Needs Analysis and Policy Recommendations Report for the Bridge of Women

Needs Analysis

As the Ben Seçerim Association, within the scope of our project titled "Bridge of Women: Citizens, Politicians, Civil Organizations" we visited Kahramanmaraş and Malatya. We conducted these visits to carry out a needs analysis by engaging with young women affected by the earthquake in container camps and through meetings with local civil society organizations. To develop policy recommendations based on the issues identified during our needs analysis, we also held online and in-person meetings where women politicians participated and exchanged ideas.

The issue of women not being represented in local decision-making mechanisms continues in Kahramanmaraş and Malatya; neither city has a female mayor or district head. In Kahramanmaraş, only 7 out of 60 city council members are women, and in Malatya, only 2 out of 45 city council members are women. Furthermore, neither city council includes Women’s Rights or Gender Equality Commissions. In both cities, women make up less than 10% of municipal staff. Additionally, the strategic plans of both municipalities contain vague goals concerning women, mostly limited to the family domain. Although Malatya City Council adopted the Local Equality Action Plan in 2012, a more comprehensive action plan is essential considering the earthquake and its aftermath. These shortcomings highlight a significant need for new policies that genuinely consider women's needs and demands, indicating that policy-making processes should be more inclusive and comprehensive, involving women and local civil society.

As a result of our fieldwork in Kahramanmaraş and Malatya, the areas of need we identified in our needs analysis are as follows: Access to Transportation, Access to Schools and Education, Access to Healthcare, Employment, Organization and Coordination, Protective Mechanisms against Domestic Violence.

 I.a. Access to Transportation

All the women we visited mentioned that transportation from the container city to the city center affects their daily lives. Although there are bus stops at the entrance of the container cities, the buses do not have sufficient frequency or capacity. There are no free school buses for schools outside the camp, making it difficult for children to commute to and from school, which causes women to worry about their children's safety. The women we spoke to expressed fears that this issue would worsen during the winter, especially when they need to take the bus with their children and are concerned about them getting sick.

Women face difficulties traveling to the city center for work, shopping, or hospital visits due to the same inadequacies. They emphasized that buses are overly crowded due to insufficient numbers. Many women reported that they have to leave their young children with someone else before going to the city center, but it is not always possible to find a reliable caretaker. The inadequacy of public transportation imposes an additional burden on family budgets, as families are forced to pay high prices for school buses or use private vehicles, which is a more significant issue for families with multiple children. Some women stated that they are afraid to go out late due to insufficient public transportation and lack of street lighting; they also noted that the distance between living areas is a challenge for local civil society women to meet and organize.

I.b. Access to Schools and Education

Although there is a primary school and a kindergarten in the container camps, there is no daycare for younger children, which hinders women's participation in the workforce. Although there is a plan to set up a daycare for the young children in the camp, it has not yet been realized. Women also expressed doubts about the quality and adequacy of education and staff in these schools. Given the lack of free school buses for schools outside the camp, access to education can be quite difficult.

As mentioned earlier, the lack of school buses and public transportation poses a challenge to children's access to education. The lack of daycare facilities for younger children prevents women from participating in employment and activities or workshops that could help them learn new skills or socialize. Furthermore, the lack of facilities to support older children in preparing for high school or university exams was noted as another difficulty. Although there is a library in the container city, its capacity is limited, and its operating hours only go until 4:00 p.m., which does not allow students to study there after school. Additionally, due to the limited space in the containers, it is difficult for families with multiple children to provide a desk or area for each child to study. Some women said that their younger children were reluctant to go to school due to the inadequacy of schools, transportation difficulties, or fear of enclosed spaces.

 I.c. Access to Healthcare Services

In the container cities we visited, there was no facility that women were aware of where they could seek help when they encountered health issues. The distance of the container cities from the city center and the lack of public transportation make it difficult to reach hospitals, despite Malatya's hospitals being in better condition than Kahramanmaraş's. Civil society representatives in Kahramanmaraş stated that health services in the city were operating at only 30% capacity. Many women expressed concerns about their children's infant and childhood vaccinations and their follow-ups. They also noted that there were almost no policies in place for pandemic situations and feared potential outbreaks with the arrival of winter. Another issue related to access to healthcare is the lack of facilities in container cities to serve the specific needs of people with conditions like diabetes or celiac disease. Women also reported difficulties in accessing hygiene products and baby supplies.

The rubble and dust resulting from collapsed buildings create another public health concern. Women noted that the authorities had not taken the necessary measures to address this issue. Particularly, the possibility of debris mixing with drinking water poses a serious public health threat. Additionally, the destruction and damaged buildings negatively affect the mental health of citizens by reminding them of the disconnection between their lives before and after the earthquake.

Mental health was a frequently mentioned issue by every woman we spoke to. Although there are associations providing individual or group therapy, their capacity is insufficient for the affected region and all its residents. Furthermore, there were many comments about the continuity of the mental health support provided, which affects the effectiveness of the therapies. Fear of earthquakes, financial difficulties, anxiety brought by uncertainty, and dependency on aid negatively impact individuals' daily lives and mental health, creating a significant need for support.

Substance abuse was also a concern raised in the field of healthcare. Women we spoke to in Kahramanmaraş mentioned a significant increase in alcohol consumption in the city and expressed concern about the possible widespread use of drugs, which are cheaper than alcohol, especially among the youth. They also stated that they were not aware of any initiatives or monitoring efforts addressing this issue.

I.d. Employment

As mentioned earlier, the lack of a reliable institution where women can leave their young children often forces them to stay at home. Some women also stated that there is discrimination against women in the employment process. Considering that job opportunities have already decreased as a result of the earthquake, women are more affected by the issue of unemployment. According to research by TEPAV, the rate of female employment dropped from 34% to 32.8% after the earthquake, with Kahramanmaraş and Malatya among the cities experiencing this decline the fastest. Considering the current inflation rates in Turkey, the decrease in household income due to female unemployment can become a greater concern for families.

The factors disadvantaging women in accessing employment are also apparent in the container cities. The issues regarding young children's schools and daycare require women to stay at home and look after them, preventing them from working. As mentioned earlier, this issue also limits their access to workshops or courses where they could learn new skills. One of the women we spoke to, who holds two university degrees, said she lost her job after the earthquake and, despite wanting to work, could no longer do so because she had to look after her children.

During our discussions, although the local administration constructed some container workplaces, civil society organizations expressed concerns that these workplaces did not take into account the needs of women. They noted that since the container workplaces lack toilets, workers have to use public restrooms, which many women find concerning for hygiene and safety reasons.

 I.e. Lack of Organization and Coordination

All the women we spoke to said that government institutions were not well-organized from the beginning, and most of the aid was provided by private actors and civil society. They also noted that the lack of organization and coordination persisted in the container cities. They said they did not know whom to contact for their complaints, and when they reached officials, they were often directed to someone else with no solution to their problems. Women also complained that officials were generally rude and indifferent to their concerns. We observed that some women we spoke to were unaware of facilities like laundromats located in different parts of the camp; thus, queues formed at some laundromats, forcing women, especially those with babies, to wait long periods. After completing our interviews, we found that many women were not included in WhatsApp group chats for announcements due to their spouses' disapproval, limiting their access to information about these facilities.

Women in Malatya expressed similar complaints to those in Kahramanmaraş regarding the lack of organization and coordination from government institutions and officials. Another aspect of this coordination problem is the overloading of a single institution with too much responsibility and frequent changes in district governors. This uncertainty and disarray discourage people from expressing their grievances to authorities due to a lack of clarity about whom to contact and the belief that their issues will not be resolved.

 I.f. Protective Mechanisms Against Domestic Violence

Among the women we spoke to, a young woman with two children stated that after the earthquake, she was forced to reunite with her former husband and now has to share a container as a family. However, a few

 women mentioned that, at least in their camp, there was no such incident of forced cohabitation with the former partner. In Kahramanmaraş, where there are fewer organizations compared to other cities, the women we spoke to highlighted that civil society is more active in establishing protective mechanisms. Although the Women’s Emergency Support Application (KADES) is active, civil society representatives noted that many women are unaware of this application. They expressed that awareness campaigns are necessary to raise knowledge of such practices. In addition, women stated that there were almost no measures against gender-based violence. While some associations are trying to provide support to women exposed to violence, their capacity is insufficient, and the lack of coordinated work on this issue leads to fragmented and ineffective efforts. Women also emphasized that the absence of secure areas where women and children can seek shelter increases their vulnerability.

In summary, our research revealed that there is a need for more organized and coordinated efforts in Kahramanmaraş and Malatya, especially from the authorities, to address women's needs effectively.

References:

TEPAV. “TEPAV  | Deprem sonrasında kadın istihdam payı %32,8’e geriledi,” n.d. https://www.tepav.org.tr/tr/haberler/s/10654.