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Background: On 6 February 2023, an Mw 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Türkiye and north-western Syria, affecting the lives of 4.6 and 2.5 million children, respectively. In such crises, infants who are dependent on commercial milk formula (CMF) face increased vulnerability to diseases and malnutrition as safe preparation of CMF becomes difficult and sometimes impossible. The Operational Guidance on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (OG-IFE) provides guidance on protecting and supporting recommended infant and young child feeding and minimizing the risks that come with CMF feeding. In addition, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (the Code) ensures adequate nutrition for infants by protecting and promoting breastfeeding and ensuring the proper usage of CMF. This study aims to document violations of the Code and the OG-IFE during the earthquake relief efforts to help strengthen infant and young child feeding emergency responses and inform future disaster relief policies. Methods: Data was collected from 6 February to 10 March 2023 through Internet sources. Social media, news websites, and the Emergency Nutrition Network forum were used for data collection. Turkish content was translated into English for analysis, with a focus on donation-related information and Code violations related to baby food and infant feeding. Results: A total of 40 reports on CMF, complementary food, and feeding equipment donations were collected. Three main types of violations of the OG-IFE and the Code were identified, with the majority of them being incidences of individuals, humanitarian organizations, and government agencies seeking or accepting donations. Infant formula companies continued to violate the Code by donating large quantities of CMF and feeding equipment to the Turkish Red Crescent, government agencies, and disaster relief infant and young child feeding (IYCF) coordination authorities. Conclusions: These incidents reflected a systematic violation of the Code and non-compliance with the OG-IFE. Globally accepted IYCF standards and recommendations were not consistently followed due to fragmented early responses. There is a critical need to step up efforts to ensure appropriate and safe IYCF practice protecting and supporting breastfed and non-breastfed infants in emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate individuals' disaster literacy levels, their thoughts on disaster management services, and related factors. Method: The descriptive research was conducted with a total of 480 individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 living in a province in the first‐degree earthquake zone in Turkey. The data were collected with the Disaster Literacy Scale and the Disaster Management Services Evaluation Form. Results: In this study, it was found that more than half of the participants had inadequate/moderate disaster literacy. The total disaster literacy score and all subscale scores were found to be higher in individuals who had an earthquake kit at home, had an emergency plan, and had received disaster‐related training (p <.05). The majority of the participants found the services provided for disaster management inadequate or very inadequate. Conclusions: In this study, it has been found that a significant portion of the society lacks the desired level of disaster literacy, and the services provided for disasters are deemed insufficient therefore, there is a need for multi‐disciplinary national prevention programs to enhance disaster literacy and preparedness in the community, as well as urgently supporting policies to improve disaster‐related services. Additionally, due to their comprehensive knowledge of the general structure of society, public health nurses need to play an active role in disaster preparedness and increasing disaster literacy levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine nurses' views of their competence in disaster nursing management. Background: It is an important responsibility of nurses to have the necessary knowledge and skills for the management of disasters and to be prepared for disasters. For this responsibility to be effectively demonstrated, it is important to determine the disaster management competencies of the nurses. Methods: A descriptive, cross‐sectional, and comparative research design was used in this study. The study population consisted of all nurses in Turkey (N = 227 292). According to the power analysis, the goal was to recruit 599 nurses working between March and April 2021 using a simple random sampling method. However, 530 nurses answered the questionnaire. The response rate is 88.5%. Data were collected online using a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire and the Competencies for Disaster Nursing Management Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences at a significance level of 0.05. Results: There was a positive correlation between nurses' duties and responsibilities in disaster management, barriers to developing basic competencies, and nurses' basic competencies in disaster management (p < 0.001). Nurses have inadequate competencies in disaster management for various reasons. The study was reported with the STROBE checklist. Conclusion: Although nurses think they have core competencies, they are not prepared for disasters for various reasons. Implications for nursing and nursing policy: Hospitals should provide nurses with more duties and responsibilities regarding disaster management. Administrators should involve nurses in plans, decisions, and practices regarding disaster management. Decision‐makers should develop policies and training programs to remove the barriers preventing nurses from acquiring competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery / Ulusal Travma ve Acil Cerrahi Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background Aim Methods Findings Conclusions Implications for nursing and health policy Turkey has faced a notable escalation in earthquake disasters in the last two decades. Despite initiating a health and disaster management system, nurses' pivotal roles and experiences in handling such crises have been disregarded.This qualitative study analyzed nurses' experiences before, during, and after deployment in response to the 2023 Turkey earthquakes to enhance disaster‐response efforts.This descriptive qualitative study was conducted between March and May 2023 using semistructured interviews with 15 nurses purposively  sampled among those who volunteered to work in the earthquake zone. The MIRACLE and COREQ guidelines were followed for reporting qualitative research.The analysis exposed five main themes for pre‐tasking: moral obligation, motivation, insufficient experience, balancing responsibilities, and preparation challenges. The peri‐task themes include responsibilities, skills, bravery and characteristics, workload management, teamwork, and outcomes. Post‐tasking has three themes: competence assessment, career goals and aspirations, and support. Training and coping with anxiety and stress are common themes for all phases.Disaster relief requires a comprehensive and coordinated response from healthcare organizations, government agencies, and support systems. Providing adequate training, ensuring safety protocols, offering mental health support, and fostering a fair and supportive work environment are crucial steps in mitigating the adverse effects on nurses and, by extension, the patient care process in earthquake‐affected areas.Nurse training in disaster preparedness should cover various response methods and involve multiple disciplines. Managers can help by arranging drills, simulations, online courses, and workshops and promoting partnerships for improved collaboration. Psychological support should be included to address emotional challenges. Regularly updating response policies based on past experiences is crucial for preparedness and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Background Methods Results Discussion Conclusion Implications for nursing policy To examine the relationship between nurses' competency levels in disaster nursing management, their disaster preparedness and disaster preparedness beliefs.Nurses’ competency in disaster nursing management makes disaster response easier. Factors that may affect this reason should be examined.The study was conducted between April and July 2023 with nurses working in a province in the first‐degree earthquake zone in Turkey. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 207 nurses who were selected from primary, secondary, and tertiary care institutions by using the stratified sampling method. Data were collected with a personal information form, the Competencies for Disaster Nursing Management Questionnaire, the Disaster Preparedness Scale, and the General Disaster Preparedness Beliefs Scale. Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests, Spearman regression coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data.There was a positive correlation between nurses' competency levels regarding duties and responsibilities and their disaster preparedness levels. Having disaster‐related training also positively affected the level of competence in duties and responsibilities. Belief in disaster preparedness and having “partial” knowledge about the disaster had no relationship with competencies.According to the International Council of Nurses and current studies on disaster nursing, “competence areas” are among the priority study subjects.According to the study results, disaster preparedness and having disaster‐related education are effective factors in nurses' competencies related to duties and responsibilities.The results of this study may increase awareness in the healthcare system about nurses' disaster management competency levels and the factors that may affect this. It is recommended that disaster preparedness and disaster‐related education factors should be taken into account in the initiatives and policies to be planned to improve the duty and responsibility competence of nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaster management includes efforts to reduce the negative effects of a disaster. This management system has various challenges. Teams need to be sent to disaster areas as soon as possible to reduce losses and damages. Turkey, which frequently experiences earthquake disasters, has recently experienced the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. After the recent earthquakes, the Great Marmara Earthquake, which scientists emphasize the most, has started to be discussed. It is said that Istanbul will be affected very much. Possible earthquake scenarios with a magnitude of 7.5 have been produced. In this study, Adalar district, which will be affected by the Great Marmara Earthquake, is considered and the problem of assigning teams to very heavily damaged buildings is discussed. For the continuation of the study, the data in the Istanbul Province Adalar District Possible Earthquake Loss Estimates Booklet is used. The 413 severely damaged buildings in the 5 neighborhoods where the destruction will occur and the number of building floors in the neighborhoods are taken into consideration. A mathematical model was created for the problem with the goal programming method. The model was solved with the Cplex solver of IBM ILOG optimization program. Thus, the optimal team assignment was realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the vital importance of infrastructure protection and risk management in the context of the devastating 2023 earthquake in Turkey, which resulted in over 50,000 deaths and left 1.5 million homeless. Highlighting the consequences of inadequate infrastructure and government failure to enforce building standards, the study stresses similar risks in countries like Kosovo and North Macedonia. It argues for enhanced government regulation, improved urban planning, and robust international collaboration in disaster response to better prepare for and mitigate future seismic events. Through a detailed analysis of the Turkey earthquake, the paper provides essential insights into creating more resilient and disaster-ready communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis qualitative study explores the experiences of older adult earthquake survivors in Türkiye, focusing on the intersectional challenges they faced after the earthquake of 6 February 2023. Older adults often have multiple vulnerabilities, such as age-related physical limitations, socioeconomic status, health conditions, and social isolation, which exacerbate their risks and needs during disasters. Using semi-structured interviews with 22 participants from different affected regions, this qualitative descriptive study sheds light on their problems with mobility, access to basic needs, and psychological distress. Using an intersectional framework, it explores how factors such as independence in transport, housing conditions, and family structure influence their experiences. The research emphasizes the importance of tailoring emergency response systems to address these unique challenges, including housing, healthcare, and psychosocial support. The findings show that older adults face both immediate physical and psychological challenges as well as long-term adaptation difficulties, emphasizing the need for comprehensive, inclusive disaster preparedness and response strategies. This study contributes to the literature by detailing the intersectional experiences of older earthquake survivors and advocating for policies and practices that ensure equitable support and resource allocation and ultimately promote more resilient communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate the damage from and prepare for disasters, individuals and communities should be involved in the disaster risk reduction efforts. Communicating the risk effectively is the essential step of this involvement. Risk communication is a multidisciplinary field. Disaster managers have to work closely with the media, among other partners, but there is a gap in their understanding of each other's roles. This study aims to explore the process of publishing and broadcasting earthquake information through the experiences of media professionals, to understand how journalists and news organizations function before and after disasters, and to provide evidence to help bridge the gap between disaster managers and/or public health authorities and disaster journalists and/or news organizations., especially in earthquake preparedness. Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with editors/journalists from national newspapers and TV channels. A good context for investigating these issues is afforded by the megacity Istanbul and the Turkish media. Turkey is a land of earthquakes. A further strong earthquake is expected to hit in the near future. The findings, which gave valuable hints for better collaboration, are presented according to the focus of the question guide: time of and norms for publishing or broadcasting news or information about earthquakes; content of the news or information; disaster journalism and guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a disaster education intervention on children's risk perception and preparedness. It also sought to advance longitudinal studies, during an 18‐month time period, of risk perception and preparedness by using a quasi‐experimental methodology in child‐centred disaster research. This study used a quasi‐experimental longitudinal research design to measure the effects of disaster education on children. These effects were examined on children's risk perception and preparedness in the Van and Kocaeli provinces of Türkiye during the 18‐month period, with a sample of 720 school children. Experimental and control groups were randomly allocated, controlling for age, school grade and school enrolment. The disaster education intervention was designed to improve the children's awareness of natural hazards and their knowledge of disaster risk reduction using discussion, visual materials and interactive teaching of emergency management. The results indicate that the disaster education intervention had a positive effect on children's risk perception and perceived importance of preparedness in both study locations. It also helped children to understand the risks and hazards in their living environments. More importantly, this study showed that disaster education enhanced the protective measures taken by children for disasters. This is the first study using the quasi‐experimental longitudinal research design to measure the effects of disaster education on children's risk perception and the importance of preparedness. The findings are of relevance for organisations such as government departments and non‐government organisations when designing or improving disaster education programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public information and early warning are key components of social disaster prevention because they can complement planning, and multi-disciplinary coordination and minimize losses. Social media has increasingly become an important communication channel for users to disseminate useful public and emergency information in these incidents. Communications, including web-based services, between governments, communities, and people involved in the management of disasters are mandatory for the purposes of early warning, rescue services, and recovery. Purpose of this article is exploring how people may use or had used the social media applications during the disaster and provide the advantages of social media in disaster management all over the world but specifically for citizens of Türkiye and Iraq. To get the response of the users, a Google form based survey questionnaire was distributed to the users through the internet. Two hundred and eleven persons, from both genders responded, ages ranged from 17 years to above 45, from different educational levels, inhabiting Türkiye (n = 105, 49.8%), Iraq (n = 88, 41.7%), and other countries (n = 18, 8.5%). The study shows that depending on the culture, social media usage behaviors change for disaster situations. During the disaster, Iraqi citizens preferred to use the Facebook application, meanwhile Türkish citizens prefer to use WhatsApp application to communicate. Both, governments and private sector, are invited to establish and continuously update the infrastructure and facilities of an effective social media communication system, plans should be made to encourage all sectors of society to learn how to use social media in the event of a disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Nursing Sciences is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Nurses take on important roles in disasters. In this regard, the disaster response self-efficacy of nursing students must be evaluated. The study aimed to determine the self-efficacy of nursing students in disaster response. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the study sample consisted of 207 nursing students who were in their third or fourth year attending the nursing department of a state university in the Marmara region of Türkiye between October and December 2023. Data were collected using a student description form and the disaster response self-efficacy scale. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 22.05 ± 2.23 years, 73.4% were female, 50.2% were in their third year of study, 90.3% felt a need for education on disaster nursing, and 76.8% stated that they did not have sufficient knowledge and skills relating to disasters. The students’ mean total score on the disaster response self-efficacy scale was 3.23 ± 0.68. In addition, the disaster response self-efficacy levels of students who stated they had sufficient knowledge and skills concerning disaster response were significantly higher than those of other students (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Students demonstrated a medium level of disaster response self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present cross-sectional study, we determined the self-efficacy of nurses to apply psychological first aid (PFA) during disasters. The study sample consisted of 580 nurses working in Turkey. The data were collected online between July and November 2022 using the "Personal Information Form" and the "PFA Application Self-Efficacy Scale." The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods (number, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), generalized linear models, Bon-ferroni correction, and linear regression analysis. The mean PFA scale scores of male nurses, nurses working in intensive care units, working as service nurses, nurses who have previously received PFA training and applied PFA in disaster situations were higher. Moreover, 91.3% of nurses did not receive PFA training and 90.3% did not receive PFA service earlier, 31.0% did not apply for PFA, 18.3% did not know about PFA. The mean score of the PFA practice self-efficacy scale of nurses was 131.61 ± 19.41. There exists an urgent requirement to develop nurses' PFA application self-efficacy. It is recommended that nurses should be provided repeated PFA training and applied studies focusing on PFA interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On February 6, 2023, the Republic of Turkey experienced a rare occurrence of two successive earthquakes, each with a magnitude exceeding 7.0. The Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) swiftly shared the strong motion records, thereby enriching the global database of near‐fault strong motion records. Identification of permanent displacement is essential for effectively utilizing these records. In this study, we refined the permanent displacement identification method, which combines the Hermit interpolation baseline correction with flatness determination by incorporating a low‐pass filter. Following this, we compared four permanent displacement identification methods, including our improved approach. We applied these to the strong motion record of station 4404 and compared the results with the Global Positioning System coseismic displacement. At the same time, we used field investigation data to verify the effectiveness of our improved method, studying its applicability for both single‐wave packet and multiwave packet records. The conclusions are the following: the improved method provides a more reasonable and effective means of identifying permanent displacement. When the peak ground acceleration (PGA) exceeds 1 g, the permanent displacement identifications from the four methods differ significantly. The discrepancy in permanent displacements identified by the four methods in the horizontal direction is larger than that in the U−D direction. For the record with the largest PGA (station 4614), our improved method yields more reasonable results compared with other techniques. Furthermore, the choice of segmentation time nodes in the velocity time history significantly affects the identification of permanent displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Community & Physician / Toplum ve Hekim is the property of Turk Tabipleri Birligi / Turkish Medical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The purpose of the study is to determine the disaster preparedness perceptions, psychological resilences and empathy levels of nurses after 2023 Great Turkiye Earthquake. Method: This descriptive study was conducted in 2023 using with E‐Anket. This study was carried out with voluntary participation of 464 nurses living in different geographical regions of Turkiye. The data of the study were obtained utilizing Nurses' Disasters Prepardeness Perception Scale (NDPPS), Pyschological Resileince Scale (PRS) and Empathy Scale (ES). Results: In this study, the disaster preparedness perception of the nurses was found to be at medium level. More than half of the nurses (65.1%) reported that they did not received any disaster training before. A meaningful was found between the nurses' disaster preparedness perceptions and their empathy levels and psychological resilence. Conclusions: As in many countries, it is possible to state that also in Turkiye, the training of nurses for disasters are inadequate and that the studies on this subject are limited. This study will provide a theoretical platform to develop nurses' awareness of disaster preparedness and pyschological resilience and empathic approach programs to increase disaster resilience, and to conduct future research on disaster nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Hazards & Environment (JNHE) / Doğal Afetler ve Çevre Dergisi (DACD) is the property of Artvin Coruh University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Qotur doublet-earthquakes with magnitudes MN 5.7 and 5.9 occurred on 23 February 2020 in west Azarbaijan province near the Iran-Turkey border and was followed by many aftershocks. In this study the Qotur aftershocks sequence were relocated, by using the double-difference relocation method (HypoDD). The integrated data from Iranian Seismological Centre (IRSC) and Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey (AFAD) catalogues were used. The aftershocks distribution indicates a seismic zone covering an area of approximately 15 × 10 km2 and oriented NE–SW. Depth distribution of aftershocks in the cross sections show that the focal depths decrease toward the S-SE part of the region and deeper-aftershocks are located in the N-NW part. The result presents that the dominant depth range of aftershocks is from ~ 3 to ~ 15 km. This observation suggests that the causative fault(s) of the Qotur doublet-earthquakes with striking along the northeast–southwest dip toward northwest. Probably, the Başkale fault zone is the causative fault for the Qotur doublet earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When evaluating an area's seismic risk or resilience, it is necessary to use the spatial correlation to analyze the ground motion parameters of multiple sites together in an earthquake. These two large earthquakes in Türkiye provided the possibility for spatial correlation analysis of ground motion intensity measurements in this area. Based on the strong motion records provided by The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of Türkiye (AFAD), this study uses the local ground motion prediction equation in Türkiye to give spatial correlation analysis of Intensity Measurements. This study gives an exponential model based on a semivariogram and compares it with the correlation model obtained from previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On February 6, 2023, at 01 : 17 UTC, a M = 7.8 earthquake struck the southern area of Turkey near Gaziantep town and was followed by a second earthquake of M = 7.5 at 10 : 24 UTC with the epicenter in Elbistan city. Both events were associated with the Anatolian Fault System and have claimed over 50,000 victims, as reported by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, and caused serious damage in the regions of southern Turkey and northern Syria. Seismic waves related to strong Turkey earthquakes have been recorded both by seismic stations throughout the globe and on other devices such as the ground deformation (GNSS, strainmeters, or tiltmeters) networks. In this paper, we show and analyze the earthquake signals recorded by bore-hole tilt stations that monitor seismic and volcanic activities at Mt. Etna. Tilt stations showed very large variations, despite their distance from the epicenter (approximately 1950 km) with a period between 10 and 25 seconds. We compared tilt and seismic data for a co–located station evidencing a very similar waveform that highlight how tiltmeters respond to translational acceleration rather than ground tilt during a teleseism, suggesting that, for waves with this period, they may behave as horizontal seismometers. By using these signals, we evidence the different behaviors of two of the most used models of tiltmeters on volcanoes (Lily and Pinnacle) and how they are useful for instrument calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the incidence of disasters has increased worldwide due to various reasons, particularly climate change, resulting in death, injury, economic loss, and environmental damage. Recent large-scale earthquakes have reaffirmed that Turkey is a country with high disaster risk. It is possible to prevent or reduce deaths, injuries, and epidemics after disasters by planning before, during, and after disasters. For the sustainability of nursing services in disasters, executive nurses should effectively perform management functions related to planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling. This study examines the nursing services provided at a university hospital where earthquake victims were transferred following the Kahramanmaraş earthquake that impacted 11 provinces on February 6, 2023. The study uses the Plan, Do, Check, and Act cycle to present the nursing activities, aiming to contribute to disaster nursing literature and guide executive nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with other causes of migration, earthquakes have displaced millions of people worldwide over the last few decades, forcing them to move to other settlements within the country. As an "earthquake country", Turkey, where approximately 70% of its territory is located in the seismic zone, has faced a variety of environmentally forced migration that refers to a variety of demographic movements like evacuation, flight, displacement, resettlement, as well as forced migration. Disasters and disaster-related forced migrations as an aspect of survival anxiety have severe and irreversible consequences for the existence of physical security, human dignity, health, livelihoods, shelter, and social, economic, and cultural structures and processes of societies or their subunits. Therefore, disasters and disaster-induced migration, which can be defined as a process of significant vulnerability, are considered widespread and severe threats to the enjoyment and realisation of fundamental rights. Earthquake-related forced migration phenomenon is a widespread and high-risk factor, and this risk corresponds to a closer and more destructive possibility for the province of Istanbul. Therefore becomes vital to take preventive measures to mitigate the possible destructive effects as well as to eliminate the risks as much as possible. This study aims to determine whether relevant legislation is adequate to provide an effective and sufficient protection mechanism for environmental displacement that may occur in Istanbul after a significant earthquake for the purpose of “building resilience in crisis” in the view of international standards. Thus, it also emphasises the importance of the human rights approach and legal mechanisms in establishing resilience during crises. This study has been prepared by content analysing the disaster and emergency preparedness plans, policy texts, and relevant legal and regulatory provisions related to understanding and managing the earthquake-induced migration scenario in Istanbul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience in the face of crises is crucial for minimizing the impact of disasters and enabling rapid recovery. This study delves into the interlinked consequences of two seismic events that significantly impacted Türkiye in 1999 and 2023. Using an impact chain analysis, the aim is to provide a thorough understanding of the extensive effects on structures, infrastructure, and socio-economic dynamics. The research also examines the evolution of disaster management practices from the 1999 Kocaeli Earthquake to the more recent seismic events in 2023, highlighting advancements in risk management and resilience. Both seismic events revealed vulnerabilities in the construction of buildings, emphasizing seismic shortcomings that led to widespread damage. Earthquakes exert a profound impact on critical infrastructure, affecting transportation, communication, and energy systems, with cascading effects that extend to the broader socio-economic landscape. The effectiveness of the methodology, particularly, the impact chain analysis, is emphasized as it reveals complex causal relationships. Visual representations support effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders, offering a holistic perspective on systemic risks. In conclusion, this study contributes to understand disaster resilience and provides a foundation for subsequent research, policy formulation, and pragmatic strategies for disaster preparedness and response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kahramanmaraş was hit by two major earthquakes nine hours apart on February 6th, 2023, with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, respectively. Ten other cities were also devastatingly affected by these earthquakes. More than 50 thousand people died in Turkey. The occurrence of two severe earthquakes on the same day in such a wide geographical area caused significant challenges. This disaster, with its devastating effects, focused attention on the significance of establishing a national and comprehensive emergency disaster plan prior to any disaster. Additionally, it highlighted the necessity of preparing a well-organized healthcare team capable of providing prompt and appropriate fluid replacement for pediatric patients in the early stages of a disaster. This is a crucial issue which must be addressed prior to major disasters. Another very important issue in this tragic disaster was the condition of chronically ill pediatric patients. Indeed, an emergency response is important not only for disaster victims, but also for those patients with chronic diseases in need of uninterrupted medical care. It is vital that individuals of all ages, as well as personnel from all sectors, receive the appropriate education, awareness, and knowledge on what actions to take, where to go, and where to gather in such situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An overview of the results obtained by foreign seismologists based on the records of Turkish seismic networks AFAD (State Agency for Disaster Management under the Ministry of Internal Affairs) is presented. The sequence of earthquakes began with the M7.8 main shock and includes thousands of aftershocks. The strongest events occurred in the first twelve hours, with the sources of two M7.0+ events located 100 km apart. Earthquakes have caused ground motions that are destructive to structures, the so-called "pulse-like waveforms," and epicentral distances, as was previously noted, are not a good indicator of attenuation of waves from earthquakes with extended ruptures.The records of stations in the near-fault zones clearly revealed the directivity effects of seismic radiation. The M7.8 earthquake (main shock) was larger than expected in the current tectonic setting. The near-field records traced an early transition to the super-shear (~1.55Vs) rupture propagation on the Narli lateral fault, where the rupture originated and then passed into the East Anatolian fault. The early transition to the super-shear stage obviously contributed to the further propagation of the rupture and the initiation of slips on the East Anatolian fault. A dynamic fracture model has been constructed that matches the various results of inversions obtained by different authors and reveals spatially inhomogeneous rupture propagation velocities. Super-shear velocities exceeding the shear wave velocity Vs are observed along the Narli lateral fault and at the southwestern end of the East Anatolian fault. Since the late 1990s, seismologists have been working on incorporating the rupture directivity effects of extended sources into the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis procedures, but no consensus has been reached so far, and progress in this area can only be expected with the accumulation of a sufficient amount of observational data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Türkiye has experienced the most destructive earthquake disaster in recent years. On February 6, 2023, two earthquakes of more than seven magnitudes occurred in Türkiye, first in Pazarcık and then in Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş province. These earthquakes caused the deaths of more than 50 thousand people and billions of dollars in damage. The earthquakes had serious effects on every segment of society, including children. This study, which aimed to examine the opinions of individuals about children in such a big earthquake, examined 3.450 tweets sent in February 2023. While the researchers used Maxqda to analyze tweets regarding hashtags, likes, retweets, and source devices, they used Python for sentiment analysis. The findings highlighted that the words AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency), education, and psychology were frequently used as hashtags in tweets about children. In addition, the study observed that tweets with very few likes and retweets did not arouse much interest in people. The findings of the sentiment analysis indicated that the tweets were quite negatively oriented. The study's findings can guide future actions and plans concerning the earthquake and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid building damage assessment following an earthquake is important for humanitarian relief and disaster emergency responses. In February 2023, two magnitude-7.8 earthquakes struck Turkey in quick succession, impacting over 30 major cities across nearly 300 km. A quick and comprehensive understanding of the distribution of building damage is essential for efficiently deploying rescue forces during critical rescue periods. This article presents the training of a two-stage convolutional neural network called BDANet that integrated image features captured before and after the disaster to evaluate the extent of building damage in Islahiye. Based on high-resolution remote sensing data from WorldView2, BDANet used pre-disaster imagery to extract building outlines; the image features before and after the disaster were then combined to conduct building damage assessment. We optimized these results to improve the accuracy of building edges and analyzed the damage to each building, and used population distribution information to estimate the population count and urgency of rescue at different disaster levels. The results indicate that the building area in the Islahiye region was 156.92 ha, with an affected area of 26.60 ha. Severely damaged buildings accounted for 15.67% of the total building area in the affected areas. WorldPop population distribution data indicated approximately 253, 297, and 1,246 people in the collapsed, severely damaged, and lightly damaged areas, respectively. Accuracy verification showed that the BDANet model exhibited good performance in handling high-resolution images and can be used to directly assess building damage and provide rapid information for rescue operations in future disasters using model weights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake preparedness is a critical part of developing a sustainable community concerning reducing vulnerability to earthquakes. This study focuses on reducing children's vulnerability, particularly through a school safety program, to increase their physical and emotional preparedness for children against earthquakes. A comparative case study is designed to explore the roles of the integration of non-formal and informal learning into formal education in raising school children's earthquake preparedness. The participants include six teachers with different subject areas and 251 elementary students at a public elementary school, and 95 students at a different public school located in an earthquake-prone city in Turkey. Data are collected through student questionnaires, interviews, classroom observations, and documents to achieve triangulation and trustworthiness. While the qualitative data are analysed through inductive content analysis, descriptive and interpretative analysis are utilized for the quantitative data. The results reveal that a school safety program with a supplementary role to the formal education raises awareness among students about factual knowledge for earthquake preparedness, vital safety actions, and major household preparedness and mitigation measures. This finding has important implications for developing the chances of galvanizing protective behaviours of children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Aydin Dental Journal is the property of Aydin Dental Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Community & Physician / Toplum ve Hekim is the property of Turk Tabipleri Birligi / Turkish Medical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

On February 6, 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 m occurred in Turkey, centered in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş province, followed nine hours later by another earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 m, centered in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaraş province. In the earthquakes, 45,000 people died, and more than 100,000 were injured. During the earthquake search-and-rescue personnel, emergency responders, and volunteers worked in the field. Disasters that suddenly affect large masses of people create many issues related to medical ethics. Likewise, difficulties caused by limited resources lead to issues related to beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice. This is a descriptive research study based on the field observations of researchers who were actually in the disaster area after the earthquakes, as well as an analysis of and observations related to the news, information and reports published. This study draws attention to ensuring the participation of society in the fight against and response to disasters. In addition, ethical guidelines for healthcare providers in disasters should be prepared and integrated into national disaster plans. Turkey's earthquake experience will provide essential information for decision-makers and practitioners regarding the extent of the area impacted and the scope of the affected population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Türkiye experienced the biggest earthquake in its history on February 6, 2023; The earthquake, which affected 11 provinces, caused the death of more than fifty thousand of our people, the crippling or injury of hundreds of thousands of people, the financial loss of more than one hundred and four billion dollars, and the psychological and sociological destruction whose effects will not be erased for many years. However, the Republic of Türkiye has been struggling from the very first moment to overcome the disaster with the least damage and to heal the wounds as soon as possible by mobilizing all its means with the state and nation. Civil administrators, who are one of the leading actors in this struggle, have struggled in and outside the disaster area from the very first moment, especially with their disaster manager roles. In this study, the disaster management role of civil administrators, who are mostly known for their routine civil administration roles, but their roles in emergencies and play a critical role in solving public and social problems, will be discussed on the axis of the 6 February Earthquake. The aim of the study is to raise administrative and academic awareness by demonstrating the importance of civil administrators in terms of crisis management. In the study, literatüre and legislation scanning method will be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to information (ATI) policies are often praised for strengthening transparency, accountability, and trust in public institutions, yet evidence that they improve institutional performance is mixed. We argue that an important impediment to the effective operation of such policies is the failure of bureaucrats to comply with information requests that could expose poor performance. Analyzing a new data set on the performance of approximately 20,000 aid projects financed by 12 donor agencies in 183 countries, we find that enforcement matters: the adoption of ATI policies by agencies is associated with better project outcomes when these policies include independent appeals processes for denied information requests but with no improvement when they do not. We also recover evidence that project staff adjust their behavior in anticipation of ATI appeals, and that the performance dividends of appeals processes increase when bottom‐up collective action is easier and mechanisms of project oversight are weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This paper investigates the peak ground acceleration (PGA) and seismogenic fault characteristics of the Mw7.8 earthquake that struck Turkey on 6 February 2023. The paper identifies the near-fault effect, the fault locking segment effect, and the trampoline effect of the earthquake, and presents a detailed spatial distribution of PGA. The featured application of this work is in seismic engineering and disaster prevention, where the PGA and fault characteristics are essential for assessing the seismic demand and capacity of structures, as well as the potential damage and loss induced by earthquakes. This paper also enhances the understanding of the seismogenic mechanism, damage mode, characteristics, and strong earthquake law of the Turkey earthquake, which can facilitate the improvement of the seismic design codes and emergency response plans in Turkey and other regions with similar tectonic settings. A Mw7.8 earthquake struck Turkey on 6 February 2023, causing severe casualties and economic losses. This paper investigates the characteristics of strong ground motion and seismogenic fault of the earthquake. We collected and processed the strong ground motion records of 379 stations using Matlab, SeismoSignal, and Surfer software: Matlab (Version R2016a), SeismoSignal (Version 5.1.0), and Surfer (Version 23.0.15), and obtained the peak ground acceleration (PGA) contour map. We analyzed the near-fault effect, the fault locking segment effect, and the trampoline effect of the earthquake based on the spatial distribution of PGA, the fault geometry, and slip distribution. We found that the earthquake generated a very strong ground motion concentration effect in the near-fault area, with the maximum PGA exceeding 2000 cm/s2. However, the presence of fault locking segments influenced the spatial distribution of ground motion, resulting in four significant PGA high-value concentration areas at a local dislocation, a turning point, and the end of the East Anatolian Fault. We also revealed for the first time the typical manifestation of the trampoline effect in this earthquake, which was characterized by a large vertical acceleration with a positive direction significantly larger than the negative direction. This paper provides an important reference for understanding the seismogenic mechanism, damage mode, characteristics, and strong earthquake law of the Turkey earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery / Ulusal Travma ve Acil Cerrahi Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Revealing the dynamic link between rainfall and runoff, which are the main components of the hydrological cycle, is significant for the planning and managing water resources, disaster risk management, and construction of water structures. This study used feed-forward neural network (FFNN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and long short-term memory (LSTM) network to model the rainfall-runoff relationship. Various variations of lagged precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, and flows were presented as inputs, and the flow values of Munzur River were estimated as outputs. During the selection of input parameters, variables with high correlation to flow values were utilized. The model's success was tested using several statistical indicators, including the coefficient of correlation (R), coefficient of determination (R2), and root mean square error (RMSE). When measuring values and model results are compared, FFNN and ANFIS models show accurate predictive results with high accuracy, while LSTM prediction results are not satisfactory. However, it was concluded that the FFNN model with the hyperbolic tangent sigmoid transfer function and Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm made a slightly more accurate estimation. In addition, it was revealed that the best ANFIS-Sugeno model was obtained with a hybrid learning algorithm, Gaussmf membership function, and eight subsets. As a result of the analysis, it has been found that FFNN is superior to ANFIS in flow prediction. These results provide policymakers and planners with helpful information for developing flood and drought management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the governments of the world to implement different regulative and protective measures. Although these measures required serious re-considerations of public health strategies, they were still grounded on pre-existing contexts of countries' health systems, namely the "new public health" paradigm. Turkey's neoliberal health reforms since 2003 coincide with the principles of this paradigm's trends toward marketizing services and responsibilizing individuals; yet the Turkish context of the pandemic also stands out due to its mixed and unique form of governance. Utilizing the tweets of the Turkish Health Minister between March 13th and October 1st, 2020, we conducted a thematic qualitative analysis investigating the Turkish state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis revealed that state responsibility was framed around building new pandemic hospitals, informing the public, and building trust. Conversely, his tweets assigned Turkish individuals an active role in shaping pandemic outcomes through their "informed" and "empowered" agency. Finally, he coined "togetherness," referring to the sum of individual actions, as an indispensable goal in assuring public compliance with precautions. The Minister's tweets reflect the unique nature of pandemic governance in Turkey with a relatively imposing and swift response of centralized power but a primary focus on "responsibilized" individuals' collective actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Community & Physician / Toplum ve Hekim is the property of Turk Tabipleri Birligi / Turkish Medical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Community & Physician / Toplum ve Hekim is the property of Turk Tabipleri Birligi / Turkish Medical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Health Science Yuksek Ihtisas University / Yüksek İhtisas Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Journal of Health Science Yuksek Ihtisas University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

On 6 February 2023, southeastern Turkey was struck by two major earthquakes that devastated 11 provinces. Tens of thousands of buildings collapsed and more were later demolished. During post-event field surveys conducted by the authors, several disposal sites set up in the most affected provinces were detected and checked for suitability. Based on field observations on the properties of sites and their surrounding areas as well as on the implemented debris management activities, it is concluded that all sites had characteristics that did not allow them to be classified as safe for earthquake debris management. This inadequacy is mainly attributed to their proximity to areas, where thousands of people reside. As regards the environmental impact, these sites were operating within or close to surface water bodies. This situation reveals a rush for rapid recovery resulting in serious errors in the preparation and implementation of disaster management plans. In this context, measures for effective debris management are proposed based on the existing scientific knowledge and operational experience. This paper aims to highlight challenges during earthquakes debris management and related threats posed to public health and the environment in order to be avoided in future destructive events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ankara Barosu Dergileri is the property of Ankara Bar Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

After disasters, it's critical to attend to people's basic requirements. In addition to serving the city's recreational requirements on a regular basis, open green spaces in cities can be crucial in providing for residents' basic needs, particularly during emergencies like earthquakes. Site selection is crucial in this situation to prevent earthquake parks from becoming a secondary threat in the event of a disaster. The study aims to determine the parks that can be earthquake parks in Van's/Turkiye İpekyolu, Tusba and Edremit districts and to choose the most suitable area. The AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency)-designated emergency assembly, evacuation, and shelter areas as well as additional parks that satisfy the required requirements were discussed in these districts. These areas were evaluated with the integrated study of MCDM (Multi-Criteria Decision Making) Methodologies AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) and TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solutions) methods in site selection for the earthquake park. The top factors to consider when choosing an earthquake park's location were chosen. The power of each area was graded using these standards. For the creation of an earthquake park in Van, a total of six ideal alternative park locations, two in each district, were identified. Atatürk Park, located in İpekyolu Neighborhood, has been suggested as the most suitable park to be converted into an earthquake park, with its justifications. In future studies on earthquake-oriented urban planning, the method used for site selection of earthquake parks is believed to offer substantial benefits to the relevant stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Nursing Effect / Etkili Hemşirelik Dergisi is the property of Dokuz Eylul Universitesi Hemsirelik Fakultesi Elektronik Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Architectural Sciences & Applications (JASA) is the property of Journal of Architectural Sciences & Applications and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study aimed to investigate and analyze the suitability of urban furniture at the Topkapı Earthquake Park, which was designed as a venue, where people could take shelter and their basic needs could be met in case of a potential disaster, against universal earthquake park standards. Turkey is located in one of the most active earthquake zones, exposed to devastating effects of this natural disaster on both human lives, nature, and built environment. It is of great importance to effectively design and manage earthquake parks and urban furniture in order to minimize the loss of life that may occur before, during and after the disaster. Accordingly, the urban furniture included in Topkapı Earthquake Park was compared to Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, an international example, in terms of sitting area, lighting, cover element, garbage bins, signboards, support service elements, and social activity areas based on given criteria and expectations. In addition to the literature review, the similarities and differences between the two earthquake park examples were investigated upon review of data obtained through on-site discovery, observation, and measurement studies, and a detailed comparison was made in a tabular format, supported by visuals. The comparative study helped identify the inadequate elements and problems of the park. In conclusion, although the use of urban furniture in Topkapı Earthquake Park provided a suitable environment for regular daily life, there were inadequate elements with regard to readiness to disaster situations and Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park was at a much better level in terms of planning and design compared to the Topkapı Earthquake Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery / Ulusal Travma ve Acil Cerrahi Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)