Attachments
Overview
Objective: Outlining minimum standards and recommendations for promoting and supporting fire sensitization and prevention in temporary settlements in Turkiye’s earthquake affected (EQ) areas, complementing local authority efforts.
Context: Within the EQ areas there are a range of settlements including formal container and tented sites with management entities, collective centers as well as self-settled informal sites without management. There are also some sites that are being formalized and while not benefiting from the same level or organization and management, there is some level of local authority oversight e.g., an assigned mukhtar. While there is currently a localized effort to reduce the number of informal sites as well as relocate populations between sites for the purposes of consolidation (whether formal or informal), temporary settlements are expected to remain for some time, albeit with fluidity in movement.
Relevance: Fire safety risks in temporary settlements in the earthquake affected areas have been observed and reflected in a number of incidents. In tented formal and informal sites, the use of materials such as tarp, plastic, canvas, as well as cooking stoves and fires in or in proximity to shelters, often in congested tented sites, represents heightened risk. Whether in container or tented sites, as the summer approaches, these materials are also being used for shading/privacy. Moreover, in container sites, while there are circuit breakers, standard units are furnished with different electrical devices including water heaters, induction cooking stoves and other electronic devices/cables that will need frequent safe use and regular checking. Additionally, due to the rapid response and scale of the disaster, shelters may not have always been positioned in the most optimal way to reduce fire risk and as sites are being expanded or consolidated, there are opportunities to address this through effective engagement with relevant stakeholders.