What is the Real Disaster?
Following the great disaster on 6 February, it is difficult to answer the question: “Has society been able to develop sufficient awareness towards people struggling to hold on to life?” It is even more difficult to proceed without considering whether the real disaster was what happened or what happened afterwards.
Three years ago, on the night of 6 February 2023, our country experienced one of its greatest disasters. For many of us, this disaster may have become a bad memory that remains in our minds. However, we must not forget that there are still people in the 11 provinces affected by the earthquake, particularly in Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Adıyaman, who have not yet been able to return to their former way of life.
Humans are the creatures with the highest capacity for adaptation in nature. Their ability to recover after adversity largely depends on the existence of institutionalised order within human communities. The degree of solidarity within societies is one of the most important factors determining the speed of recovery after disasters.
I have stated that recovery after a disaster cannot be as quick as politicians claim, and that we as a society must maintain our awareness of this issue. However, at this stage, the ongoing adversities in the lives of those affected by the disaster go beyond the news we hear and see on various channels, prompting us to say ‘oh dear’.
After disasters occur, the responsibility of societies begins during the process in which survivors cling to life with the survival instinct inherent in all living beings. It is at this point that the ‘real disaster’ begins to show its true face to everyone and the helplessness of those with a conscience in the face of what has happened begins to emerge.
Much has been written and said about disasters. What I have written on this subject can be seen in the links provided at the end of this article. But today, in the aftermath of this great disaster, it is difficult to answer the question, ‘Has society been able to develop sufficient awareness towards people struggling to cling to life?’ It is even more difficult to proceed without considering whether the real disaster was what happened or what happened afterwards. Keeping in mind those in the disaster zone who have not yet returned to normal life, let us begin to think about the disasters experienced by society and hope that there will be an improvement in the social structure, and that this improvement will give all those in need a chance to hold on to life.
Was the real disaster the disaster itself, or
was it the Red Crescent, whose raison d'être is to help people in such situations at a societal level, selling tents in an environment where people were struggling to survive after the disaster?
Was it the failure to give the order for the Turkish Armed Forces, which has proven to be the best organised and most effective search and rescue force in all disasters throughout history, to deploy at the most critical moments?
Was it the failure of AFAD, which made the mistake of declaring itself a ‘monopoly’ in the distribution of aid materials, to deliver aid to those in real need?
Was it that people who were so far removed from the subject that they could not understand that AFAD's assumption of an executive role, despite the knowledge that it would be inadequate in places where its establishment was more of a coordinating function, had a negative impact on the aid process?
Was it the mentality that, due to incompetence in coordinating rescue efforts, made conditions difficult for some foreign teams, even without knowing their working conditions, and drove them away from the field?
Was it those who failed to take adequate measures against looting in an environment where people were struggling for their lives, or was it our education system that failed to educate people to the extent that they would participate in looting activities, devoid of humanity and conscience?
Was it the corrupt media order, which worked hand in hand with politics to create the perception in the media that ‘nothing had happened’ and ‘it was as if the disaster had never occurred’ while the whole society was experiencing a great trauma?
Was it the politicians who considered a disaster affecting millions of people less important than their own political fortunes, and the masses who blindly supported them?
Was it irresponsible politicians who created an environment for political debate while the full weight of the suffering fell upon society?
Was it the authorities and responsible institutions that created the perception (whether real or not) that people received or did not receive aid/support based on their voting preferences, beliefs, or sects?
Was it the morally bankrupt social outcasts who opened the stock market or rushed to buy cement shares on the open market while people were trapped under the rubble?
Was it those who turned the rubble into mass graves without identifying the bodies during the rescue efforts?
Were they the bloodsuckers who, in the days and months when people still had hope of surviving and returning to normal life, put aside what was happening and thought only of the future profits, gains or wealth to be made?
Was it the heartless media system that avoided giving as much coverage as possible to the hardships endured by people suffering from thirst for months on end, evaluating every news item not from the perspective of those experiencing pain but from the perspective of the government's position?
Was it the administrators who enabled the state authority's supportive stance towards the advertising of various community structures during and after the rescue efforts?
Was it the members of parliament who positioned themselves as representatives of the Turkish nation, refusing to investigate the fate of children rescued alive after the disaster who had lost their families?
Was it the television broadcasters who, while rescue efforts were ongoing and people were experiencing adverse conditions in the aftermath of the disaster, had become so devoid of humanity that they produced entertainment programmes as if everything were rosy?
It is possible to multiply the questions. However, the point I wish to emphasise is this: disasters occur, and those who survive try to adapt to their new lives, however difficult it may be. But in this process, the sense of responsibility of societies is much more important than the disaster itself. It is clear that all the questions I asked above are questions that have been discussed in the media, scanned from archives.
My aim is not to blame anyone. But while these questions remain unanswered, let no one deceive themselves. A society that cannot share in the ongoing suffering of the people there faces the potential for even greater disasters tomorrow. The real and greatest disaster for the future of societies is the deterioration and decay of the social structure. Otherwise, every disaster comes and goes. It may leave deep scars, but it passes. The cure for social decay, however, takes many years...
https://strasam.org/siyaset/kamu-yonetimi/afetlerin-bir-turlu-ogretemedikleri-3696
https://strasam.org/siyaset/kamu-politikalari/afetler-uzerine-yazip-soyleyemediklerim-3451
https://strasam.org/siyaset/kamu-yonetimi/afetlerde-hukumetin-ve-afadin-sorumlulugu-nedir-1662
https://strasam.org/analiz-ve-raporlar/analiz/kahramanmaras-depremi-ve-afete-mudahale-1645
https://strasam.org/analiz-ve-raporlar/analiz/kahramanmaras-depremi-1643
https://strasam.org/analiz-ve-raporlar/analiz/afetler-ve-kentler-uzerine-dusunceler-1275
