What Is the Project About?

In the earthquake disasters that occurred in southern Türkiye on 6^th February 2023, the educational infrastructure of the region was severely damaged. Hatay province and its surroundings are among the regions worst affected by these earthquakes. The scale and scope of destruction in this region has been much higher.

The United Nations 2030 goals include eliminating gender inequalities in education and ensuring that disadvantaged groups, including disabled individuals and vulnerable children, have equal access to education and vocational training at all levels.

In this context, UNDP will build a fully equipped disabled-friendly primary school in Hatay through the Croatia Rebuilds Inclusive Schools Project (CRISP). The project will be implemented with the Croatian Government's contribution of 2.5 million Euros to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The school to be built within the scope of the project will be fully accessible for disabled children and adults, and basic assistive devices will also be provided to students in need. At the same time, school staff will be trained on inclusive education tools and methods.

What Has Been the Situation? 

At least 50,700 people died, and more than 313,000 buildings were destroyed in the earthquakes that occurred in southern Türkiye on and after 6^th February 2023.

3.3 million people became homeless in 11 provinces with a surface area of 110,000 km² and a population of 15.6 million (including half of the 3.7 million Syrians benefiting from temporary protection in Türkiye).

In the Türkiye Earthquake Recovery and Reconstruction Assessment (TERRA), conducted under the leadership of UNDP and aimed at determining post-disaster needs, the financial cost of earthquakes is estimated to be 103.6 billion US dollars. The costs of restructuring will be much higher, especially if it is done in the spirit of "building back better".

The educational infrastructure of the region was severely damaged during the earthquakes. According to initial estimates, at least 7% of public schools in 11 provinces were either completely destroyed or damaged enough to require immediate demolition; 35% was moderately or slightly damaged. The scale and scope of destruction was much higher in the regions most severely affected by the earthquake (especially Hatay province and its surroundings). 4.5 million school-age boys and girls in 11 provinces affected by the earthquake are experiencing their own dramatic difficulties. Almost everyone in the most affected provinces continues to experience the trauma of not only having experienced the ongoing earthquakes themselves, but also of losing family members, friends, and schoolmates.

Another consequence of earthquakes is the increase in the disability rate. Uncertain local sources indicate that approximately 100,000 people suffered amputations due to the sudden collapse of apartments and other residential structures. It is said that 70% of the 108,000 people injured in the earthquakes had permanent disabilities. The earthquake also caused the damage or destruction of the few care and rehabilitation centres operating in the region before the disaster, and treatment and therapies are disrupted. Psychosocial support is an urgent need for millions of survivors (See: Amnesty International, “'We all need dignity.' The exclusion of persons with disabilities in Türkiye's earthquake response” 2023).

What Is Our Mission?

The following needs arose after the earthquakes:

• The need to repair and rebuild the damaged and destroyed educational infrastructure in the earthquake zone,

• The need to ensure that girls and boys with disabilities benefit from an inclusive and quality education on equal terms with all other girls and boys of school age, in line with their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The targeted outputs to meet these needs are as follows:

• Building a fully equipped girls' and disabled-friendly school in Hatay,

• Ensuring full physical accessibility for students and teachers with disabilities, by using the latest technologies to promote inclusion,

• Providing special support, appropriate assistive devices and personal assistants when necessary to students with disabilities attending this school (and teachers and other staff working in this school),

• Providing training of trainers on how to implement fully inclusive education programs for students with different abilities.

How Are We Doing This?

The project, financed by the Croatian Government, will be implemented in coordination with the General Directorate of Basic Education of the Ministry of National Education. For the construction of the school, coordination will be provided with the Ministry's General Directorate of Construction and Real Estate. At the local level, the Provincial Directorate of National Education will be the main partner. Coordination will be ensured with the Governorship and District Governorate of the province where the school will be built. During the implementation of capacity building activities, the opinions of the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services and relevant NGOs at national and local levels will be consulted.

How Will Türkiye Benefit?

As a result of the project, a fully equipped disabled-friendly primary school will be built and equipped in Hatay, one of the regions most damaged by the earthquake in Türkiye. In this project, it will be ensured that this school is fully accessible for disabled children and adults, and basic assistive devices will be provided to students in need. At the same time, school staff will be trained on inclusive education tools and methodologies.