Children’s rights association reports violations experienced by children in Feb. 6 earthquake zone

The Children First Association revealed that children in the earthquake zone have been subjected to serious violations of rights to education, health, housing, nutrition, and play in feasibility studies conducted in provinces affected by Feb. 6 earthquakes.

Monday October 16 2023 01:38 pm

Children staying in a tent on the 5th day of the Feb. 6 earthquakes in southeastern Diyarbakır province (Gazete Duvar)

Duvar English

According to a recent report by the Children First Association, children in the Feb. 6 earthquake zone have been subjected to serious violations of the right to health, housing, food, play, and education especially in the Adıyaman province.

“Those responsible did not take the necessary measures, and did not have a support plan focused on the needs of children" the report stated.

The study was conducted by the Children First Association and the EU’s "Sivil Düşün" (Think Civil) Organization with 215 families and their children in villages and rural areas of Adıyaman province. The findings regarding the deficiencies, needs, and rights violations experienced by families and children during and after the earthquake are as follows:

Two-thirds of the research group has an education level below high school, revealing that the right to education for children under the age of 18 has been violated.
70.7% of the research group do not have any form of health insurance.
97.7% of the research group could not access psycho-social support studies.
Children's right to education and learning has been disrupted, and the right to healthy nutrition and access to hygiene conditions have been violated.
Limited availability of playgrounds have eliminated the opportunity to spend time with peers, and children's common areas have become the residential area of people who have housing problems after the earthquake.

Ultimately, along with the right to housing, children's rights to education, health, food, and play have been violated.

Turkey’s southeastern region was struck by two major earthquakes on Feb. 6, one at a magnitude of 7.7 and the other at 7.6, and more than 50,000 people died according to the official figures.