Support Needs of the Survivors of the August 17, 1999 Earthquake in Turkey

Author： Kasapoğlu Aytül Ecevit Yildiz Ecevit Mehmet

ISSN： 0303-8300

Source： Social Indicators Research, Vol.66, Iss.3, 2004-05, pp. : 229-248

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Abstract

This paper aims to present a sociological analysis of social support related to disaster sociology in general and earthquakes specifically. The analysis is based on field research conducted a year after the 17 August 1999 East Marmara Earthquake where 18000 people died; 50000 people injured; 5000 buildings collapsed and 340000 of them damaged; 14513 businesses closed; 150000 people became unemployed; and 129338 forced to live in prefabricated houses. The research primarily aims to understand the support needs by focusing mainly on the following issues about the earthquake survivors: (i) which and what support types and areas are mostly desired by them; (ii) which independent variables are the most effective on their demands; and (iii) from which persons or institutions they have received support and wanted to be supported by. Marginal development of the civil society; high degree of expectations of almost everything from the state; psychological factors being less influential compared with West and education being the primary influential factor are some of the significant results of this research.