Epidemic diseases in the process of urbanization and the consept of urban vulnerability in Istanbul

When the changes that cities have undergone with globalization are examined, on the one hand, they push the cities to be uniform, on the other hand, they cause class differences between cities by differentiating them socially, politically and economically. Global cities; When the social and economic results such as increasing migration, transportation routes, trade are examined, it is the places where the first cases are seen, interactions and transmission are intense. Today's neoliberal cities are vulnerable to sudden risks and dangers due to their urbanization processes, urbanization rates and urban density. Cities with high urban poverty and inequality cannot be cautious and flexible against shocks. In today's cities, the fact that some urban centers are in the process of transformation and the living people are exposed to the processes of displacement due to their inability to adapt to the space can cause vulnerability. In cities receiving immigration, the inability of social groups to adapt to the city causes vulnerability both socially and economically. The destruction of ecosystems, the creation of filling areas, the constructions created without considering the climate and ecological conditions increase the vulnerability and harm the sustainable ecosystem. The scope of this work, the subject of vulnerability is handled on the scale of Istanbul, and the urbanization process of Istanbul, the impact of mega projects and its relationship with sustainability are examined. As a result of this review, the urbanization process of the Sultanbeyli district which has a high vulnerability and the vulnerabilities that more emerged with Covid-19 are examined. The pandemic is exposing the revealing the use of urban space and the importance of sustainable urban models with highlighting urban vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities of Istanbul in the urbanization process are given in three sub-headings as social, transportation-related and environmental. As a result of the research, the vulnerability of the Sultanbeyli district, which has a high vulnerability being evaluated within of accessibility and sustainability of the urbanization process. Keywords: Urbanization, Epidemic Diseases, Vulnerability