IOCC’s work in Turkey began with emergency response following the deadly earthquakes of 2023, which affected millions of people and upended lives and livelihoods. As needs developed, IOCC grew its long-term response and forged new partnerships to serve people in need in Turkey, focusing on activities that can be scaled up over time.
Working with the Church
Through a generous grant from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, IOCC is working with local parishes both inside and outside the quake-affected areas to provide shelter, food, emergency supplies, and rental assistance to displaced people, especially in Hatay province. Longer term, collaboration with the Church and local authorities is helping establish transitional housing villages, offering some stability and safety for displaced people. IOCC is also supporting local Church partners with organizational and training assistance as they build out their capacity to serve.
Emergency Response
In the early days of response, IOCC supported an international partner to provide vouchers for food and basics to earthquake survivors. Longer term, IOCC has also funded vouchers for shelter materials, rental assistance, food, and nonfood items such as toiletries and other basics, as well as hot meals, clothing, and bedding.
As response expands, IOCC is providing shelter through transitional housing “villages” for people displaced by the quakes. The temporary housing will include plumbing and electricity and have bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and living areas. These houses are safer and more durable than the tents and containers many people initially sheltered in.
A New Partnership for Effective Response
To get help as quickly as possible to displaced people in Turkey, IOCC has continued working with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), a well-established international humanitarian organization that has been active there since 2013. Rapid response emergency grants from IOCC to DRC supported e-vouchers for food and basic needs items for Syrian refugee and Turkish families affected by the earthquakes. Collaboration is ongoing.
Long-Term Aid
IOCC is working to scale up its response as earthquake survivors face continued need. Apart from emergency items and shelter support, additional long-term assistance may include mental health care, vocational training, and supporting the rehabilitation of homes and community buildings.
Building Transitional Prefab Homes
With funding from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, transitional housing is part of IOCC’s long-term response following the February 2023 earthquakes that razed so many homes and communities in Turkey.
Working with the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch in Hatay Province, IOCC is constructing prefabricated homes on local Church property for people displaced by the quakes. Safer and more durable than the tents and containers that many people initially sheltered in, these houses will last for several years and allow multiple families to rotate through them as they repair their own property and are able to move home.
IOCC has obtained funding for 13 housing units covering about 3,500 m2 of Church land and has finalized the neighborhood’s design. The land can accommodate three additional units (a total of 16), should funds become available. Each prefabricated house will include plumbing and electricity, a bathroom, a kitchen, bedrooms, a sitting room, and an outdoor space. The Church of Antioch has also identified the need for a small community center that can be constructed on an adjacent piece of Church property.
Next Steps
- The Church has identified a local engineering company to complete preparatory work.
- IOCC will monitor all work closely to ensure that proper earthquake-mitigation standards are stringently followed.
- Clearing and levelling the land ahead of construction.
- Excavation and construction of foundation platforms for the first houses.
- Construction of first houses.
