Social Vulnerability and Resilience of Disaster-Driven Forced Migrants Aged 65 and Over: A Case of Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Survivors

Abstract

This study examines the social resilience of older adults who migrated to Istanbul aftermath of the 6 February 2023 Earthquakes in Turkey. While many studies share the view that older adults are among the most vulnerable groups of people both in disaster and forced migration, a growing number of studies indicate the positive role of social capital for their resilience in disaster situations. In this study, 17 in-depth interviews and 40 structured interviews with senior earthquake survivors were conducted in Istanbul. The results of the thematic analysis of qualitative data and the descriptive statistical analysis of quantitative data show a central role of family ties (bonding social capital) for their resilience, yet a loss of social relations beyond close relatives (bridging social capital) and hence their increased dependency.