Author

Susan Dabbous

Media Officer
Caritas Europa

Seven months after the devastating earthquake in southern Turkey and northwestern Syria, which killed over 50,000 people, too many survivors are still living in temporary settlements, explains Giulia Longo, Caritas Turkey Programme Manager. Here is her interview.

Giulia Longo, what is the current situation in the affected areas?

The situation in the earthquake-affected areas remains challenging. There are too many people who are still living in temporary settlements, such as tents and containers, which in the current hot weather conditions can be particularly dangerous and catch fire. There was a dramatic fire in July in a big refugee camp located in Hatay. 50 of the 87 tents caught fire. It was very frightening. Unfortunately, it is not only the hot weather that concerns us but also the floods that come with the autumn rains.

Giulia Longo at the Caritas Europa Communication Forum 2022
Giulia Longo at the Caritas Europa Communication Forum 2022

Are there safer alternatives to the tents?

Not really. The Turkish government has started the process of dismantling large informal camps and relocating people to formal ones. Although this is being done with good intentions, it has added to the sense of insecurity in the area as people are often given very short notice or sometimes not even provided with a specific relocation date.

Can you tell us about the scale of humanitarian aid that has been delivered to the citizens and refugees in these areas?

Since the earthquake, Caritas Anatolia and other Dioceses (in Izmir and Istanbul) have worked tirelessly to provide relief to the victims, especially with food and shelter. Immediately after, we received significant donations from the Caritas confederation, which allowed us to expand our assistance efforts and reach nearly 15,000 people with our humanitarian aid services. These include mostly food and hot meals, but we also provide other personalised services. We are aware of the particular struggle of specific marginalised communities, such as ethnic minorities like the Afghans and Uzbeks, especially in Iskenderun and Ovahent, without forgetting the Syrian refugees living in informal settlements that often lack access to clean water.

Cartas staff in Iskenderun. Photo: Santina Morciano
Cartas staff in Iskenderun. Photo: Santina Morciano

How long is it expected to take to rebuild the affected areas fully?

The reconstruction process is complex in many areas, including in those where we are operating where the reconstruction hasn’t even started. It’s safe to say that it will take several years, if not decades, to fully rebuild the affected areas.

Habibe, in the Ovaken camp. Photo: Santina Morciano
Habibe, in the Ovaken camp. Photo: Santina Morciano

Despite the challenges, the homeless people in tents are trying to make a living. Is Caritas providing support in that regard?

Yes, they are really trying to rebuild their lives and seeing their resilience is highly motivating for us. Some people are continuing their previous jobs, others need skills training. Caritas, in collaboration with the local communities and others is active in providing vocational programs and support for small businesses, especially for those who have lost everything. I’ll never forget the satisfaction of Habibe, a 23-year-old woman with three children, when we helped her set up her sewing workshop in a tent in the formal camp in Ovakent. The earthquake destroyed her house and her small business as she used to work at home.

Aside from distributing humanitarian aid, Caritas in Turkey provides other services. Can you provide more details?

In addition to distributing humanitarian aid, our social workers are supporting the many children who have been out of school since the earthquake happened. We have set up education tents to ensure that children continue to receive an education despite the challenging circumstances. These tents serve as safe spaces for learning and provide educational materials and support to Turkish and Syrian children. Listening centres of Caritas Anatolia address the individual needs of beneficiaries seeking accommodation, education, vocational training and health care. Additionally, through Caritas microfinancing programmes, some small businesses, such as barbershops and bakeries, have been set up in formal and informal camps.

Desplaced students in the Caritas educational tent in Iskenderun
Desplaced students in the Caritas educational tent in Iskenderun

Many churches were severely damaged. Did Caritas Turkey manage to start the restoration of some of them?

We are still waiting for the public authorities’ authorisation to start the restoration process. Considering the vast scale of destruction, the government has prioritised the demolition and reconstruction of public buildings. The private ones come second, while the historic buildings are the least urgent. Unfortunately, the churches are classified as historic buildings like other monuments and old religious infrastructures.