A New Life Amidst Ruins: Born in an Earthquake
The earthquake in Türkiye created a lot of challenges for refugees such as civil registration process.
It started with an earthquake
In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck southeastern Türkiye on February 6, 2023, claiming over 50,000 lives and injuring more than 120,000, countless stories of survival and resilience emerged. Among them is the story of Alia, who was expecting her daughter Sidra during the catastrophe.
With hospitals in Kahramanmaraş overwhelmed by the number of those injured and ambulances scarce, Alia faced the unimaginable challenge of giving birth in a tent beside her ruined home, under the harsh conditions of cold rain.
Sidra's sister is playing with her while sleeping.
People thought that I was going to lose my child because I gave birth to her outside in the cold rain.
Alia, Sidra's mother
The real challenge
Following a month-long stay in the hospital, the ordeal for Alia and Sidra did not end with the successful birth. The next hurdle was obtaining a birth certificate for Sidra, a crucial document for accessing essential services like vaccinations and healthcare. The hospital in Konya, where they eventually received medical care could only issue a medical report, not a birth certificate. Attempts to secure the necessary documentation were thwarted when they discovered that the gynaecologist who had cared for Alia during her pregnancy had lost her life in the earthquake, deeming Sidra’s medical records inaccessible.
For eight agonizing months, Sidra remained undocumented, a situation that Alia describes as increasingly desperate.
The procedures at the Civil Registry got complicated because many people lost their documents during the earthquake. We were telling our story to every person we met hoping to find a solution. We did not know what to do.
Alia, Sidra's mother
Sidra is sleeping peacefully in her home in Kahramanmaraş. She was born in a tent because hospitals were overcrowded with injured people due to the earthquake.
Finally, a solution
This period of uncertainty was marked by a relentless quest for a resolution, with the family encountering numerous dead ends and false hopes.
A glimmer of solution came forth when a neighbour recommended seeking assistance from DRC through its Legal Protection programme. The DRC's legal team, specialising in aiding Syrian refugees through counselling, interpretation, and legal support, devised a plan. They proposed obtaining authorisation from the Ministry of Health to access the deceased doctor's records, a strategy that proved successful. Sidra was finally granted a Temporary Protection Identity Card, affording her legal recognition and access to vital services.
We were stuck in this problem for eight months, but DRC solved it in less than a week because they were aware of the procedures more than anyone else.
Mohammad, Sidra’s father
Sidra is in her home after receiving her documents and vaccinations. Refugee children in Türkiye are at risk of failing to access healthcare in case they are not registered in the civil records.
Today
Sidra receives her vaccinations and grows like any other child, her future secured by the intervention of DRC. However, many, especially refugees, continue to face challenges in navigating the complexities of legal documentation and access to services in the aftermath of the earthquake.