public health, education services, and have been recorded as hosting are limited in their housing. As such, vulnerable individuals in these undocumented Syrians and migrants categories. Six out of the 39 are forced to stay in unofficial and poor- encampments consist of more than quality housing or encampments. 200 individuals and 12 of more than 30 individuals. Only three The SITAP report identifies three encampments are reported to categories of vulnerable people: include refugees, but these three refugees, elderlies, and disabled shelters consist of more than 200 individuals. However, no exact data has individuals (specifically; 700, 2000 been reported on their needs in the and 420). assessment.
4. Sector Assessment Most of the buildings that either 4.1. Shelter collapsed or suffered extensive damages were illegally built with subpar More than 17 building have totally materials, or in contravention of collapsed while over a 180 have been construction standards for the heavily damaged with many more earthquake-prone region. The Ministry being structurally compromised of Environment and Urbanisation resulting in hundreds of people announced that 300 teams are being being displaced. deployed to the areas, to assess the extent of damage to residential buildings.9
9 mzedelerin-hasar-tespiti-icin-basvuru-yapmasi- https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/depre gerekmiyor-527459.html Izmir Earthquake – October to November, 2020 Page 6 of 12
Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
There is no official information of Residents of the buildings that damage to Syrian-hosted buildings, collapsed or were extensively damaged though this could in part be a reluctance have been moved to temporary on their part to report any damage and shelters. However, there are hundreds risk being displaced from their homes. of other buildings that were damaged and whose residents have been advised not to return, pending an official damage assessment of the building. This has resulted in a need for more temporary shelter for hundreds of people in the short to long-term. Where possible, residents have sought shelter with relatives and friends, while others have been forced to avail of the public camps. Under the coordination of AFAD and the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), temporary encampments have been built in different districts.
Nearly 3,500 tents were set up in Bornova, Bayraklı, and Buca and nearly 9,000 earthquake survivors been accommodated in these tents.10
In other affected areas outside Izmir central city such as Mevlana, Bayraklı and Manavkuyu neighbourhoods, smaller and informal encampments are being built by IMM and AFAD, while Reports suggest that some refugees TRC and some municipal workers are have preferred to stay outdoors also in these areas.11 According to a close to their houses or are unaware statement of AFAD, cash support will of the shelter provided by authorities 13 also be provided to those who lost their in affected districts. One reason for belongings due to the collapsed this is that undocumented refugees buildings and those, whose houses are may be reluctant or fearful of going heavily damaged.12 to the authorities, which has been
10 For the most updated exact numbers of 12 It has been reported that 30.000 TL is to be delivered shelter related aid, please see the press provided to those whose houses are collapsed and release of AFAD in Turkish language 13.000 to those, whose houses are heavily https://www.afad.gov.tr/izmir-seferihisar- damaged, as owners of their houses and 5.000TL depremi-duyuru-51-02112020---1330 to those, whose rental houses are heavily 11 Support to Life, Rapid Assessment Report, damaged. 01.11.2020, pg. 2. https://www.afad.gov.tr/izmir-seferihisar- https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resou depremi-duyuru-50-02112020---1215 rces/STL%20Sit_Rep%20and%20Needs_%20%C4% 13 ASAM, November 2, 2020. B0zmir%20Earthquake_V1.pdf Izmir Earthquake – October to November, 2020 Page 7 of 12
Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
reported by some NGOs.14 There is also a communication gap.
In part due to a language gap: refugees may not know how to respond to an earthquake, what support is available and where to get it. Given that many undocumented refugees live in informal housing or without documentation, they are also unable to qualify for the cash support that AFAD is making available.
Additional shelter related needs are expected to rise, with the onset of winter and heavy rains for the Izmir province.15
4.2. Non-Food Items (NFIs)
A variety of actors on the ground are providing non-food items to displaced 4.3. Food Aid families in the temporary shelters. AFAD, IMM, Ministry of Family, Labour Food needs of the affected population and Social Policies, local municipalities, residing in Izmir and other surrounding and NGOs such as TRC, IHH, IBC 16 areas are being met by coordinated and Besir Association, are providing efforts of AFAD, TRC, Izmir NFIs such as blankets, hygiene Metropolitan municipality and other materials, disinfectants and some partners such as the Bursa Metropolitan masks. 17 However, as highlighted by Municipality, Mamak municipality, other NGOs, those refugees who Cesme municipality, and Besir 19 continue to resident near their damaged Association. homes, are in need of additional NFI such as tents, sleeping bags, blankets, According to SITAP, food aid is winter clothing and so forth.18 needed for 27 encampments out of the 86 assessed: 13 out of 27 consist of more than 30 individuals and 4 of them include more than 100 individuals.
14 https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/gocmen- 17 Aside from DDD, IBC is the only NGO that dayanisma-agi-suriyeliler-tepkilerden-cekindikleri- highlighted its distribution of Covid-19 protection icin-yardim-talebinde-bile-bulunmadi-haber- materials 1503694 18 Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers 15 International Blue Crescent, and Migrants (ASAM), “The Izmir Earthquake of https://reliefweb.int/report/turkey/internat-onal- 30 October 2020 and ASAM’s Field Study for blue-crescent-s-ibc-response-izm-r-earthquake Assessing the Urgent Needs of Refugees,” 16 ibid November 2, 2020. 19 DDD field staff observations. Izmir Earthquake – October to November, 2020 Page 8 of 12
Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
disinfectants and mobile lavatories. The reluctance or inability of some In addition, DDD staff have refugee communities not to leave their highlighted there is a need for masks houses and travel the distance to for children. access the assembly points, where coordinated assistance (including food aid) is being delivered indicates that 4.5. Education there is an unmet food aid need for refugee communities, that are far from Over 139 schools have been damaged the assembly points. by the earthquake, necessitating their inspection and renovation before classes can reopen. As such, the 4.4. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Ministry of National Education (WASH) announced that formal education in affected areas has been suspended for 22 Within the larger encampments in areas at least a week. such as Bornova, Bayraklı, and Sefherihisar, water, sanitation, and hygiene needs are being addressed 4.6. Health through mobile lavatories. 20 However, respondents noted that there is a need More than 100 people have been killed for more portable lavatories as only two in the earthquake, though this number have been provided near the camps.21 is expected to rise as more building are excavated. Another 1,000 people have There is a greater need for water, been injured ranging from minor injuries sanitation, and hygiene in those smaller such as broken limbs, to more severe and informal encampments set in the life-changing injuries. According to DDD affected areas surrounding Izmir city. Izmir team and reports of other actors,23 According to the SITAP assessment, there is no reported major damage to the lack of mobile lavatories was medical centres and hospitals. Formal reported for 43 (out of 86) health facilities have not reported any encampments assessed, of which 23 major gaps in the provision of medical consists of more than 30 individuals and health care services to the affected 7 more than 200. population in Izmir city and surrounding districts. Required WASH materials include maternity kits (particularly in refugee locations) and hygiene items 4.7. Protection specifically COVID-related PPE and
20 AFAD reported that 4 mobile lavatories are 22 https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/milli-egitim- delivered to the affected areas but without bakani-selcuk-izmirdeki-bazi-okullarda-inceleme- specifying they are delivered to Izmir centre or yapti/2026971 surrounding areas, see below link of AFAD press 23 Support to Life, Rapid Assessment Report, release in Turkish language, 01.11.2020, pg. 3. https://www.afad.gov.tr/izmir-seferihisar- https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resou depremi-duyuru-51-02112020---1330 rces/STL%20Sit_Rep%20and%20Needs_%20%C4% 21 ibid B0zmir%20Earthquake_V1.pdf Izmir Earthquake – October to November, 2020 Page 9 of 12
Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
There have been report of high levels of intransient nature of their position, anxiety among those directly affected trauma from displacement, and ongoing by their loss of their homes or loved daily stress related to finances and ones. In addition, anxiety is common navigating services and bureaucracy in among men, women, and children, a foreign language. Field teams have particularly during the aftershocks, as also noted that many refugees are likely well as ongoing fear of further to experience intense fear and anxiety, earthquakes or building collapses. as some of them might not have Some psychosocial support is currently previously experienced and earthquake being provided by Provincial Directorate or know what to do in its aftermath. of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services (MoFLSS) teams and Data from the SITAP confirms the TRC teams to people in affected areas. need for psychosocial support, which was reported for 30 of the According to observations of DDD staff assessed encampments assessed in Izmir and other actor, 24 the (16 of which consists of more than 30 immediate basic needs of the affected individuals and 6 more than 200). Turkish population are being met by the state and non-state actors operating on the ground. Psychosocial first aid 4.8. COVID-19 support is being provided by Provincial Directorate of the MoFLSS and the As mentioned within the health section presence of mobile social service above, there is an increased risk of vehicles is also reported. In addition, COVID – 19 infection in the aftermath of UNFPA, UNICEF, and ASAM plan to the earthquake as people seek shelter provide a safe space for displaced with family, or in the encampments children in the encampments.25 where there is limited social distancing.
There are some PSS being provided In anticipation for this, municipalities to children, however, a lack of have begun conducting Covid-19 monitoring or supervision regarding testing among emergency responders these activities may entail child and in some camps to try to stem protection risks.26 transmission. This has already resulted in some emergency responders testing Furthermore, as DDD field staff have positive.27 reported, refugee communities may be excluded from such services due to a Out of 86 encampments visited 56 lack of knowledge of their availability, need additional Covid – 19 personal language barriers, and ineligibility (due protection equipment, particularly to a lack of documentation). Migrants disinfectants and masks for children. and refugees are already under psychological pressure due to the
24 ibid. 26 Support to Life, November 6, 2020. 25 DDD interviews, November 6, 2020. 27 DDD interviews, November 6, 2020. Izmir Earthquake – October to November, 2020 Page 10 of 12
Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
5. DDD’s response
In addition to its ongoing work to provide ➢ Within SITAP, DDD has begun PHC, SRH and PSS to disadvantaged training volunteers to help provide communities in Bayrakli and Torbali psychological first aid and psycho- districts, DDD has also been social support in the field of trauma responding and contributing to the response and supervising the earthquake relief: psychologists of World Human Relief association. ➢ DDD is coordinating with the Izmir ➢ DDD has distributed disinfectants Health Directorate in Bornova to over 12,000 masks to nearly 500 provide PSS activities and tents. distribute Covid Hygiene kits ➢ To counter a possible surge in (containing things like masks and COVID-19, DDD is also planning disinfectants). awareness-raising campaigns to all ➢ DDD is also coordinating with earthquake-affected populations MoFLSS and has set-up a mobile (both host and refugee unit to provide PSS First-Aid communities) whether they are service at Bornova district. Further residing in encampments or within locations for PSS mobile teams are their neighbourhoods. being identified in coordination with ➢ DDD is also, planning to launch an local authorities and AFAD. awareness-raising campaign for Meanwhile, DDD is planning for refuges communities, to provide anticipated PSS emergency, by information about available temporarily relocating PSS staff earthquake relief services, how to from other location to Izmir, on access them, how to apply for rotation bases. damage assessment, and what to do after an earthquake happens.
6. Recommendation
Based on the findings detailed in this locations further from the Izmir city report, and best practices, the following centre. recommendations have been made: ➢ PSS is being provided to children ➢ Provision of psychosocial services and there are response activities to the affected population through planned. However, a lack of mobile teams, in coordination with monitoring or supervision regarding local authorities and the provincial these activities may entail child health directorate. protection risks. ➢ Expand emergency psychosocial ➢ Ensure the provision of aid to all services provision, to refugee camps. There has been some communities, especially those who unequal coverage between the do not necessarily have access to different encampments. It is natural major relief efforts, especially if their that the larger camps receive more homes have been damaged in services, but smaller encampments
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Dünya Doktorları Derneği Izmir Earthquake Assessment Report
sometimes lack mobile lavatories, hygiene, and Covid-19 kits, among others. ➢ Ensure the provision of shelter to members of the refugee communities. There is a risk that refugees’ homes in areas further away which may have suffered damage, are not being reached. In addition, there have been reports of refugees being fearful to approach the authorities and benefit from aid or identify themselves as refugees. ➢ Provision of Covid-19 Hygiene and Maternity Kits to the most vulnerable populations, including the refugee communities. There is a particular need for masks and disinfectants to be included in hygiene kits. ➢ Information dissemination and awareness-raising regarding earthquake relief services and how to assess/apply for official damage assessment.
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