Local solidarity among NGOs: A case study of the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes

Following the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes of February 6, 2023, many cities in Turkey suffered deep wounds. With two massive earthquakes, measuring 7.6 and 7.2 on the Richter scale, several national and international aid organizations arrived in the disaster zone to mitigate the negative effects caused by the earthquake. Among these organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs) quickly reached the region, taking a prominent role in coordinating manpower in critical areas such as assistance, solidarity, and search and rescue, thus contributing significantly to disaster management. CSOs utilized their local knowledge and existing capacities to integrate into centralized disaster management. While the literature in social sciences contains numerous studies on the role of public institutions in disaster management, topics like NGO interactions, local partnerships, and their role in social solidarity remain relatively under-researched areas. The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes have brought the role of local CSOs in community-based disaster management back into focus. This study will discuss the role of CSOs in disaster management based on the activities of local CSOs involved in the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes and examine the social impact of local CSOs' participation in disaster management during this event.