The 4th National Search and Rescue exercises is being held in Istanbul, organized by the IHH Disaster Management Presidency, with the participation of more than a thousand search and rescue volunteers from many cities across Türkiye. The exercises were done based on a scenario of a 6.8 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 12 km on the Anatolian Fault Line. The exercises, which will last for three days from August 16 to 18, were held in six different locations in Istanbul.
A press conference regarding the exercises was held at the IHH Emre Yerli Disaster Management and Logistics Center. The press conference was launched with a presentation by Ömer Kars, a Board Member responsible for IHH Disaster Management. The event was attended by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Governor of Düzce Selçuk Aslan, IHH President Bülent Yıldırım, Adalar District Governor Abdurrahman İnan, AFAD’s head of Volunteerism and Civil Society Relations Department Hüseyin Ceven, AFAD’s head of Risk Reduction Department Abdulkadir Tezcan, AFAD’s head of Temporary Shelter and Logistics Warehouse Management Department Güray Karakaya, AFAD’s head of Civil Defense Department Gürkan Tepekıran, Istanbul AFAD Director Prof. Dr. Haluk Özener, and Tuzla Police Chief Fatih Tilki.
“Transferring experiences is crucial”
Speaking at the press conference, Bülent Yıldırım emphasized the significance of the exercises. He stated that IHH’s first efforts in search and rescue were done following the August 17, 1999 earthquakes. Yıldırım said, “We had a background in Bosnia. We also participated in operations in Chechnya and Kashmir. We experienced earthquakes in Adana, Van, Elazığ, and Izmir. Most recently, we experienced the February 6 earthquakes. It is important to transfer the experiences gained in these incidents to both present and future generations. We have seen the necessity of establishing search and rescue teams in all provinces. In case of an earthquake, while a province deals with its own issues, it is very important for nearby provinces to intervene. I would also like to thank our partners. All our stakeholders, from Coast Guard to the Police, have all supported us.”
“We need to build strong structures”
Governor Davut Gül emphasized the importance of preparedness for potential disasters. Gül said, “This search and rescue exercises by IHH is crucial. It has come to our attention that this is the fourth one of such organization. There is an institutionalization process. Search and rescue volunteering requires discipline, knowledge, and experience. It is especially important for NGOs to be accredited and prepared, as this facilitates intervention during disasters. These are relevant for post-disaster situations. But there is also the pre-disaster phase. We need to build strong structures”.
“Over 500,000 buildings in Istanbul need urban renewal”
Gül also pointed out that, like in many parts of Türkiye, there are buildings in Istanbul that need urban renewal. “More than 500,000 buildings in Istanbul need to undergo urban renewal. If we can build 200,000 houses within a year and a half in earthquake zones under the leadership of our President, we can minimize the risk by constructing 500,000 houses within 5 or 6 years,” he said.
“We must be prepared for potential disasters”
Governor Selçuk Aslan stated that both the state and the nation must be prepared for disasters. “Looking at the disasters that have occurred in the last five years, we have experienced major floods, avalanches, and large-scale fires, and especially earthquakes. We must be prepared for potential disasters. It is commendable that IHH is developing scenarios and conducting exercises for possible events during a period when there are no disasters,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Haluk Özener stated that in the event of a possible Marmara earthquake, the responsibilities of each party are clearly defined. “The most important process here is the exercise. If we do not prepare ourselves from time to time, we would not be ready for a potential disaster,” he said.
The press conference concluded after live broadcasts from four regions where the exercises were conducted.
