NEWS

Hosted by Istanbul Nişantaşı University and organized by the Department of Health, Culture and Sports (SKS) in cooperation with NADMEX, the “Capacity Development in Disaster Preparedness Workshop” brought together public institutions operating in the field of disaster management, academicians, local government representatives, and numerous non-governmental organizations.

The opening speeches of the workshop were delivered by Presidential Local Government and Disaster Policies Board Member Prof. Dr. Şükrü Ersoy and AFAD Disaster Risk Reduction and Prevention Department Head Abdulkadir Tezcan. Within the scope of the program, Deputy Governor of Istanbul Mahmut Hersanlıoğlu also attended the workshop and provided information about our country's disaster policies.

In the first session of the workshop, moderated by AFAD Education and Awareness Department Head Recep Şalcı; AKUT Search and Rescue Association Chairman of the Board Serhat Akbel, ANDA Association Vice Chairman Rümeysa Alkoç, GEA Search and Rescue President Umut Dinçşahin, IHH President F. Bülent Yıldırım, and SAR Search, Rescue and Emergency Relief Association President Erdem Akın made evaluations under the title “Psychology of Volunteering and Sustainability.”

In the second session, moderated by AFAD Disaster Risk Reduction and Prevention Department Head Abdulkadir Tezcan; Maltepe University Faculty of Communication Journalism Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ülkü İlgi Eldem Anar, Istanbul Aydın University Disaster Education Application and Research Center Project Coordination Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serhat Yılmaz, ATV Reporter Özlem Aktay, CNN Türk Reporter Serdar Er, and Haber Global Intelligence Chief Mücahit Topçu discussed the topic of “Disaster Communication and the Role of New Media.”

In the third session, moderated by Turkish Red Crescent Anatolian Disaster Response Center Manager Ahmet Akhoroz; Beylikdüzü Municipality Disaster Affairs and Risk Management Manager Mehmet Metehan Çetintaş,  Turkish Association of Disabled Persons General Manager Burcu Dağ, and Tohum Autism Foundation Senior Continuing Education Specialist Merve Elmaslı shared their knowledge and opinions under the title “Intervention for Special Groups: Disaster Victims with Special Needs.”

The workshop, which saw intense participation from representatives of public institutions, local governments, academia, and non-governmental organizations, made significant contributions to creating a disaster-resilient society, strengthening inter-institutional cooperation, and developing disaster preparedness capacity.