'We feel the devastation from miles away' – Prague's Turkish community speaks out

On Feb. 6, a rare sequence of earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye and northern Syria. After the initial earthquake of 7.8 magnitude, a tremor of 7.5 magnitude followed nine hours later, exacerbating the destruction, and more than 7,500 aftershocks according to the World Bank, making this the most destructive natural disaster in the region in more than 80 years.

The death toll caused by the major two earthquakes spirals past 50,000 deaths. National and international concerns continue to multiply as two new earthquakes hit Turkish provinces Hatay and Nigde last week, with magnitudes 6.3 and 5.3 respectively. 

While more than 10 million locals have been directly affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake, Turkish communities abroad are also sharing the grief and sorrow of the damage and fatalities. Additionally, they are collaborating to help earthquake victims in any way possible. 

The Turkish community in the Czech Republic acted promptly to send help to those in need. Their initiatives included collections for emergency relief supplies at the Turkish embassy or at Turkish-owned businesses, charity collections, commemorative events, and support groups. Their acts of solidarity are meant to help people cope with the situation, despite the constant worry over what's happening now, and the uncertain future of the region and its people. 

Türkiye is not foreign to earthquakes, as fault lines go through 42 percent of the surface area of the country. Notoriously, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in 1999 killed more than 18,000 people in Izmit, a city near Istanbul. Most recently, the 2020 Elazığ earthquake with a 6.7 magnitude took 41 lives; ten months later, a 7 magnitude earthquake in the Aegean sea earthquake killed 117 people in Izmir, and 19 in the Greek island of Samos.

In order to help Prague-based Turks cope with the detrimental psychological impacts of the earthquake, a post-disaster support group will be organized by Prague Integration, a local NGO providing mental health services. The sessions will be led by Pınar Kaya Kurtman, a Prague-based Turkish psychologist. The aim of the group is to help create a safe space for people who struggle with the negative impacts of the earthquake, says Kurtman. 

"As a psychologist working in the field of mental health, I can say that in such large-scale disasters, feelings of helplessness, sadness, and anger are commonly seen in those affected, and symptoms such as difficulty adhering to daily routines, difficulty concentrating can arise," Kurtman says.

"In such situations, as someone who understands the benefits of solidarity and mutual aid in healing the wounds, I have planned to support aid activities in Türkiye while also working with Prague Integration to create a safe environment where we can support and stand in solidarity," she adds.