The Presidency’s Head of Communications, Fahrettin Altun, addressed the "Symposium on the Recovery of the Century: From February 6 Earthquakes to a Stronger Future" organised at the Directorate of Communications with the participation of Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change.
Head of Communications Altun stated that on February 6, 2023, the country and the nation faced a disaster unprecedented in history and experienced a succession of massive earthquakes.
Recalling that these earthquakes caused major destruction in 11 provinces, 62 districts, and 10,190 villages, Head of Communications Altun said that 14 million people were directly affected by the disaster.
Head of Communications Altun stated that cities, industrial areas, historical and natural riches, irrigation, communication, transportation and logistics infrastructures, educational and healthcare institutions, places of worship, and social facilities were either destroyed or severely damaged.
Head of Communications Altun once again wished for Allah's mercy on those who perished in the earthquakes, which claimed the lives of over 53,000 citizens.
"This disaster has shown us 3 things"
Head of Communications Altun stated that this massive destruction was dubbed the "Disaster of the Century," adding, "There were times when even this expression was insufficient to describe the disaster we faced. However, this disaster has shown us three things. The resilience, patience, and solidarity skills of our nation, the strength and capability of our state, and the unity of the nation and the state."
Head of Communications Altun stated that, under the prudent and mighty leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, public institutions and organisations, particularly the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change and the Ministry of Interior, were urgently mobilised to alleviate the nation's suffering and noted the following: "Initially, search and rescue activities were expedited, and subsequently, reconstruction and recovery activities were initiated. Over 650 thousand public officials, non-governmental organisations, and volunteer citizens worked in the earthquake zone alongside security, aid, and support personnel. All the needs of our people affected by the earthquake, encompassing shelter, food, and clothing, were addressed with a remarkable sense of solidarity. Türkiye demonstrated the unity of the century in the face of the Disaster of the Century. An outstanding demonstration of unity, which none of the modern sociological theories on social solidarity can explain, was presented."
Head of Communications Altun stated that in the two years following the disaster, approximately 75 billion dollars, equivalent to over 2.6 trillion liras, have been invested in the earthquake-affected area. Additionally, 584 billion liras have been allocated from the 2025 budget to support the region's recovery, and 201,500 houses have been delivered to the disaster victims.
"Our nation and state have produced robust and effective responses to the 'Disaster of the Century'"
Indicating that while the disaster was devastating in its consequences, the 'Solidarity of the Century,' which we launched hand in hand as a nation and state immediately afterwards, has been equally inspiring, Head of Communications Altun continued,
"Arnold Toynbee, in his analysis of civilisations, asserts that the destiny of civilisation is shaped by how it responds to the difficulties, challenges, and crises it encounters. A civilisation that meets a challenge with a robust and innovative response will emerge stronger and advance further. Otherwise, it will inevitably lead to its downfall. Drawing inspiration from our civilisation, our nation and state have produced robust and effective responses to the 'Disaster of the Century.' Our great nation has once again shown its capacity to unite in the face of disasters for the entire world, especially after the earthquakes on February 6. On that day, in the face of that tragic disaster, we united as one. Our stance is still the same today. Regardless of the magnitude of the catastrophe we encounter, we shall remain united as a nation and state. Our responsibility is to protect this cherished climate of solidarity and work towards its continued growth."
Head of Communications Altun stated that the symposium was organised with this purpose in mind, noting that they would discuss the steps taken in unity between the state and the nation since February 6, 2023, and address what more can be done moving forward.
Highlighting that the participation of Minister of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change Murat Kurum, one of the key figures in the process, significantly contributed to the symposium, Head of Communications Altun expressed his gratitude for the Minister’s attendance and contributions throughout the process.
Fahrettin Altun emphasised that the panellists would address, from various perspectives, the activities carried out by the state under the leadership of President Erdoğan during the post-earthquake recovery process, exemplary cases of social solidarity that have set a precedent globally, and potential crisis management strategies. He further stated that they would discuss the topic of disaster communication within the scope of their roles at the symposium.
"We Continued Our Fight Against Disinformation with Determination Even During the Disaster"
Addressing the recovery initiatives launched after the “Disaster of the Century,” Head of Communications Altun highlighted that beyond the rebuilding of physical structures, ensuring the peace and security of affected citizens and maintaining a reliable flow of information within society were of vital importance. He went on to say,
"Crises are exacerbated when the flow of information is tainted by manipulation, misinformation, and disinformation. After the February 6 earthquakes, we witnessed some groups deliberately producing disinformation while others were manipulated into doing so. Sadly, we saw instances where disinformation led to the loss of lives. We continued our determined fight against disinformation, which fuelled unrest, panic, and distrust within society, in the aftermath of the disaster. We observed how vital it is during a disaster, not only to ensure rapid emergency response and effective aid coordination but also to provide the public with timely, accurate, and transparent information. Throughout the process, the Directorate of Communications took decisive and prompt action against disinformation campaigns. Simultaneously, we endeavoured to support our public broadcasters, including Anadolu Agency (AA) and the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), as well as national and international media outlets, ensuring that the voice of truth resonated with both our nation and the global audience, all while upholding the principles of responsible broadcasting. Our efforts during that time were geared towards streamlining the operations of our media. We also exerted effort to make sure that the voices of our state officials, especially our president, were heard by our nation and global audiences."
Head of Communications Altun emphasised the integral part disaster communication plays in disaster preparedness, disaster management, post-disaster recovery, and reconstruction, affirming that the Directorate has been engaged in a variety of scientific investigations to establish the fundamentals of disaster communication.
Altun pointed out that, in addition to the panels, workshops, and symposiums on disaster and crisis communication conducted at both national and international levels, they published the books "Disaster of the Century" and "Solidarity of the Century" in three languages, along with "Türkiye National Risk Shield Model Opinions and Suggestions," "Disaster Communication Forum Resilience, Response, and Recovery," and "One Year of the Disaster of the Century: Reconstruction and Recovery Efforts," all of which were made available to the public for their use.
Altun remarked that the book "Second Year of the Disaster of the Century: Reconstruction and Recovery Efforts" has been released in conjunction with the symposium, emphasising their objective to offer insights on public communication to all stakeholders who assume critical roles during critical times.
Head of Communications Altun noted that during the crisis management process, the Presidency's Directorate of Communications added an "Earthquake Emergency" button to the Presidency's Communication Centre (CİMER) app, which acts as a communication conduit between the state and the nation, which resulted in the establishment of a reliable communication channel that facilitated the rapid exchange of information between authorities and earthquake-affected citizens, offering 24/7 assistance throughout the entire process.
Stating that they worked to establish platforms wherein the spirit of solidarity among the people could be showcased in a healthy manner with communication campaigns such as "Türkiye United as One Heart" and "Let My Home Be Your Home," Head of Communications Altun added that they have been organising various national and international media tours to the earthquake region since 6 February 2023 and have been making an effort to relay to the international public what the solidarity of the century and the unity of the nation and the state mean.
Pointing out that a total of 100 journalists, comprised of 50 national press members and 50 international press members from 11 countries, are participating in the media tour that began yesterday and will continue today and tomorrow in the provinces impacted by the earthquake, Head of Communications Altun stated that the aforementioned media tour has allowed for on-site examination of the complete and ongoing reconstruction projects after the earthquake.
"We need to make an effort to avoid crises and be prepared against crises"
Fahrettin Altun concluded his speech with the following statements:
"It is paramount for Türkiye, which is becoming stronger across all areas within the framework of the Century of Türkiye vision put forth by our President, to solidify and diversify its preparations against potential crisis scenarios. As a big and strong country, we must at once make an effort to avoid crises while being prepared against crises. As the Directorate of Communications, we make every effort to ensure fast, accurate, and effective information flow, particularly during crisis management processes, to counter misinformation and perception management operations. We also work to institutionalise effective mechanisms in this process. We systematically address communication strategies to be implemented during crises through the 'Türkiye Communication Model' we have developed. Likewise, with the Department of Strategic Communication and Crisis Management established within our Directorate, we make an effort to prevent black propaganda activities and psychological warfare operations. We address crises not only as cases that require urgent intervention at the moment of breaking out but also as a continuous communication process that must be managed before, during, and after they occur." Emphasising that
February 6 is a day whose pain will never be forgotten and scars will never be erased, Head of Communications Altun wished Allah may never put the nation through such pain again.
Message from Head of Communications Altun
In a post on his social media account regarding the symposium, Head of Communications Altun said, "I would like to extend my gratitude to Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, and to all who contributed."
