INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION AND RISK MANAGEMENT: POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TURKEY 2023 EARTHQUAKE.

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]