Volunteering in the Aftermath: Reflections on Providing Support and Comfort after Natural Disasters

 The devastating effects of natural disasters can leave deep and long-lasting scars on the affected communities. I had the opportunity to witness this firsthand during my volunteering experience in Malatya, Turkey. As a chef with a background in hospitality, I felt it was my responsibility to do what little I could to provide support and comfort to those affected by the disaster.

The journey to Malatya was not an easy one. The view from the aircraft window as we flew over the city was reminiscent of a war zone. Houses were demolished, and people were living in tents and there were multiple abandoned housing layouts. These tent communities had places to sleep, eat, restrooms, small prayer rooms, schools and mini hospitals as well. For mental well being they also did have psychotherapy centers for providing assistance to the people who have been affected mentally. Upon reaching the city, we made our way to a local football stadium, which was our base of operations serving the eastern zone for 30,000 people.

Two days into our work, we were hit by a 4.6 magnitude earthquake at 4 a.m. The experience left me shaken, and it was difficult to sleep for the rest of the nights due to the aftershocks that usually occurred post 2 a.m. on a smaller scale and some have predicted they could keep happening for an other year. I realized then the actual pain and trauma the people of the eastern and southeastern regions of Turkey had been experiencing and could not stop myself form begging for mercy towards these people.

The situation worsened when we encountered floods towards the end of our volunteering term. The sound of the rain was intense, and it was scary to imagine the impact it would have on the already devastated communities.

Despite the challenging circumstances, our team remained committed to providing support to the affected communities. We delivered food three times a day to the people living in tents.

The gratitude expressed by the people we helped was overwhelming. They often said "çok teşekkürler, allah kabul etsin," which means "thank you, and may Allah accept you" in Turkish.

My experience in Malatya taught me that natural disasters not only cause physical damage but also leave emotional scars on the affected communities. It al
so reinforced the idea that every little effort counts in providing support and comfort to those in need.

In conclusion, I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the support team in Malatya, Turkey. It was a humbling experience that reminded me of the importance of compassion, empathy, and resilience in the face of adversity.