According to a report prepared by the Women’s Coalition on the status of women in disaster-affected areas after the February 6th earthquake, women are primarily seeking food assistance and psychological support.
The report, titled “Women in Disaster Zones Following the February 6th Earthquake,” prepared by the Women’s Coalition, sheds light on the challenges faced by women in the earthquake-hit region.
The report outlines the disaster coordination network implemented by the Women’s Coalition to aid women in the region after the February 6th earthquake, as well as the efforts to establish “Women’s Life Centers” in disaster zones through a partnership between the Women’s Coalition and the Women’s Freedom and Equality Association (KÖVED).
Additionally, the report includes findings from field research conducted to identify women’s needs and explore collaboration opportunities among organizations in the area.
A total of 139 women were interviewed for the study, including 71 in Adana and 68 in Hatay.
Key findings highlighted in the report include:
3 out of every 4 women experienced some form of loss or damage
According to the study’s findings, three out of every four women interviewed stated that they had experienced some form of loss or damage. It was discovered that nearly all women living in Hatay had experienced some form of loss, whether it be loss of life or property. As a result, the majority of women were found to be residing in temporary shelters such as tents or containers. Approximately half of the women were living with four or more people in their shelter, indicating a lack of privacy in their living arrangements.
The interviews revealed that the primary demands of women were basic essential needs, with 87.1% requesting items, 61.9% requesting food, 39.6% requesting shelter, 38.8% requesting clothing, 36.0% requesting cash, and 26.6% requesting water.
1 out of every 2 women seek healthcare assistance
In Hatay, it was observed that one out of every two women is seeking healthcare assistance.
These statistics highlight the magnitude of critical issues such as access to food and water in Hatay. Additionally, it was noted that one in every two women is requesting healthcare assistance, with the majority of these requests being for mental health treatment.
While the primary needs of women remain unmet, their secondary needs are requested at lower rates. These secondary needs include employment (25.9%), education (21.6%), legal support concerning rights (21.6%), hygiene (20.9%), transportation (15.1%), childcare (6.5%), and transportation support (5.0%).
Children’s playgrounds are insufficient
Women stated that the physical infrastructure in the living areas where services are provided, particularly children’s playgrounds, is severely lacking, with a rate of 76.3% recorded. Six out of ten women reported inadequate facilities for food and drink, toilets, hygiene, laundry, and showering, as well as a lack of basic services and support such as lighting, security, and illumination.
The majority of women expressed that empowering activities supporting women, such as psychosocial support programs, solidarity environments, occupational therapies (such as painting, music, handicraft workshops), empowerment activities, participation in decision-making mechanisms in their area, and ensuring privacy in service delivery, are insufficient.