Emergency aid, psychological support for earthquake victims

Yalova Project, Turkey

Project in numbers

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Project Summary

In August 1999, a devastating earthquake (7.6 Richter scale) hit the northwest of Turkey and was followed by numerous aftershocks. The cities of Izmir, Adapazari, Golcuk and Yalova were the worst affected areas. Thousands of people were buried under the bricks and stones of demolished houses. The Turkish government declared a “state of emergency” and pleaded for international help. According to their statistics, over 15,000 people died and more than 66,000 houses were destroyed or heavily damaged. AMURT was immediately on site to analyse the extent of the damage and to address the needs of the earthquake victims. First of all, it distributed water and food in Yalova and other areas. Due to the disastrous situation in the region, many individuals were analysed as suffering from post-traumatic stress and depression. These emotional problems were very common in the first aid camps.

In order to address this problem, the Turkish Psychological Association of Istanbul, in cooperation with AMURT, intervened and starting a psychological mentoring centre in the Kazim Karabekir’s reception camp in the Hacimehmet Valley. Many volunteers, amongst them several Turkish psychology students, helped to support and counsel the traumatised victims.

The management of the project was handed over to the German Red Cross in 2001.