Women in crisis: navigating life and resilience after the 2023 earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş tent city, Türkiye

The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes of February 6, 2023, were the most devastating in Türkiye. Many of the survivors whose homes were destroyed by the earthquakes settled in tent cities. This study aims to reveal the experiences of women living in the second-largest tent city established in Kahramanmaraş. Research uses a transcendental phenomenological pattern, one of the most qualitative research methods, to gain in-depth knowledge. Data were collected from seventeen (17) female participants with tent city experience through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview form with the principle of data saturation. The themes and codes were created by transferring the data into the MAXQDA 2022 computer program. The research findings revealed that factors facilitating life in the tent cities included access to humanitarian aid, the provision of security, and gender-responsive practices such as positive discrimination for women. In contrast, participants reported significant challenges, including feelings of insecurity, hygiene issues, an increased workload due to gender roles, cultural tensions with Syrian refugees, and inequalities in accessing aid. Coping strategies were found to be primarily based on family support and solidarity among disaster survivors, particularly among women in the tent city. These findings indicate the importance of considering gender-based needs in post-disaster responses and supporting women’s resilience through effective disaster policies. Furthermore, it is recommended that women’s awareness of and information about the risks they may face in tent city life be increased.