Pointing out that the ‘Integrated Disaster Management System’, which includes the public, private sector and the public, is important in major natural disasters such as earthquakes, experts state that this happened in the Kahramanmaraş earthquake.
Stating that the state cannot meet the needs of the disaster victims alone, NGOs and the society should take a role in every stage of the disaster management process, the experts note that the people who shared all their material and spiritual resources with each other in the Maraş-centered earthquake kept the spirit of solidarity alive throughout the country.
Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services Emergency and Disaster Management Program Inst. See. Ayşe Aydemir made evaluations emphasizing the importance of the support provided by the society and non-governmental organizations in disaster management.
Disaster management also includes community participation
Stating that disasters are defined as natural or human-based events that cause physical, social and economic losses for people, disrupt or interrupt daily life, and cannot cope with local opportunities, Emergency Aid and Disaster Management Specialist. Ayşe Aydemir said, “It is a visible fact that the loss of life and property resulting from natural or man-made disasters is enormous. The ‘Disaster Management’ phenomenon that emerged at this point includes the processes of planning, coordinating and managing mitigation, preparedness, response and improvement activities against all hazards. The Integrated Disaster Management System is a disaster management system in which all the works before, during and after the disaster are included in the public, private sector and the public. In other words, we can express it as a disaster management system that includes not only institutions and organizations, but also society.” said.
Society showed its effect in disasters
Emergency Aid and Disaster Management Specialist. Ayşe Aydemir said that in the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes that took place on February 6, 2023, she personally experienced how effective the society could be in disasters and continued her words as follows:
“As in the earthquakes and other disasters we have experienced in the past, the first responders in this disaster were the local people living in the disaster area. Indigenous people made every effort to survive by their own means. The people made a great effort to hold on to their family members, neighbors and loved ones in such a great disaster. Search and rescue efforts in disaster areas and aid to disaster victims began to be delivered quickly. The biggest known fact is that; It is now of great importance to act collectively in the fight against disasters that have the potential to affect everyone locally or locally. Effective use of all available resources and awareness-raising activities in disasters are also very important in the disaster management process.”
The most important helping element of the public should be the people.
Emphasizing that the work was insufficient in the last earthquake disaster, Emergency Aid and Disaster Management Specialist. Ayşe Aydemir said, “It is clear that it is not known when, where and what size a disaster will occur during this earthquake, that disasters threaten human life, and therefore, in the studies carried out, it is obvious that the public cannot fulfill this function alone. The most important element that will help the public power in many activities, from creating a disaster risk perception, to the use of existing resources, from training activities to intervention and improvement works, should be the civilian population. At the same time, non-governmental organizations, which include the work that people do on a purely voluntary basis or in an organized way, in order to help the survivors in these disasters, are an important resource in the fight against disasters. said.
NGOs have an important role in providing support
Expressing that non-governmental organizations have an important role in providing support to disasters that damage the social structure and cause economic collapse, Emergency Aid and Disaster Management Specialist. Ayşe Aydemir said, “Civil society organizations are involved in the disaster management process with the aim of finding solutions to the problems that arise completely with the free will of the individuals, without any material or moral expectation for the individuals who have experienced disasters. Volunteering is essential in non-governmental organizations, sincerity and self-sacrifice are considered important. For this reason, the efforts of the volunteers will be just as much and meaningful. Evaluation of non-governmental organizations for solutions to all kinds of social problems in our country is an important issue. said.
The number of NGOs increased after the 99 earthquake
Noting that there was a significant increase in the number of non-governmental organizations and their members in our country, especially after the 1999 earthquake, Emergency Aid and Disaster Management Specialist. Ayşe Aydemir said, “One of the most important effects of the 1999 earthquake was the awareness of NGOs. The inadequacy of the existing public administration alone in the earthquake showed the importance and necessity of public participation. Of course, the state alone cannot meet the needs of disaster victims. Therefore, it is extremely important for NGOs and society to take a role in every stage of the disaster management process, and to plan and conduct joint studies with public institutions. The efforts of the public and non-governmental organizations until the relevant public institutions reach the victims; There were many topics from human rescue activity to nutrition, transportation to shelter.” he said.
Earthquake reminded our human values
Underlining that there was a very serious social solidarity that we all witnessed in the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, which touched us and reminded us of our human values, Aydemir said, “The Turkish people have kept the spirit of solidarity alive throughout the country by sharing all their material and spiritual opportunities with each other. In order to send them to the disaster area, people separated their food, water, money, clothes, and a small child separated their toys and made an effort to deliver them to the disaster victims. With the disaster we experienced here, we have seen how strong we are as a country.” used the phrases.
Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency
