The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has played an active role in Türkiye well before the establishment of the agency’s office in the country. Specialists from Türkiye were invited to Japan in 1959 to participate in disaster risk reduction (DRR) workshops. Since then, JICA has been instrumental in building disaster-resilient communities in Türkiye through a range of activities, such as by organizing workshops, dispatching specialists, and setting up technical collaboration initiatives. This partnership has facilitated the continuous sharing of knowledge and experiences between Türkiye and Japan—two nations that have dealt with devastating earthquakes and other disasters throughout their long history.
Before the full extent of the destruction wrought by earthquake to strike Kahramanmaraş early in the morning on 6 February 2023 could even be grasped, a second one struck in the early afternoon, leaving millions displaced and homeless. A total of eleven provinces in Türkiye suffered unparalleled amounts of damage in what would become known in the country as “The Disaster of the Century.” Immediately following these earthquakes, JICA ramped up response efforts, fast-tracking post-disaster reconstruction efforts and expanding its disaster awareness campaigns.
Response to the Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes
Given the severity of the still-unfolding situation, the Japanese government promptly dispatched one of its Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) search and rescue team to Kahramanmaraş. Led by Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), this 72-member team meticulously coordinated with international counterparts to mount a remarkable two-weak search and rescue mission. Despite harsh winter conditions, the rescue workers worked tirelessly with other international search and rescue teams, playing a vital role in locating survivors and delivering urgent assistance to those trapped under the rubble.
The earthquakes caused severe disruptions in the national healthcare system, further exacerbating the already catastrophic impact on the millions of people directly affected. While several hospitals in the disaster zone sustained such extensive damage that they were rendered nonoperational, healthcare facilities in less-affected areas experienced an overwhelming influx of patients displaced from the more severely impacted regions. To support Oğuzeli State Hospital in Gaziantep after its main building was made unusable by the earthquakes, Türkiye’s Ministry of Health coordinated with JDR’s healthcare team to establish and operate an emergency field hospital. The joint efforts heroically undertaken by Turkish and Japanese healthcare workers earned the admiration of the local population and increased their trust in the healthcare system.
Teams of experts specializing in engineering and sociology arrived at the disaster zone one month following the earthquakes. Upon arrival, these teams visited local organizations and government authorities to share their observations and experiences from Japan so that, together, they could mount a more effective response could expedite the return to normalcy. Indeed, the efforts of these teams not only laid the groundwork for new financial and technical cooperation between our two countries but also refined the scope and objectives of existing projects so that the amount of support reaching the affected region would increase.
Earthquake Preparedness and Reconstruction Efforts
In November 2022, JICA and the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (known in Turkish by the acronym TBB) signed a project agreement on capacity development for local municipalities in DRR and waste management to come into effect in March 2023. Initially designed to improve municipalities’ earthquake risk reduction capacity and zero waste initiatives, the project was subsequently broadened to address specific needs in earthquake-affected areas, including seismic retrofitting, debris management, and innovative urban planning.
After working with the General Directorate of Construction Works, a subsidiary agency of Türkiye’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change (MoEUCC), JICA specialists assisted in adapting seismic retrofitting techniques to comply with Turkish regulations in order to strengthen the structural integrity of a well-known public building. MoEUCC’s Directorate General of Environmental Management organized workshops where Japanese practices and regulations on debris management and recycling were reviewed and discussed, thereby equipping attendees with advanced strategies and insights for improving local practices.
Following a joint recommendation by MoEUCC’s General Directorate of Spatial Planning, the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB), and JICA, Kahramanmaraş was selected as the pilot city for implementing innovative reconstruction planning. Collaborative initiatives with the mayor’s office are in progress to transform Kahramanmaraş into a resilient, smart, and sustainable city while safeguarding its rich historical heritage. The new vision and blueprints for the city are expected to be completed and unveiled to the community by the first quarter of 2024. As part of this project, specialists from MoEUCC, TBB, and municipal directorates attended three separate workshops in Japan focused on post-disaster seismic retrofitting, waste management, and urban redevelopment.
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality launched a project aimed at making the city more disaster resilient in 2023. Given Bursa’s vulnerability to earthquakes, the city is actively working to bolster its earthquake preparedness. A JICA team has conducted urban risk assessments, mapped liquefaction zones, and assessed buildings’ earthquake resilience to support the city’s ongoing efforts. Drawing on Japan’s extensive experience and insights on earthquake resilience, the team aims to reinvent Bursa into a more robust city capable of withstanding future disasters.
Final Word
Given our shared fate as two peoples highly exposed to natural disasters, Türkiye and Japan have forged a mutual relationship based on mutual support and trust. Building on lessons learned from the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese people are apt to volunteer their expertise and services in DRR, search and rescue operations, humanitarian aid, and medical support with their Turkish counterparts. The exchange of knowledge and experience will not only strengthen disaster management and preparedness in both countries but also bolster community resilience and further strengthen the diplomatic partnership between our two nations as we commemorate the centennial anniversary of this partnership in 2024.
This amicable partnership will not only serve as a source of motivation for both countries during their times of need but also help advance their long-term sustainability goals and set an example for other nations of the world to emulate.