Post Turkey/Syria Earthquake Istanbul Fieldwork Report (2023/2/19 - 22).
Theme：International research collaboration activities, post Turkey/Syria Earthquake 2023
Place： Istanbul, Turkey

Introduction
In the early hours of February 6, 2023, Turkey's southeast province of Pazarcık(Kahramanmaraş) was struck by a M7.8 earthquake, followed by a M7.6 one nine hours laterin the region of Elbistan (Kahramanmaraş). In response, Researcher (Specially Appointed)
Miwako Kitamura (International Research Collaboration Office) and researcher Deniz Demiragfrom SOAS, University of London with the support of IRIDeS (International Research Instituteof Disaster Science, Tohoku University) traveled to Istanbul to assess the earthquake’s impact
on vulnerable communities, role of NGOs and NPOs, and seek international collaborations
with Bogazici University.
Fieldwork Activities
19th February: The team arrived on the evening of 19th February and conducted informal
meetings with a volunteer and an NGO worked from a student-led group, AFS Volunteers (AFSIntercultural programs) that fosters intercultural learning experiences among young students.
20th February: Team visited local NGO that works on vulnerable groups and women in theEarthquake affected areas. KEDV (Foundation for the Support of Women's Work) conducts
programs with low-income women in individual and collective capacity building, becomingcollective, economic empowerment, and disaster/migration. Women are crucial in disastermanagement and leadership in the community and official capacities. In many disasters,
women are disproportionately affected, but they also have unique skills and perspectives thatcan contribute to disaster response and recovery efforts.

Researchers with KEDV members at their
Istanbul headquarters.

21st February: Team has visited Gebze University and Bogazici University to meet withvaluable researchers from different disciples, including civil engineering and social sciences tofoster interdisciplinary research opportunities to disaster studies. The research aimed toidentify areas where international collaboration could be leveraged to support recovery andbuilding efforts. The following academics were visited:
Prof. Fikret Adaman, Prof. Ali Tekcan, Prof. Zeynep Kadirbeyoglu, Prof. Ceren Özer Sözdinler(continues to the next page)Miwako Kitamura and Zeynep
Kadirbeyoğlu (left)

Deniz Demirağ and Ceren ÖzerSözdinler (right)

22nd February: Team visited Mor Çatı (Purple Roof Women's Shelter Foundation) was foundedto provide women with social, psychological, and legal support through its shelter and solidarity
centres.
Conclusion
The trip to Istanbul provided valuable insights into the impact of the Turkey/Syria earthquake
and the response efforts of local and international stakeholders. The research highlighted theimportance of international collaboration in supporting disaster response and recovery efforts
and identified several areas where researchers and international organizations could providesupport. The findings will contribute to ongoing efforts to support affected communities andpromote disaster resilience in the region.

Text and photos from：Miwako Kitamura (International Research Collaboration Office)Anawat Suppasri (Tsunami Engineering Lab)
Fumihiko Imamura (Tsunami Engineering Lab)
Deniz Demirag (PhD student)