Treating long-term psychological needs
14 August 2000

At 03:02 (local time) on 17 August, 1999, an earthquake measuring 7.4 struck the industrial heartland of Turkey in the north-west, leaving more than 17,000 people dead and damage estimated at somewhere between 3 and 6.5 billion US dollars according to the World Bank. While authorities were trying to cope with the scale of the destruction, another earthquake measuring 7.2 struck the region on 12 November, killing 845 people. Some 50,000 people were injured in both tremors.

One year on from the first and most devastating earthquake, hundreds of thousands of victims are still trying to come to terms - both materially and psychologically - with the consequences of a tremor that lasted just 45 seconds, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. While the Turkish authorities and the international community rushed to provide food and shelter for the survivors of both earthquakes, the long-term psychological needs of people were less obvious.

Not only are survivors showing symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder as a result of their experiences, but life in tent cities and prefabricated settlements is adding to their woes. Unemployment, poverty and general living conditions are causing depression and boredom. Experts say inadequate mental health facilities and an unwillingness on the part of sufferers to acknowledge any fears or problems, means it will take up to 10 years before people recover. Although there are now growing numbers of projects in Turkey to deal with psychological problems among earthquake victims, measures also need to be put into place to deal with new fears - that of another major earthquake which seismologists predict will hit Istanbul and the surrounding areas.

International Federation staff were on the ground within hours of the 17 August quake to help coordinate international assistance (tents, hygiene articles and medicines mainly), in support of the Turkish Red Crescent relief operation. To date, resources estimated at some 250 million Swiss francs have been mobilised for Turkey through the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, including contributions from more than 50 National Societies. The focus of current assistance is on psychological support programmes, reconstruction and national disaster preparedness programmes.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:
Note : a video news release (VNR) is available

Jemini Pandya, Press Officer, Istanbul, Tel +90 532 508 6910
Marie-Francoise Borel, Information Officer, Tel +41 22 730 4346

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 176 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering.
The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.