Reporting
Turkey: how to alleviate the trauma of the earthquake in children
Audio 01:32
Distribution of food to earthquake survivors in Iskenderun, February 14, 2023. © Hussein Malla / AP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In southern Turkey, three weeks after the violent earthquake that killed more than 45,000 people, thousands of survivors remain traumatized.
The Ministry of the Family sent more than 3,700 social workers to take care of these victims, in particular the children.
In a camp in Iskenderun, teachers try to change their minds.
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With our special correspondent in Iskenderun,
Manon Chapelain
In a children's playground, Emre, face tense, calls her two sons to go to bed.
He is concerned.
It is always at nightfall that their traumas wake up.
"
On the evening of the earthquake, they were the ones who woke me up screaming in fear before the walls of our building fell on us,"
he says.
Of course, they are still in shock.
Especially the biggest one, the 5 year old.
He understands very well what an earthquake is.
And he's on alert whenever there's a tremor.
»
At the back of this disaster camp, five volunteer teachers have set up a space reserved for children.
They organize various activities there to change their minds.
Tonight is popcorn and movies.
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More than 5.4 million children impacted
"
We allowed them to meet, and we helped them express their emotions through drawing or games,"
explains Züre, a teacher.
At first, they mainly drew demolished houses, faces without expression, without a smile.
Now they also draw happy faces.
»
► To read also:
The earthquake in Turkey, a tragedy for thousands of children
The drawings have changed, but the sleep problems won't get better until they get a real roof, assures a second teacher: “
They don't have a routine here.
They don't quite know what to do with their day.
Their basic needs are not met, such as having clean water, clothes, food when needed…
”
According to Unicef, more than 5.4 million children present in the earthquake zone are likely to develop anxiety, depressive or post-traumatic disorders.
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