Attachments
Period covered: 25 November - 31 December
2000
The Turkish Red Crescent Society
(TRCS) responded swiftly to an earthquake of 5.8 magnitude on 15 December
in the Central Anatolia region. Underlining the urgency for a disaster
preparedness and mitigation strategy, preparations for a busy training
programme in the new year was underway during this period by the TRCS,
International Federation and sister Societies. Three programme agreements
were signed between the TRCS and the International Federation: psycho-social
support, social welfare and crisis communications. These agreements signify
TRCS's commitment towards partnership and the future sustainability of
programmes.
The context
In the second half of 1999, north-western Turkey, the country's most densely populated region and industrial heartland, was struck by two massive earthquakes in less than three months. The first, centred on the industrial city of Izmit, on 17 August 1999, left 17,100 people dead and a further 44,000 injured. On the day of the catastrophe, the Turkish government declared a state of emergency and requested international assistance. The International Federation immediately launched a preliminary appeal, followed by a full appeal for CHF 65 million on 8 September 1999. The death toll from a second major quake - in the Bolu/Düzce region, on 12 November 1999 - reached 845, with injuries to nearly 5,000 people. An estimated 400,000 buildings either collapsed or were badly damaged by the two earthquakes.
Latest events
Among the numerous tremors recorded by the Kandilli Observatory in Istanbul during this time frame, the worst at 5.8m on the Richter scale, occurred on 15 December at 6.44 p.m. (local time) The epicentre was Bolvadin, a sub-province of Afyon, which is located in Turkey's Central Anatolia region, 160 miles south west of Ankara. The earthquake, which lasted for 30 seconds, was felt in 10 cities: Aksaray, Ankara, Antalya, Eskisehir, Isparta, Karaman, Kayseri, Konya, Nevsehir, and Nigde.
Although no casualties were directly related to the earthquake, a woman died of a heart attack and five people were killed in a fire when a minaret collapsed over a mosque, igniting a stove used for warmth during winter. The mosque was full of worshippers gathered for evening prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. 82 people were injured when they jumped out of their balconies. More than 60 aftershocks occurred immediately after the earthquake, forcing terrified residents to spend the night outdoors.
The governor of Afyon set up a crisis desk and 6 damage assessment teams were sent to the affected areas, early the next morning. At the request of the sub-Governorship of Aksehir (sub-province of Konya), the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS) dispatched 29 emergency relief personnel and 6 truckloads of materials, including a mobile kitchen, tents, blankets, generators, water tanks, and food. TRCS tents and soup kitchens were set up in 5 locations in Aksehir.
Red Cross/Red Crescent action
Turkish Red Crescent Society
The TRCS participated in the first Turkish Health Education Council Meeting organized by the Ministry of Health from 24 - 26 November. At the request of the Ministry, TRCS will train 3 health personnel from each of the 83 provinces in Turkey. Also, health clinics and hospitals run by the TRCS, will be upgraded to meet the standards required by the Ministry of Health. TRCS's health clinics provide health services to the poor including medicines, orthopaedic boots, wheelchairs, artificial limbs, glasses, etc.
A two-day training of trainers workshop on the Sphere Project (Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response) was organised by TRCS, in conjunction with Mercy Corps International, in Ankara from 19 - 22 December. Participants included the TRCS staff, the Federation, and the American Red Cross (ARC).
During the holy month of Ramadan (26 November to 26 December), 583 TRCS branches provided Ramadan dinners to a wide range of beneficiaries. The German Red Cross (GRC) provided funding for meals for the 30 day Ramadan fasting period for 300 poor residents and earthquake victims of Kandira, through one of the local TRCS branches.
The TRCS has engaged the services of the history department of the Middle East Technical University (METU) to document the history of the TRCS. The book is expected to be published by mid-2001. The METU has been advising TRCS on its long-term organisational restructuring process, which includes improved headquarters and branch co-ordination.
A PNS co-ordination meeting, held on 18 December, was attended by: the Director-general of the TRCS; representatives from the International Federation, American Red Cross (ARC), Italian Red Cross (IRC), and the Spanish Red Cross (SRC).
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Disaster Response Preparedness and Management (DRPM): The TRCS, the International Federation, and the American, German, and Spanish Red Cross continue their weekly co-ordination meetings for disaster preparedness.
The International Federation delegation is preparing to embark on an intensive period of training for TRCS staff and volunteers, with two workshops starting in January, 2001: the Project Planning workshop; and the Preparedness for Response workshop. Both of them are being organised in collaboration with TRCS and the ARC.
The TRCS and the ARC completed a draft proposal for opening a TRCS Disaster Operations Centre. Potential locations are currently being discussed. Once decided, the ARC and the TRCS will create a final programme plan and budget proposal.
The ARC supported the TRCS in developing a short-term co-ordination response. Discussions about developing a comprehensive response plan have also been initiated.
The TRCS and the ARC continue assessments for the extension of organisational development and DRPM activities to branches in the Istanbul area. The ARC has begun contact with other organisations involved in community disaster preparedness in Istanbul to co-ordinate activities.
The French Red Cross in Balikesir organised a search and rescue exercise, in conjunction with the Akyazi branch of the TRCS, on 26 November.
Education/training: The TRCS and the ARC have created specifications for the purchase of portable presentation equipment and other training equipment to support the TRCS's training programme. In addition, the TRCS and the ARC have also created specifications for a training database to track course participation and skills development for TRCS's staff. A training planning team has been established with members of the TRCS, the International Federation, and the ARC to guide the TRCS's training system development. The TRCS, the International Federation, and ARC continue to collaborate on efforts to develop a comprehensive DRPM training plan. Other PNSs will be solicited for information about additional related training to include in the training plan.
The polyclinic and training facility at Yenikoy will be made available to the German Red Cross (GRC), by the TRCS until June 2001. A more intensive utilisation of the site for training purposes is under discussion among the TRCS and the GRC.
The Swiss Red Cross has initiated a professional training course, in-office training, for the inhabitants of the prefabricated settlements in Kocaeli. The first course, which began in December, attracted 70 participants from Yahya Kaptan, a prefabricated settlement area in Izmit.
The TRCS and the Spanish Red Cross (SRC) are in the process of preparing a programme on first aid for the "Training of the Trainers" workshop, starting in January 2001. TRCS and the SRC, in co-operation with other national and international bodies, have standardised the first aid training materials. In the future, it is expected that the Ministry of Health and TRCS will agree to use these materials in Turkey in all first aid training programmes.
Logistics: During December 2000, the International Federation made procurements for the Bolu Fine Arts school at the request of the TRCS: 60 bunk beds, 120 mattresses, 60 wardrobes, 2 cold rooms, and a complete kitchen, which has a serving capacity for 200 persons. Outstanding items, such as linens, pillows and blankets will be procured next month. The tender evaluation for the purchase of winter disaster tents was completed and the ARC issued the purchase order for 11,000 tents.
The ARC has discussed with TRCS management, the need to expedite purchasing of other relief and response stocks up to US $1.3 million. In early January 2001, immediate needs will be identified and purchasing of initial items will begin as soon as a full restocking plan is clarified.
Social Welfare: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the first social welfare project in Kaynasli was signed between the TRCS, the International Federation, the Governor of Duzce, the Provincial Governor and the Mayor of Kaynasli on 13 December. A co-ordination committee for the management of the centre in Kaynasli has been established and comprises: the provincial governor of Kaynasli, the head of the health department, the president of the TRCS Duzce branch (in charge of Kaynasli), 3 representatives of the community (one of whom represents disabled members of the community), and representatives of the International Federation. The TRCS Duzce branch will confirm the land lease for the site of the community centre, which lies in the centre of earthquake destroyed homes in Kaynasli, next month. In December, the Italian Red Cross (IRC) delivered a minibus to the kindergarten and catering centre attached to the women's centre in the prefabricated housing settlement of Gumuspinar (Duzce).
Health: The Spanish Red Cross (SRC) has received two of the four mobile blood units, ordered from England, on 11 December. Two additional mobile units are expected in January 2001. All four units will be presented to the TRCS in February 2001. The blood mobile units, donated by the SRC, will support TRCS's blood programme.
Psycho-social support programme (PSP): After several months of negotiation, the programme agreement between the International Federation and the TRCS was signed on 7 December. The agreement integrated the implementation of five PSP centres in the earthquake affected region of Turkey, as well as basic psycho-social training on mental health prevention through a participatory community approach, coupled with psychological first aid.
The International Federation's PSP delegate and her counterpart in TRCS attended a PSP Roster Workshop in Espergaerde, Denmark from 1 - 8 December. The British Red Cross provided funding for both participants attendance at the workshop, which attracted 30 participants from 15 countries. The International Federation Secretariat's Reference Centre organised this workshop for psycho-social programmes, hosted by the Danish Red Cross.
Two representatives of the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) conducted a monitoring mission from 9 - 15 December and visited the PSP centres in Avcilar and Izmit and the social welfare programme in Kaynasli. They met with members of the local TRCS branches in Izmit and Duzce, as well as the programme managers at the TRCS's headquarters in Ankara. The CRC provides funding support for the TRCS's PSP and social welfare programmes, through the International Federation.
At the end of November, the third of four training modules for the psycho social programme were organised by the psychologist and the social worker in Duzce. 18 participants took part in the 3-day training, which focused on mental health prevention techniques for volunteers. In addition, the last of the four training modules was organised for 15 community volunteers in Izmit. Over a period of three days, the participants focused on prevention techniques in psycho-social issues.
A Swiss Red Cross psychologist who visited the project from 6 - 20 December reviewed the Swiss Red Cross funded psycho-social project in the prefabricated settlement of Yalova to assess future sustainability. Her recommendations will decide the future of the project and possible transfer to the TRCS.
The co-ordination meeting of PSP and related programmes, hosted by the German Red Cross (GRC), took place on 20 December in Yenikoy. Participants included the TRCS, the International Federation, UNICEF, the Swiss Red Cross, the NGO AMURT, the University of Kocaeli psychiatric department, and World Relief. The GRC's psycho-social programme in Yenikoy will be reorganised within the next few months and is expected to be handed over to the TRCS.
Water-sanitation: The TRCS and the International Federation organized a site visit and information sharing event on 4 December for the Kandira water pipeline project. The event was attended by the vice-president of TRCS, the Governor of Kocaeli, local public works officials, and beneficiaries from the town of Kandira. The Swiss Red Cross desk officer, who visited Turkey from 29 November - 6 December, also participated in the event. The Swiss Red Cross funds the construction and rehabilitation of the water pipeline and adjoining reservoirs. The event attracted wide national media attention and applause.
Progress on the pipeline was slow during the month of December, due to the poor weather conditions and the extended Bayram holidays. Furthermore, the pipeline is presently being laid in swampy, rocky and hilly terrain, impeding progress.
Construction: The design phase for both the two largest construction projects, the Sakarya and the Duzce state hospitals has been completed. The first project will go for tender at the end of January 2001 and the second, soon after. The demolition of the existing structure has been completed at the Duzce site and the International Federation's consultant is in the process of preparing a site plan. The renovation of the Kandira State Hospital is on schedule and expected to be completed in February 2001. Renovations of the Macarlar school funded by the Japanese Red Cross will be completed by February 2001. Continuous issues regarding the Derince school have been resolved and the contract will be signed January, 2001. The project is now in the design phase.
On 5 December, the Spanish Red Cross inaugurated the additional polyclinics attached to the Karamursel State Hospital, and the health centre at Kaynasli was inaugurated on 15 December, in the presence of the Deputy Director General of TRCS, the Ministry of Health, and representatives of the Governorship of Kocaeli and the Governor of Duzce, respectively.
The GRC provided a minibus and some technical equipment (kitchen and laundry facilities) to the deaf and dumb school in Karamursel in order to make the facility more functional. The GRC is expecting to add an equipped playground to the school in the near future. The local branch of the TRCS participated in a formal ceremony to inaugurate the new facilities. Construction work on the GRC-funded Bolu State Hospital is now almost complete except for electricity links to the town. The project is expected to be inaugurated next month.
The Turkey earthquakes evaluation report, published in August 2000, strongly recommended that the International Federation develop global policies on its conceptual and methodological approach to post-disaster reconstruction in order to facilitate the agenda of all the stakeholders involved. A consultant from the International Federation secretariat visited the Turkey delegation as part of a study on the International's Federation's involvement in construction and reconstruction projects around the world.
Telecommunications: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the communications system was signed on 19 December. According to this agreement, the International Federation will purchase equipment for the first phase by January 2001. TRCS, the International Federation and the ARC have completed the tender evaluation for the purchase of 7 satellite phones. The ARC is funding the purchase of equipment and a purchase order for the phones was placed with a company in Denmark on 22 December.
TRCS has recently hired technical staff as a preliminary step to proceeding with phase two of the crisis communications system enhancements. Tender offers for the HF and VHF radio equipment in phase two have been received and are in the process of being evaluated.
An MoU was signed between the Turkey Amateur Radio Society and the TRCS; and a separate MoU was signed between the Turkey Amateur Radio Society and the International Federation on 19 December. The agreements will allow wide disaster situation communication coverage over the Marmara region and to Istanbul/Ankara. The network will eventually cover a much wider area in Turkey. It will be accessible not only to the TRCS but to the International Federation and all the PNSs.
The TRCS, the International Federation, ARC and GRC have evaluated tender offers for the TRCS computer automation system. Pending finalisation of the funding arrangements between ARC and GRC, the purchase order will be issued in February 2001.
Branch Development: The GRC provided the TRCS with a full report, together with a Turkish translation, of the branch development assessment report. A preliminary report was presented on 21 November by a GRC consultant. A possible plan of action based on the recommendations in the report will be discussed with TRCS in January 2001. At a meeting held between the TRCS and the Middle East Technical University (METU), a draft project proposal related to the branches within the framework of TRCS's reorganisation programme devised by METU was examined.
Outstanding needs
With 102% coverage the appeal is fully funded and there are no outstanding needs.
External relations - Government/UN/NGOs/Media
Government/UN/NGOs: The 6th meeting of the International Working Group (IWG) was held on 7 December and chaired by the International Federation. Major topics included, an update on the issues of VAT and legal status and the planning of the UNDP disaster management training programme, which is scheduled for the end of February 2001.
The Federation attended the end of activities and review meeting on 19 December in Izmit for the community disaster preparedness training. The training was conducted by UNDP/ECHO for 2 months during the summer of 2000.
An amendment to the VAT law was published and came into effect on 30 November 2000, which would make goods and services donated to Turkish government organisations, institutions and associations eligible for VAT exemption. Several meetings took place with the Revenue Directorate of the Ministry of Finance between the PNSs and the International Federation regarding the application of the law. A circular detailing the scope and application thereof is under preparation by the Directorate and expected to be published in early January. Procedures for acquiring legal status for the PNSs in Turkey are under investigation with relevant government ministries by the International Federation's delegation.
Contributions
(in pdf* format)
Martin Faller
Head a..i.
Europe Department
Peter Rees-Gildea
Head a.i.
Relationship Management Department
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