The Eu’s Response to February 6 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

Abstract

On February 6, 2023, in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye two of the most catastrophic earthquakes ever recorded occurred, with the epicenters being in Pazarcık and Elbistan districts. More than 53,000 people died, more than 100,000 people were injured, and numerous buildings suffered moderate to major damage or were demolished. A state of emergency was announced following earthquakes, and a level 4 alert was elevated for the first time in the country’s history, The call led to the mobilization of hundreds of nations and international organizations, including the EU and NATO, to support Türkiye. This study examines the assistance the EU provided Türkiye during the earthquake. The study’s primary sources are publications issued by EU institutions. In addition to the primary sources from the EU, other scholarly works, newspapers, and speeches delivered by prominent politicians within EU institutions have been examined. The primary finding of the research is that the EU did not abandon Türkiye in the wake of the earthquake; rather, the EU presented to Türkiye the impression that the EU was standing by it by helping in as many forms as possible.