t24.com.tr
Istanbul Earthquake Preparedness: Expert Warns of Critical Shortcomings
Professor Burcu Balcik, an expert in disaster management, warns of Istanbul's inadequate earthquake preparedness, emphasizing the need for improved aid coordination and logistics, stronger local-central government collaboration, and a shift from reactive aid to proactive risk reduction.
- How can coordination between local and central governments be improved to address the shortcomings in Turkey's disaster preparedness?
- The lack of preparedness stems from a failure to prioritize disaster mitigation despite existing plans and resources. Professor Balcik points to the absence of numerical data on disaster response capacity and local policies as key obstacles. Despite awareness-raising efforts following past earthquakes like the 1999 Izmit and 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes, tangible changes remain insufficient.
- What are the most significant challenges to ensuring effective aid coordination and logistics during and after a major earthquake in Istanbul?
- Istanbul, a city the size of a small country, faces a high risk of a devastating earthquake. Professor Burcu Balcik, a leading expert in disaster management, highlights the critical need for improved coordination and logistics of aid in the aftermath, emphasizing the potential chaos and the likelihood that even global resources may be insufficient. Current preparedness is deemed inadequate, with a lack of prioritization and concrete plans.
- What specific policy changes are needed to move beyond post-disaster aid towards a more proactive system of disaster risk reduction in Istanbul and across Turkey?
- The insufficient response to past earthquakes highlights the need for systemic changes to improve disaster preparedness in Turkey. Professor Balcik stresses the importance of strong coordination between local and central governments, prioritizing clear action plans and public engagement from the smallest neighborhood unit to national level. The current approach, focusing on post-disaster aid, needs to shift towards proactive risk reduction.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing emphasizes the lack of preparedness and potential chaos following a major earthquake in Istanbul. The headline (if any) and introduction likely highlight these concerns, creating a sense of urgency and potential fear. While this is important, a more balanced approach might include information about ongoing efforts to improve preparedness.
Language Bias
The language used is mostly neutral, quoting the expert's statements directly. However, the repeated emphasis on the lack of preparedness and potential for chaos could be perceived as alarmist, though this reflects the expert's concerns.
Bias by Omission
The analysis focuses heavily on the lack of preparedness and coordination, potentially omitting discussions on existing initiatives or successful disaster response examples in Turkey or other countries. While the expert highlights shortcomings, a balanced perspective acknowledging any positive steps taken would strengthen the analysis. The article also doesn't explore potential political or economic factors hindering preparedness.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the unequal distribution of resources and preparedness for disasters, particularly in the context of the potential Istanbul earthquake. The lack of preparedness disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, exacerbating existing inequalities. The statement "İstanbul'a yetecek arama kurtarma ekibi dünyada bile olmayabilir" (There may not be enough search and rescue teams in the world for Istanbul) emphasizes the scale of the potential crisis and the unequal access to resources.