After the earthquake in Kahramanmaraş, Atatürk University continues its support to the earthquake area.

After sending 4 aid trucks with 100 personnel to heal the wounds of the earthquake, 50 Psychosocial Support and Rehabilitation Specialists consisting of university personnel and the 5th aid truck were sent to the earthquake zone by the University, which has continued its aid to disaster areas from the first moment of the earthquake, which has had a devastating effect in eleven provinces.

In order to provide the psychosocial support to people who have been exposed to or witnessed severe mental trauma due to the earthquake, and who need at least as much as food and shelter, a team of 50 experts arrived in Malatya to assist the earthquake victims in the region and started working immediately. Moreover; Atatürk University, which had previously sent 4 aid trucks to the earthquake area, made ready the aid materials prepared by the Development Foundation and sent them off to the disaster area.

Rector Çomaklı: “We Will Repair Both Physical and Mental Damages Together”

Stating that they continue to help earthquake victims to heal their wounds, Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı said that they have continued their aid mobilization, which they have been continuing since the first day, without interruption. Rector Çomaklı, who stated that they will repair both the physical and mental destruction caused by the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake, which is described as the disaster of the century, said: “We are trying to help the injured people, and the earthquake victims with our support team from the very first moment. As of yesterday, we are with the people of the region to repair the psychological and mental destruction with our 50 Psychosocial Support and Rehabilitation Specialists, who have arrived in the region today. After getting over the first shock, our university is equipped to manage the psychological support, which is as important as the need for food, drink and shelter. We will be on the field to support earthquake survivors' understanding of the event and their recovery.”

“Support to be Provided Will Contribute to Providing Social Peace”

Rector Çomaklı stated that with the psychosocial support to be provided, and that they will help the society to return to its normality by relieving, directing and teaching the methods of coping with the negativities in the healing process, adding that the support to be provided will also contribute to the reduction of the anxieties of of the individuals that increase as a result of the changing conditions and to ensure social peace: "In this sense, the support to be provided by our experts We see it as a tool that will play a key role in reinforcing the factors that hold society together. With these thoughts; I wish the best for both our Psychosocial Support and Rehabilitation Specialists working in the earthquake area and our friends in our aid truck, and I hope that our country will not experience such and similar pains again.”

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE – 17.02.2023