THIS APPEAL SEEKS CHF 7,913,000
IN CASH, KIND AND SERVICES
TO ASSIST APPROXIMATELY 60,000 BENEFICIARIES FOR 6 MONTHS
The Situation

On Sunday, 3 February at 09:15 local time (0715 GMT), Turkey was struck by an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter Scale, the epicenter was located in the Bolvadin district of the Afyon province, 38.52N, 31.16E (100 kms north-northeast of Isparta). It was described as a superficial tremor which occurred at a depth of 5-6 km below the surface of the earth. The earthquake affected Isparta, Cay, Bolvadin and the Sultandagi sub-provinces of Afyon, which is located 250 km southwest of Ankara, the capital of Turkey. The earthquake was felt in the neighboring provinces of Ankara, Burdur, Isparta, Eskisehir and Sakarya. According to the Kandilli Observatory in Turkey, 646 aftershocks have been recorded since the massive earthquake - three of them were major tremors which registered 5.0, 5.2 and 5.3 on the Richter Scale (98 tremors were measured at more than 3.0 in intensity). Forty one people have been killed, while approximately 300 were injured, some severely.

There are no major disruptions of electricity, water, sewage or transportation services. Water specialists have also tested the drinking water and have found no evidence of contamination - other than the turbidity. The water system is now being chlorinated for precaution purposes. Epidemiologists have visited and have made assessments in the affected areas and have found no sign of epidemics. To meet the drinking water needs, large quantities of bottled water and water tanks have been provided by the authorities. An estimated 4,351 homes have been heavily or moderately damaged, with 6,901 others slightly damaged. Most of the housing units are either very old or badly maintained. Buildings in the region have been built with stone and mud blocks or are non resistant to earthquakes due to the lack of construction and design-work quality. An estimated 12,000 families (estimated 60,000 beneficiaries) are in need of temporary shelter. According to information received from the Afyon Provinces’ Agriculture Directorate Damage Assessment Commission, a total of 6,205 animals (689 cattle and 5,516 sheep) have been killed.

Authorities and the seismologists are instructing inhabitants of the area to stay out of buildings for the time being due to the aftershocks. Most people in the disaster affected districts are psychologically affected, and after the trauma experienced in the 1999 earthquake they require support before returning to their homes. The authorities have requested that other Turkish and international teams remain on standby. Damage assessments are still being conducted by the Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, and the damage estimates and figures could increase.

Government and other NGO’s actions

Government action

• Crisis Management Centres were immediately re-activated in the area. The Minister of Interior is coordinating the national efforts at the provincial level crisis centre. There are also 3 district level crisis centres providing mobilization and co-ordination of relief. Nine state ministers and a number of parliament members have visited the affected areas, as well as the crisis centres.
• Local employees from the General Directorate of Civil Defence (GDCD) immediately reached the disaster affected area, and carried out search and rescue activities. 180 personnel and 8 search and rescue dogs were deployed to the region for the possibility of strong after shocks.
• The Ministry of Interior sent six deputy governors (experienced on disasters) and six district civil defense managers to the area (under the authority of the Afyon Governorship).
• The Ministry of Health sent 10 ambulances, 17 doctors, 20 hospital tents, 10 store type tents, 20 wood stoves, 20 plastic sheets (ground flooring), 5 generators, 20 boxes of chlorine tablet, 200 sleeping beds and inner linings, and 500 kgs of lime to the region.
• The Ministry of Labour and Social Security sent 4 fully equipped ambulances with 1 doctor, 2 nurses, and health technician to the Bolvadin and Cay Districts.
• The Ministry of Energy and Natural Sources sent eight teams each consisting of 5 personnel, 8 vehicles with hydraulic platforms, 1 winch unit (5 tonnes), 10 generators, and 8 portable lighting sets to the region.
• The Ministry of Rural and Agriculture reported that that 154 animal stables had completely collapsed, while over 1,200 stables were extensively or slightly damaged.
• The Turkish Armed Forces sent army personnel and equipment from the Afyon Garrison to assist in the relief effort. Food for 10,000 people, milk adequate for 20,000 people, and water adequate for 20,000 people was sent to the disaster affected areas by the Army Forces.
• The Gendarmerie General Commandership also sent 32 polar tents, 4 tents for general purpose, and various type of materials to the region.
• The Police Forces and Gendarmerie are providing security for the victims and the aid workers.

Other Agencies’ Action

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is supporting the relief activities of the International Blue Crescent (IBC) and Caritas Turkey with the distribution of heaters, fuel canisters, and sanitation packages to more than 2,000 vulnerable families without shelter. These organizations already have distribution systems in place and are currently distributing other relief items. The IBC will distribute heaters and fuel canisters and Caritas Turkey will distribute sanitary packages, diapers and sanitary napkins.

Co-ordination

The Turkish Emergency Management General Directorate (TEMAD) is acting as a co-ordinating body. The General Director of TEMAD is present in the earthquake region with staff from the office of the Prime Ministry. TEMAD has also sent a satellite communication unit with its generator to the region. A UN team comprised of two UNDAC members, two programme officers from UNDP and UNICEF, and two UNICEF psychologists visited the field on Monday, 4 February. The team initially visited the disaster-hit districts of Bolvadin, Cay and the village of Eber, and was briefed by the Deputy Governor and other officials in the region. The UN team observed that the national and local governments have reacted in a highly professional manner and the TRCS has provided adequate numbers of tents, blankets, heaters and water tanks. The UNDAC-UNDP team also met with the Federation and TRCS representatives. They agreed on the need to accelerate the process of finalization of the UNDMT Disaster Management Plan.

Red Cross and Red Crescent action

The rapid response and effective coordination between the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS) or Kizilay, the Federation delegation, and the PNS has demonstrated a much improved disaster response capacity of the Red Crescent in Turkey. It is positive to note that the lessons gained from the 1999 earthquake operation, and the training and capacity building efforts within the national society have been successful. The media has also praised the rapid and effective response by TRCS.

The TRCS has three ambulances, one mobile clinic, and one blood service unit operational, and a TRCS mobile health team consisting of three doctors, eight nurses and two technicians providing immediate treatment. As soon as the disaster information was received at 09.20 on 03 February 2002, Kizilay alerted all its units and began to coordinate the disaster response with the office of the Prime Minister, GDDA, the crisis desks at the Afyon governorate and sub-provincial governorates. The tents were distributed via the Muhtars (community representative); with authorities instructing the community on how to set up tents. Immediately after the earthquake a tent site was established in coordination with the sub-provincial Crisis Desk and approximately 200 disaster victims were settled in the tent site established in the market place with support from the military. The same night the distribution of hot soup started in this tent site, followed by the distribution of tents, blankets, and catalytic stoves, as well as hot soup for 1,000 people in Eber and for 3,000 people in Sultandagi. The TRCS’s kitchens in the region have the capacity for 10,000 people.

The TRCS has sent 20,000 tents, 12,000 heating stoves, 50,000 blankets, 1 mobile kitchen, 12 field-kitchens, 6 S-3 type kitchens, 5 ambulances, 1 mobile clinic, adequate amount of food, 2300 bottled gas of 12 kg. In addition to that the TRCS provided 24 hours non-stop service with its relief team of 96 people together with a health team of 3 doctors, 8 nurses and 2 technicians. The TRCS is distributing three hot meals a day to 18,600 people.

The Intended Operation

This appeal is primarily intended to respond to the immediate need to replenish relief and contingency supplies for future disasters, but the budget also reflects a strong psychological support component intended to respond to the trauma generated by repeated tremors in Turkey.

Assessment of Needs

The Turkish government has not requested international assistance after the disaster. The initial assessment in the earthquake area conducted on 04 February was followed one week later by a more detailed assessment, with the participation of the Federation, TRCS and PNS’s (the American, German, British, and Italian Red Cross), focusing on water and sanitation, health, food, shelter, and psychological stress. The conclusion of this assessment was that water, health, food, shelter, and sanitation needs are met, but there is a need for psychological support.

Immediate Needs

The assessment confirmed that the emergency response activities in the earthquake area have been carried out in a timely and effectively way by both the government and TRCS and all the immediate needs of affected population are well covered.

Mid-term Needs

In order to reduce the impact from the earthquake on those affected and to reinforce the preparedness and emergency response capacity of the TRCS, the following support will be provided to the TRCS within one to six months:

• replenishment of TRCS emergency stocks (tents, blankets and heaters) by procurement of 8,000 tents, 50,000 blankets and 12,000 heaters. Time-frame: two months.
• provision of hygiene/cleaning kits to be distributed by TRCS to 10,000 affected families.
• provision of kitchen sets to be distributed by TRCS to 2,000 families.
• provision of supplemental dry food packages (sufficient for one month) for TRCS to distribute to 5,000 families.
• psychological support for the affected population. Time frame: 6 months.
• replenishment of 4,000 tents by using the TRCS tent production unit. Time frame: 4 months.
• The mobile clinic used in this relief operation proved to be very important. In two days some 1,500 beneficiaries received services and medicines. Hence, the TRCS in their efforts to increase their preparedness, especially in case of larger scale disaster, would welcome support for an additional mobile clinic (this is not included in the budget for this appeal).

The detailed assessment of damaged buildings conducted by relevant government structures is still ongoing. The TRCS and the Federation are presently not in a position to consider any reconstruction support.

Objectives and Activities planned

Objective 1: Replenishment of TRCS emergency stocks and disaster preparedness.

As a result of the emergency response to the recent earthquake the TRCS has mobilized and distributed most of its emergency stocks of winter tents (20,000), heaters (12,000) and blankets (50,000). While TRCS reached an agreement with local authorities to return at least 8,000 of the distributed tents to its main warehouse in Ankara, this amount could hardly meet the needs in case of future larger scale disaster. Being aware that the risk of another earthquake or other type of disaster in Turkey, is relatively high, it is critical to replenish the TRCS emergency stocks, to enable a timely, effective and efficient response to the needs of potential disaster victims.

In order to ensure the preparedness of the TRCS, funds are required for the replenishment (purchase) of the following emergency items:

• 8,000 winter tents.
• materials required for the production of 4,000 winter tents in the TRCS tent production unit.
• 50,000 blankets.
• 12,000 heaters

The American Red Cross plan to provide 10,000 hygiene/cleaning kits, 2,000 kitchen sets, and supplementary dry food packages for 5,000 families for one month.

Objective 2: Provide psychological support to the affected population.

There is a considerable need for rehabilitation and recovery assistance in terms of psychological support and trauma counseling. Thousands of people live in tents outside their homes (although some are either lightly damaged or in relatively good conditions), and local authorities and aid workers are concerned that as a result of acute stress and traumatic reactions, people might choose to stay in tents rather than live inside the buildings for quite some time.

Aftershocks and moderate tremors continue to occur since the major earthquake, causing panic and concern among the local population. In addition, predictions by seismologist and Turkish media reports that Turkey could face a major earthquake again adds to the psychological trauma of the affected population. The TRCS psycho-social team in cooperation and coordination with the Turkish Psychologists Association and UNICEF and supported by the Federation Delegation is developing a detailed project proposal and plan of action to provide trauma counseling and training for the community at individual and communal levels. The project will cover a 6 month period.

Capacity of Turkish Red Crescent Society

The TRCS is composed of local committees, each with a number of volunteers. There are 648 branches spread across the country reporting to the central committee. Some of the branches are active, particularly in the fields of health and social welfare services, while so many others need to be developed. Since the year 2000 the TRCS, with the support of the Federation, has developed capacities which promote social well-being and provide psychological support within the local communities to the population suffering from disasters. With the support of the Federation, the TRCS has also established a tent factory in Ankara with a production capacity of 60 tents per day which will considerably increase the preparedness of the TRCS to react to disaster emergencies in Turkey and abroad.

The Federation delegation together with the partner national societies has focused on developing the human resource capacity of the TRCS in the last two years. Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Response Management training has been conducted for 200 of the TRCS staff (from the headquarters and branches) which has paid off during the recent crisis. The training covered such topics as principles in disaster management; needs assessment; preparedness and response planning; project planning; disaster information and reporting; coordination; warehouse and transport management; emergency communication; camp management; and setting up and managing field hospitals.

The second significant achievement in the past two years was the creation of the “AFOM”, the Turkish acronym for the Disaster Operation Center (DOC), created with the support of the American Red Cross. This mobile center played an important role in the coordination of crisis operations, including the recent earthquake in Afyon. It is fitted with communications and computer equipment to facilitate the information flow from and to the field. It is operational 24 hours a day and has accommodation facilities for the staff on call. The fact that the center is located next to the warehouse facility enables it to have on-the-spot monitoring over the flow of relief supplies.

Capacity of the Delegation in Turkey

Since the massive earthquakes which hit Turkey in August and November 1999, the Federation has maintained a large delegation in the country to assist the TRCS and to co-ordinate the Movement’s response to the two earthquakes. This was one of the largest operations of the Federation during 1999, targeting assistance to 350,000 affected persons. After the emergency relief operation, the delegation has concentrated on assisting the TRCS in various activities ranging from social welfare activities and refurbishment of community-based facilities, mainly focusing on construction, water sanitation, psycho-social support and disaster preparedness. In addition to that the delegation is also supporting the TRCS in their capacity building strategies, including branch development. At present the Delegation has 8 delegates and with skilled local staff it is well equipped to meet the present operational needs.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The Federation’s programme coordinator will provide general management of the appeal projects including budget monitoring and ensure that appropriate technical and financial requirements are met. Monitoring will be undertaken by relevant Federation and TRCS staff and areas of concern will be discussed in regular weekly meetings and incorporated in monthly reports. The evaluation of the programme will be conducted through regular meetings between the TRCS and the Federation in order to identify and resolve problems and needs, and adjust the programme accordingly.

Budget summary

See Annex 1 for details.

For further details please contact: Penny Elghady, Federation Desk Officer, Phone: 41 22 730 4 319; Fax: 41 22 733 0395; email: elghady@ifrc.org.

All International Federation Assistance Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

In line with the Minimum Reporting Standards, the first operations update on this appeal will be issued within 30-days of the launch and the second will be issued over the course of the operation; a final narrative and financial report will be issued no later than 90 days after the end of the operation.

This operation seeks to administer to the immediate requirements of the victims of this disaster. Subsequent operations to promote sustainable development or longer-term capacity building will require additional support and these programmes are outlined on the Federation website.

For support to or for further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org

ANNEX 1
BUDGET SUMMARY
Turkey: Afyon earthquake APPEAL No. 05/2002
TYPE	VALUE IN CHF
RELIEF NEEDS
Winter family tents: 8,000	4'000'000
Materials for production of 4,000 winter family tents	1'680'000
Blankets: 50,000	450'000
Utens ils & tools: 12,000 heaters	780'000
TOTAL RELIEF NEEDS		6'910'000
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT
Office furniture & equipment	26'000
PROGRAMME SUPPORT
Programme management	534'000
Technical support	160'000
Professional services	177'000
TRANSPORT STORAGE & VEHICLE COSTS	11'000
PERSONNEL
National staff	31'000
Training	10'000
ADMINISTRATIVE & GENERAL SERVICES
Administ rative & general expenses	54'000
TOTAL OPERATIONAL NEEDS		1'003'000
TOTAL APPEAL CASH, KIND, SERVICES		7'913'000
LESS AVAILABLE RESOURCES (-)		0
NET REQUEST		7'913'000