Risk Returns

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Disaster risk reduction in Turkey

I. Ejder Kaya, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, Turkey

wo devastating earthquakes in the Marmara Region of Turkey

in 1999 affected 15million people over a total area of 100,000

and caused a total loss of property of US$12 billion.

hey became the turning point for the national disaster and emer-

gency management system in Turkey.

Prior to these earthquakes, the national disaster and emergency manage-

ment systemof Turkey had beenmainly focused on post-disaster response

and recovery, and there were few incentives and legislative arrangements

to encourage disaster risk analysis or risk reduction approaches.

Following the quakes, the academic community and technical author-

ities agreed on the need to review the system and revise the related

legislation and administrative structures. As a result, pre-disaster meas-

ures began to play a larger role in Government plans.

During this period, the General Directorate (GD) of Emergency

Management was established under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s

Office, and the urban search and rescue structure was changed with the

establishment of Civil Defence Units in 11 provinces employing up to

150 staff each. Military Search and Rescue Teams were set up, along with

numerous non-governmental search and rescue organizations. Regional

centres for relief and emergency operations were organized under the

Ministry of the Interior and local authorities were given extended respon-

sibilities for disaster mitigation. The Government also founded the

Obligatory Earthquake Insurance System, the Construction Inspection

Process and the Proficiency in Constructional Professions System.

In addition to these developments, the main change was the establish-

ment of the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD),

according to which three core governmental institutions dealing with

disaster and emergency management issues (GD of Disaster Affairs

under the Ministry of PublicWorks and Settlement, GD of Civil Defense

under the Ministry of Interior and GD of Emergency Management) were

merged inDecember 2009 under a new institution called AFAD, attached

to the Prime Minister’s office.

Within the new administrative structure and legislation, as seen in

Figure 1, AFADworks on disaster risk reduction (DRR) directly with the

Planning and Mitigation Department and the Earthquake Department.

It also conducts indirect disaster risk mitigation work through its Civil

Defense, Response and Recovery Departments.

With the rise of global interest in the concept of DRR, Turkey is well

aware of the importance of risk reduction strategies. To this end, the

country has adopted the document Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-

2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters

as a key guidance text for national progress in DRR.

Strategy for disaster rsik reduction

An important initiative, the Assessment of Principles of RiskManagement

Project, was launchedwith the approval of the State PlanningOrganization

at the beginning of 2011. This project, which will be finalized by 2013,

covers methodology and procedures for risk assessment and risk analysis

studies to be held in the provinces. For this project, support

will be received from the academic community, including

disaster management centres in Turkish universities.

Turkey has also recently established a National Platform

for Disaster Risk Reduction, in accordance with the first

priority of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) and

in close cooperation with the United Nations International

Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). The first meeting

of the Platformwill be held inMay 2011 with the participa-

tion of all stakeholders.

AFAD is also working on the preparation of the National

Disaster Management Strategy and Action Plan. The docu-

ment contains the short-, medium- and long-term DRR

objectives in line with the HFA. All Government institutions

dealing with disaster and emergency management, as well

as the academic community and non-governmental insti-

tutions, are involved in the preparation of this document,

which will be finalized by the end of 2011.

One of the main national projects in which AFAD is

taking part is the assessment and evaluation of the Strategy

and Action Plan for Urban Development. As members of

specific working groups established under the auspices

of the Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, AFAD is

dealing with the preparation of legislative arrangements by:

• Formulating the regulations related to disaster and

emergency management

• Assessing principles for multi-hazard mapping and

mitigation plans

• Preparing a handbook on the implementation of plans

• Prioritizing buildings for earthquake risk

• Providing safe transportation routes in case of disasters.

Preparing for hydrometeorological disasters

Hydrometeorological disaster experts in AFAD are

conducting a Flood Forecasting and EarlyWarning System

Feasibility Project, the protocol for which was signed in

September in 2010 by AFAD, the State Meteorological

Service (DMI) and the Directorate General of State

Hydraulic Works (DSI), with a donation by the US Trade

and Development Agency. This project covers analysis

of area and hydro-meteorological data for flood models,

review of current data collection methods and capabili-

ties, comparative analysis of the flood forecasting systems

of developed countries, comparative analysis of commonly

used flood forecasting and early warning models, technical

assessment of flood prevention alternatives and network

developments, designation of projects and specifications,

financial and economic analysis, impacts on the environ-

ment, and economic progress. At the end of the project, the

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