Sharing the Responsibility: Ministry of National Education's Disaster Preparedness and Response to Kahramanmaraş Earthquake


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Sensin C., Gokmenoglu T.

Journal of Integrated Disaster Risk Management, vol.14, no.1, pp.27-48, 2024 (Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 14 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.5595/001c.94365
  • Journal Name: Journal of Integrated Disaster Risk Management
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.27-48
  • Keywords: disaster education, Disaster management, disaster preparedness, disaster response, educational management, Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Disaster-resilient communities develop effective preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation strategies. Following the experience of earthquakes on February 6, the Turkish community has been questioning its resilience. This paper examined the Ministry of National Education's five-year preparedness strategies before the earthquake and its response to the February 6 earthquakes in Turkiye. The findings revealed that the Ministry made efforts to raise awareness among the community by developing training programs and securing schools by strengthening or rebuilding facilities. The ministry's disaster response actions were classified into five categories: education, first aid and healthcare, food and water management, search and rescue, and shelter management. Our analysis suggested that the Ministry put crucial effort into disaster education, but more was needed to reach the entire school community. Furthermore, the Ministry responded promptly to the categories of food and water management, search and rescue, and shelter management from the first day, but not in its primary responsibility of education category.