INFORMATION BULLETIN WILDFIRES – 05.08.2021 TURKISH RED CRESCENT

Date of Issue: 05 August 2021

Date of Disaster: Ongoing since Point of Contact: 28.07.2021 Kaan SANER, Director of International Policies and Partnerships, Turkish Red Crescent, TRC E-mail: [email protected]

Host National Society: Turkish Red Crescent

Situation Overview

A total of 180 wildfires have affected 38 different provinces in Turkey. The fires started on 28.07.2021 and continue to rage mainly in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Turkey. 12 wildfires are still continuing in the provinces of; Antalya, Aydın, Denizli, Isparta and Muğla.

According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey, a total of 8 people lost their lives due to wildfires. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), Metropolitan and Local Municipalities as well as the Coast Guard, Gendarmerie and Police forces are devoting staff and resources to extinguish the ongoing wildfires. More than 5,250 expert personnel, 51 helicopters, 16 aircraft fire extinguishers, 850 mobile water tankers, 9 aerial reconnaissance drones as well as 850 heavy machinery and mobile water tankers of various kinds have been deployed to battle the raging fires. In addition the Coast Guard has deployed 520 personnel, 26 boats, 1 corvette class vessel, 3 specialist search and rescue teams as well as 1 helicopter to help the disaster response efforts. The Gendarmerie have deployed a total of 2,310 personnel, 317 vehicles and 4 helicopters while the Police Forces have set up mobile kitchens and made available a number of water cannon vehicles to extinguish the fires.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has stated that they have made available all state guest houses in the region in order to provide housing for those in need of shelter assistance. As a result, 1.332 persons have been provided shelter support. AFAD has stated there is a total capacity of 5.064 beds which remains on standby should any need arise. In addition, 557 family sized tents, 40 general use large scale tents, 204 container living units as well as 42 portable toilets have been deployed to the fire affected areas by AFAD.

The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization officials are continuing damage assessment field work in the provinces which have been affected by the wildfires.

The wildfire which affected the Ören district of Muğla and was in close proximity to the Kemerköy Thermal Power Plant, has subsequently been brought under control.

According to the latest statements made by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey, 8 people have lost their lives as a result of the fires.

Breakdown of the continuing wildfires according to provinces are as follows (Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Turkey):

- 21 wildfires have affected the Manavgat and Gündoğmuş districts of Antalya / 2 fires are still raging, - 14 wildfires have affected the , Köyceğiz, , Kavaklıdere, Yılanlı and Seydikemer districts of Muğla / 7 fires are still raging, - 2 wildfires have affected the Karacasu district of Aydın / 1 fire is still raging, - 3 wildfires have affected the Sütçüler district of Isparta / 1 fire is still raging, - 7 wildfires have affected the Güney district of Denizli / 1 fire is still raging.

The average temperature in Antalya and Muğla provinces being 40 degrees celcius with high winds and record low humidity are further complicating efforts to bring the wildfires under control.

Overview of Operating National Society Response Action

The President of the Turkish Red Crescent, Dr. Kerem KINIK mobilized all the TRC teams from the initial moments of the wildfires. Since the beginning of the wildfires on July 28, all the efforts have been continuing under the leadership of Dr. Kerem KINIK. Director-General of the Turkish Red Crescent, Dr İbrahim Altan coordinates all the relief efforts of the TRC from the ground.

TRC teams are working around the clock to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need. The Turkish Red Crescent has set up crisis desks in the affected regions through its Deputy Directorate General of Disaster Management and mobilized 1.262 staff members (including disaster response specialists) as well as 7.504 volunteers since the beginning of the disaster response. The field teams have hence been on active field duty since 28.07.2021.

Turkish Red Crescent response has been focused on providing humanitarian assistance for the wildfires raging in 11 different provinces; Dörtyol district of Hatay, Kozan district of Adana, Manavgat district of Antalya, Sütçüler district of Isparta, Marmaris district of Muğla, Seydikemer district of Muğla, Buldan district of Denizli, district of Muğla, Milas district of Muğla, Köyceğiz district of Muğla and the Karacasu district of Aydın.

The activities undertaken by the Turkish Red Crescent disaster response teams include; distribution of hot meals through mobile kitchen units, distribution of food baskets, distribution of clothing items, hygiene sets, ready to eat meals, drinking water and beverages as well as the provision of psychosocial support and assistance. 31 different Turkish Red Crescent branches located throughout the affected provinces have also been actively involved in the provision and delivery of the above stated relief materials.

In addition, first aid assistance has been provided by Turkish Red Crescent staff to minor wounds suffered by local residents experiencing the effects of the wildfires.

Since the beginning of the crisis, 349.192 persons have been provided with food assistance by the Turkish Red Crescent disaster response teams. The Turkish Red Crescent has distributed a total of 73.732 hot meals to those in need through 24 mobile kitchen units at 129 different distribution points. A total of 123.492 hot meals have been distributed as of 11.00 am on 05.08.2021 with the addition of the assistance provided by municipalities and other NGO’s as well as various hotels located in the region.

As of 05.08.2021, The Turkish Red Crescent has allocated 144 passenger vehicles, 26 catering units, 12 fire monitoring / reconnaissance vehicles, 12 minivans, 13 trucks, 7 communications vehicles and 1 field coordination vehicle.

Through the 9 days of disaster response and humanitarian assistance activities conducted by the Turkish Red Crescent, a total of; 405.005 liters of water (710.377 units), 210.800 units of ready to eat rations, 181.879 units of snacks, 246.745 units of beverages, 2.736 hygiene sets, 660 sets of clothing as well as 112 food baskets have been distributed.

More than 220,000 donors have contributed to TRC’s aid campaign.

TRC volunteers will work for a green Turkey. Having registered with gonulluol.org and working in the disaster area, the strong volunteer organization of TRC has also started preparations for the post-fire reforestation of the areas affected by wildfires. TRC volunteers will also mobilize for the reforestation and the expansion of the forest areas under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.