Around 4.8 million children throughout the country have been affected by the Feb. 6 quakes in different ways, reveals a report by the International Pediatric Association.
IPA launched a scientific study on children’s vulnerability to earthquakes following the disaster in Kahramanmaraş on Feb. 6.
The study which was conducted by specialized pediatricians across Türkiye revealed that 4.8 million children in the country were affected by the earthquakes.
According to the results of the study, one out of every five children in the country was psychologically, physically or socially affected by the quakes.
IPA External Relations Director Kerem Hasanoğlu said the World Health Organization (WHO) and IPA emphasize that the post-traumatic stress disorder can manifest itself even beyond six months after the event in children, and these effects can suddenly appear, seemingly out of nowhere.
Hasanoğlu stated that the biggest help that people can do for these children is psychological support.
“We have to observe children for up to six months. It has been about three months since the earthquakes. The important issue we need to emphasize is not to remind children of the same subject repeatedly. A child should never be left alone with earthquake images and be reminded of the same scenes over and over again but should be treated with kind and motivational support in order to bring them back to life as soon as possible.”
Hurriyet Daily News