MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Semsûr (Adıyaman)- 18 days have passed since the Maraş earthquakes. The earthquake survivors, who have lost their relatives, loved ones and houses, suffer from anxiety disorders due to the ongoing aftershocks. The earthquake survivors struggle to survive in the city that looks like a battlefield. Since the first day of the earthquakes, psychologist Ayliz Onaylı has visited many cities and villages affected by the earthquakes to be in solidarity with the earthquake survivors.

 ‘People feel insecure and helpless’

“There is a great helplessness and insecurity among the people,” Ayliz Onaylı said, “People feel insecure and helpless. While the people make great efforts to cope with the feeling of insecurity and helplessness, they also try to meet their basic needs. When people have solidarity, they overcome all difficulties but they still suffer from the earthquake trauma.”

 ‘Life can be rebuilt with unity’

Pointing out that the earthquake survivors, particularly women and children, suffer from anxiety disorders, Ayliz Onaylı said, “In the villages, we observe that people feel safer when they are together. People need hope to rebuild their lives. Life can be rebuilt with unity. Women, especially mothers, feel depressed because they do not have time to think about their needs since they have to take care of their children.”

‘The rebuilding of schools is very important for children’

“Children can cope with the trauma if their schools are built,” Ayliz Onaylı said, “The rebuilding of schools is very important for children. The best thing we can do here now is to determine the damage in the villages and districts. Before people have to leave their villages, districts, a new life must be rebuilt for them. We have to work hard so that people will not feel they are alone.”

‘A space must be formed for women’

Underlining that a space must be formed for women to cope with the earthquake trauma, Ayliz Onaylı said, “Women are subjected to oppression more than before. The earthquakes increase the burden of women. They have to bear many tasks, including laundry, cooking, cleaning tents and taking care of children. Women need psychological support to cope with trauma. We must work hard to make women feel that they are not alone.”