Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Kalkan M. (Yürütücü)
TÜBİTAK Projesi, 2224 - Yurt Dışı Bilimsel Etkinliklere Katılma Desteği Programı, 2025 - 2025
Disasters adversely impact society on social, psychological, mental, and spiritual levels. One of the most urgent needs in the
aftermath of a disaster is shelter. This includes tents, which serve as emergency shelters; containers, which function as temporary
shelters; and permanent housing provided during the reconstruction phase. The temporary sheltering process presents diverse
experiences for individuals affected by disasters. For persons with disabilities, this process requires particular attention in terms
of design and implementation, as it directly affects their ability to access basic needs and maintain well-being. The February 6,
2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Türkiye underscored the critical importance of inclusive sheltering practices, highlighting
the need to re-evaluate existing approaches concerning individuals with disabilities. This study focuses on the experiences of
persons with disabilities, a particularly vulnerable group, during the temporary sheltering phase. Initially, national and
international post-disaster shelter guidelines and documents addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities were reviewed.
This review was supported by systematic data collection at both the national and international levels. Subsequently, the
temporary sheltering experiences of persons with disabilities following the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes were analyzed. The
findings include an evaluation of the temporary shelter units provided in the disaster's aftermath, assessed from the perspective
of individuals with disabilities, along with recommendations proposed by the researcher. Among these, it is emphasized that
shelter designs should be revised to accommodate various disability types (e.g., visual, physical, cognitive, auditory).
Additionally, the accessibility and usability of social activity areas—such as those found in container cities—should be re-
examined. The data indicate that disaster preparedness planning must give specific consideration to the needs of individuals with
disabilities to ensure inclusive and equitable shelter solutions.