Family, Labour and Social Services Minister Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, citizens in Elazığ and Malatya to avoid problems in access to health services, the necessary measures to eliminate the basic needs of citizens affected by the earthquake disaster in order to be used by the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations 8 Million TL resources were transferred, she said.

Psychosocial Support Teams in Earthquake Zone

Immediately after the earthquake in Elazığ and Malatya, "psychosocial support teams" were created with the support of experts from the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services from 6 provinces. Psychosocial support teams serve earthquake survivors. All the institutions of the state were mobilized in coordination with AFAD and The Red Crescent to heal the wounds of the 6.8-magnitude earthquake, which is the epicenter of which is Sivrice district of Elazığ.

 Psychosocial support teams of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services are also working in the region from the first moment to determine the needs of earthquake victims. With the participation of experts from Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Mardin, Maraş, Adiyaman and Bingöl, the teams created under the coordination of the Provincial Directorate of Elazığ Family, Labor and Social Services provide support to the citizens affected by the earthquake.

By meeting with earthquake survivors in hospitals and debris fields one by one, experts who identify priority needs and direct them to the relevant institutions provide services to overcome the trauma experienced by citizens in tents established for psychosocial support. "Mobile Social Service Center" vehicles were also commissioned to ensure that the service was not disrupted in places with difficulty in transportation. The work is carried out on a 24/7 basis to strengthen the capacity of citizens to cope with the trauma they experience and to return to their normal lives as soon as possible. Psychosocial support teams have been transferred to institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services to be accommodated with women, children, elderly and disabled people in need within the scope of the work carried out so far.