Attachments
Background:
On 6 February 2023, Türkiye experienced devastating earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6, claiming the lives of over 53,000 individuals, including at least 7,300 Syrian refugees, injuring 108,272, and forcing over 3 million to leave their homes. When Türk Kızılay phased out of emergency earthquake operation into mid-to-long-term recovery, it started focusing on improving the living conditions in both container cities and rural areas by providing various goods and services such as Nutrition,
CVA, PGI, Livelihoods, WASH, Shelter, CBHFA, DRR, MHPSS, and In-Kind item distribution.
Another recognised impact of a large-scale natural disaster is the heightened protection risks that often arise during prolonged stays in shelters or encampments, such as tent or container cities. While addressing the immediate needs of those affected, such as Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), nutrition and livelihoods, the Türk Kızılay also provides PSS and PGI support to ensure these critical concerns are not neglected.
Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) is a framework that ensures the safety, dignity, and equitable access to assistance for all individuals, particularly those most vulnerable, by addressing the specific needs and risks they face during and after a disaster. To achieve this, Türk Kızılay utilises a range of approaches, including case management interventions, identification and assessment, internal and external referrals, awareness-raising sessions, and cash assistance modality to mitigate protection risks.
Aiming to identify the protection risks, teams of social service specialists interviewed the affected individuals at the field level and reported findings to the protection technical supervisors at Türk Kızılay Headquarters (HQ). Assessment of findings and vulnerabilities served as a basis for design of an appropriate response. In cases where cash assistance was deemed necessary, targeted individuals were informed of the specific protection risks that prompted the assistance and are expected to use the funds to address these risks. The cash transfer cycles are regularly monitored, while ensuring compliance with SOPs for CfP and CVA. Türk Kızılay conducts regular PDM surveys to ensure the assistance is used appropriately. This study aims to evaluate how effectively protection mainstreaming approaches are implemented and fundamental principles such as do no harm, community engagement and accountability throughout the programme Additionally, it seeks to incorporate feedback from programme recipients to enable necessary improvements within the programme. Furthermore, the PDM process was designed to evaluate the overall satisfaction of individuals and the impact of the programme. By doing so, the study not only ensures the programme’s effectiveness but also enhances its alignment with the needs and expectations of the recipients.
This comprehensive approach is to contribute to refining of the programme’s strategies and improving its outcomes in future implementations.
Executive Summary:
This second round of Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) survey (click here for the first PDM report), conducted by Türk Kızılay, assessed the effectiveness, accessibility, and overall impact of the Cash for Protection (CfP) assistance extended to individuals affected by the February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye. The survey gathered feedback from individuals residing in the most heavily impacted provinces, with a particular focus on their experiences and level of satisfaction with the support received.
Findings indicate that communication efforts were largely effective, as the majority of individuals received the necessary information regarding the assistance. Nevertheless, 18 per cent encountered difficulties in comprehending eligibility criteria and withdrawal procedures, especially those facing literacy or language-related challenges. Bridging these gaps is critical to ensuring comprehensive understanding of the assistance process among all recipients.
Safety emerged as a notable strength of the programme, with minimal concerns reported. The delivery of assistance upheld both the safety and privacy of individuals, and any issues that arose were addressed promptly.
Overall satisfaction with the assistance was notably high, with 99 per cent of individuals describing the support as helpful or very helpful. However, 20 per cent expressed that the amount of cash assistance should be increased in light of rising living expenses and specific financial demands. This indicates a potential need to re-evaluate the assistance levels to more effectively address beneficiaries' needs.
The assistance had a clearly positive impact, with 98 per cent of individuals reporting improvements in their living conditions and overall well-being. The support was predominantly allocated to essential needs such as healthcare (as reported by 48 per cent of respondents) and food (13 per cent), aligning closely with the protection sector’s priorities of ensuring safety, dignity, access, participation, and well-being for vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the assistance contributed significantly to enhancing household communication and relationships, thereby reinforcing broader protection objectives aimed at promoting social cohesion and reducing vulnerabilities in communities affected by the crisis.