Through War and Disaster, Abdulnaser Charts New Beginning

Abdulnaser was only a teenager when he and his family fled the conflict in Syria. Since 2013, he has called the southern province of Hatay, Türkiye, his home. 

"My house and almost 90 percent of our town in Syria were destroyed. I reached secondary school in Syria and completed my education in Türkiye.” 

After over a decade of perseverance and making ends meet, Abdulnaser was once again put to the test by the earthquakes that struck in February 2023, which claimed the lives of tens of thousands.  

“I had to pull my father out from under the rubble. I lost two of my brothers. One was 28 years old and married,” he recalls, having to take on the responsibility of caring for his nephews and nieces. 

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the first few weeks, his priority was to find a roof over his head for his family. He found himself in a settlement for affected families in the town of Kırıkhan (today known as the Kızıl Elma Temporary Accommodation Centre). 

“The settlement was established one month after the earthquakes. In the beginning there were 100 tents, but then suddenly the number increased to 340. Eventually, the local authorities replaced the tents with containers.” 

Like in the hundreds of settlements set up for those who lost their homes, solidarity shone through – with people stepping up to support and take on leadership roles. Abdulnaser was one of them, volunteering to help facilitate dialogue between the authorities and his fellow residents. 

“I have experience working with NGOs, even in Syria. Before the earthquakes, I was working as a translator with local authorities. I'm the person community members trust to represent them,” he explains. 

Abdulnaser works tirelessly to consult his community on their perspectives and advocate for their needs, managing to secure support from authorities and various organizations. 

Among these were the International Organization for Migration (IOM)'s distribution of essential items, with support from the European Union (EU) through its Humanitarian Aid Operations. Packaged in 'summer kits', and 'insulation kits' and 'communal toolboxes', the supplies included fans, cooling boxes, summer blankets, water containers, mosquito nets, fire extinguishers, ladders and more. 

Meanwhile, residents received materials designed to reduce containers' temperatures by up to six degrees in the summer and to increase by up to five degrees in the winter. Altogether, residents were better protected from extreme weather conditions.

Abdulnaser further observed that residents needed a space where they can socialize and interact as a community. This led to the construction of a multipurpose communal hall by IOM. 

“We needed this space. Typically, it is used for social activities, especially women. It's a good and big place for families to gather,” he describes. “We also hold various trainings and information sessions here.” IOM organized one on fire safety, in response to recurring incidents. 

IOM also provided 319 of the settlement's most vulnerable households with unconditional cash assistance, part of 2,450 recipient-households across affected provinces. 

Despite intensive collective efforts to support families in the settlement, critical needs remain, such as education and employment opportunities. “The children go to school outside. It is difficult, because there is a main road that can be dangerous for children to cross.”  

He adds: “There are women who lost their husbands, and some of them have husbands going to work in the morning. Many are unable to take their children to school, because they have other younger children. Also, if women are trained and equipped with various skills, they can earn an income and help provide for their families.” 

Two years after the earthquakes, life has changed significantly for Syrians in Türkiye. The fall of the former regime has paved the way for hope, new plans, and the dream of one day returning to their homeland. 

Right now, this prospect is at the top of Abdulnaser's mind. 

“Five families from this settlement have returned. However, it is still early because communities lack services,” he reflects. “I am thinking about my family. They should have a safe atmosphere. Syrian children have started to learn Turkish here and need to learn Arabic.” 

“We are waiting for the stabilisation of the country and the provision of basic services, such as infrastructure and health, and eventually we will return.” 

Weighing both the opportunities and risks, one thing is certain: Whether in Türkiye or Syria, Abdulnaser is looking forward to rebuilding his life after going through the terrors of war and the pain of disaster. 

Since 2023, IOM and the European Union have supported over 100,000 earthquake-affected individuals in Türkiye through cash assistance, protection, shelter and non-food items, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).