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 PDM survey, conducted by Türk Kızılay, evaluated the effectiveness, accessibility, and impact of the CfP assistance provided to individuals following the February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye. The survey collected insights from individuals across the most affected provinces, focusing on their experiences and satisfaction with the support they received.
The results show that communication efforts were largely successful, with most individuals receiving the necessary information about the assistance. 10 per cent of these individuals faced challenges in understanding eligibility criteria and withdrawal procedures, particularly those with literacy or language barriers. Addressing these gaps is essential to ensure that all individuals understand the assistance process.
Safety was a key strength of the programme, with very few concerns reported.
The assistance was delivered in a way that maintained the safety and privacy of the individuals, with any issues being promptly resolved.
Overall satisfaction with the assistance was high, with 99 per cent of individuals finding the assistance helpful or very helpful. However, 20 per cent of individuals felt that the provided cash amount needed to be increased given the rising living costs and specific financial needs. This suggests that a review of the assistance levels may be necessary to better meet the needs of all individuals.
The impact of the assistance was positive, with 88 per cent of individuals reporting improvements in their living conditions and well-being. The assistance was primarily utilised for essential needs such as healthcare (reported by 51 per cent of individuals) and food (31 per cent), directly aligning with the protection sector’s focus on ensuring vulnerable populations’ safety, dignity, access, participation, and well-being. Additionally, the assistance played a crucial role in strengthening household communication and relationships, further supporting the broader protection objectives of fostering social cohesion and reducing vulnerabilities in crisis-affected communities.
