Faculty members of the Department of Sociology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Serdar and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslı Erbil, have successfully completed their research project titled "An Examination of the February 6, 2023 Earthquakes in Terms of Social Vulnerability, Environment, and Disaster Justice," which was supported by ITU Scientific Research Projects. This research delves into the intersection of disaster intervention, post-disaster recovery, and justice issues, specifically focusing on disaster and environmental justice. The project explores how these factors shape the experiences of affected communities in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey on February 6, 2023.
The study uses a multifaceted research methodology, incorporating three field visits to the affected regions, in-depth interviews with twenty-five earthquake survivors, and a thorough media analysis to understand the broader socio-political and environmental contexts of the disaster. The research investigates how the principles of disaster justice, including equity in disaster response and recovery, were applied, and whether marginalized communities experienced disproportionate impacts.
The findings from this study were presented at the 16th European Sociological Association Conference, which took place in Porto from August 27-30, 2023. The presentation, titled "The Politics of Natural Disaster: A Case Study of Post-Earthquake Hatay, Turkey," highlighted the complexities of disaster management in Hatay, one of the worst-hit provinces, and discussed the implications for future policies related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, particularly from a justice perspective.
This research contributes to the ongoing discussions on disaster and environmental justice, providing valuable insights into the social dynamics and policy responses following large-scale natural disasters.