Earthquake in Turkey
(KAF Project)
On 6 February 2023, a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria, followed hours later by another powerful earthquake. Entire neighbourhoods were reduced to rubble, tens of thousands of people lost their lives, and millions were left facing displacement, grief and uncertainty.
In the aftermath of the disaster, families were forced to seek shelter in tents, temporary settlements and open spaces, often exposed to freezing temperatures and lacking access to basic necessities.
Children, pregnant women, older people and people with disabilities were particularly vulnerable, facing increased risks related to inadequate shelter, poor sanitation, disrupted healthcare, malnutrition and a lack of safe spaces.
Yet amid the devastation, something extraordinary emerged: an immense wave of solidarity, driven by ordinary citizens determined to help one another.
KAF Kolektif
In Sümer Mahallesi, Kahramanmaraş, one of the areas severely affected by the earthquakes, a grassroots initiative called KAF Kolektif brought together young volunteers from Istanbul, local residents and humanitarian organisations to respond to the needs of displaced families.
What began as a small citizen-led effort quickly developed into a remarkable community support initiative.
With the help of three inspiring young women — Bahar (16), Hatice (16) and Toprak (20) — I had the opportunity to document the work of KAF Kolektif and the extraordinary commitment of the people involved.
Working alongside local volunteers and organisations such as Water Mission, World Central Kitchen and All Hands & Hearts, KAF Kolektif helped create a space where families could access essential services and begin rebuilding a sense of community.
At the height of its emergency response, the initiative was providing approximately 10,000 hot meals a day through its community kitchen.
But the volunteers understood that surviving a disaster requires more than food and shelter.
They organised creative workshops, recreational activities and outdoor cinema evenings for children, offering moments of normality, laughter and distraction in an environment marked by loss and uncertainty.
Access to clean drinking water, toilets and improved sanitation facilities was another essential part of the response, made possible through cooperation with humanitarian partners.
For children who had lost their homes, schools and familiar surroundings, these initiatives offered a much-needed opportunity to play, connect with others and experience moments of childhood again.
Beyond Emergency Relief
Despite these extraordinary efforts, the humanitarian needs remained immense.
Families urgently required safe shelter, clean water, sanitation, healthcare and essential supplies. Particular attention was needed for pregnant women, children with disabilities and children exposed to heightened protection risksfollowing the disaster.
Access to education, psychosocial support, child protection services and long-term community recovery programmes was equally important.
Beyond the immediate emergency, the challenge was to help communities rebuild their lives, restore essential services and develop the resources and capacities needed for a sustainable recovery.
The People Behind the Response
Through this photographic report, I wanted to document not only the consequences of the earthquake, but also the extraordinary human commitment that emerged in its aftermath.
What struck me most was the determination of the volunteers, many of them very young, who had put their own lives on hold to help people they had never met.
They were not waiting for someone else to act. They simply saw a need and decided to respond.
In a place where so much had been destroyed, KAF Kolektif demonstrated how solidarity, compassion and collective action could restore a sense of dignity, belonging and hope.
These photographs are a tribute to the volunteers, the families and the local communities who came together during one of the most devastating disasters in Türkiye's recent history.
Because even in the darkest moments, humanity has an extraordinary capacity to come together.
Discover KAF Kolektif: Instagram — @kaf.kolektif
A special thanks
to my wonderful assistants and reporters in the making:
Toprak, Bahar and Atice!
