An Examination of Temporary Shelter Units in Terms of Minimum Standards: The Case of the Kahramanmaraş Earthquake

Disasters can be defined as natural, technological, and human-induced events that cause loss of life and socio-economic impacts in societies and stop normal life. Türkiye faces many disasters. The loss of life and economic losses caused by these disasters vary according to the type of disaster. Earthquakes are the natural disasters that affect Türkiye the most. Described as the disaster of the century, the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes occurred on 6 February 2023 at 04:17 and 13:24 Turkish time. These earthquakes, with epicenters in Pazarcık (Kahramanmaraş) and Elbistan (Kahramanmaraş) with magnitudes of Mw 7.7 and Mw 7.6, affected 11 provinces including Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, and Malatya, killing 50,399 people and damaging 1,279,727 buildings. One of the most significant challenges following earthquakes is the issue of housing, which is addressed through the implementation of temporary housing units. This study aimed to evaluate the temporary shelter areas created after the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes within the framework of regulations and standards in Türkiye and internationally. The study data were collected through direct observation and participant observation. For this purpose, the “Vali Saim Çotur Tent City”, which is located in the central Onikişubat district of Kahramanmaraş and is the second largest tent city, was examined. As a result of the examination, it was concluded that the tent city did not comply with national and international standards. Based on the findings and results of this study, it is recommended that disaster plans are revised and training programs organized for practitioners in order to prevent similar mistakes in future disasters.