Left without a trace: Families search for missing children of Turkey's earthquake

In Turkey, the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck on February 6, 2023, has left many families in anguish as they search for their missing children. The earthquakes were catastrophic, resulting in the loss of over 53,500 lives. Among those affected is a four-year-old boy named Emir Gultekin, who was at home with his family during the disaster. Tragically, his mother, father, and ten-year-old brother were found dead in the ruins of their apartment building in Antakya, a city located near the Syrian border. However, Emir remains missing, and his family has been tirelessly searching for him for the past two years. Emir's aunt, Nursen Kisa, arrived at the collapsed building just an hour after the earthquake struck. She waited by the debris for more than two weeks, hoping to find Emir or at least a piece of his clothing or some sign of him. Nursen expressed her despair, saying, 'We thought we could find him, or at least a piece of his clothing, some remains, some sort of a trace. But there were none. ' This heartbreaking situation highlights the determination of families like Nursen's, who refuse to give up hope. Nursen has taken numerous steps to locate her missing nephew. She filed a missing person's report at the police station, but three months later, the authorities informed her that they had no record of Emir being missing. This meant that she had to start the entire process over again. In her quest to find Emir, Nursen has shared pictures of him on social media, hoping that someone might recognize him. She has also visited numerous orphanages across Turkey, searching for any leads. Additionally, she had her sister's remains exhumed to compare DNA samples with unidentified bodies. Unfortunately, none of her efforts have yielded any results. Nursen has even received occasional calls from local authorities asking how Emir is doing, which indicates that he has not been officially recorded as missing. As time passes, the number of missing individuals remains uncertain. In April 2023, the then-internal affairs minister stated that there were 297 missing persons, including 86 children. However, by November 2024, the current Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, announced that 75 individuals were still unaccounted for, with 30 of them being children. This discrepancy in numbers has led to confusion and frustration among families searching for their loved ones. The main opposition party claims to have a list of 140 missing individuals, including 38 children, which they shared with the minister but received no response. Sema Gulec, a spokesperson for a foundation dedicated to locating the missing, believes that the differences in numbers may arise from the interior ministry not counting those whose families have accepted them as deceased. Following the earthquake, there were allegations that some children were rescued from the rubble but later went missing, leading to suspicions of abduction. However, authorities have denied these claims. In January 2024, the ruling party and its right-wing ally voted against a parliamentary motion calling for an investigation into the missing children. Subsequently, a commission was established within Turkey's Disaster Management Authority (Afad) to investigate the cases of missing individuals. Afad has been employing various techniques to search for the missing, including comparing DNA from relatives with samples from unidentified bodies and utilizing facial recognition technology to match pictures of the missing with police records. Despite these efforts, many families remain dissatisfied with the progress being made. They argue that the government has not done enough to assist them in finding their loved ones. For instance, Ayse Ambarcioglu, whose sister and six-month-old niece are missing, expressed her frustration, stating, 'A proper scan was not carried out. They removed the debris immediately, and we could not stop them. ' This sentiment is echoed by many families who feel that the search for their loved ones has been inadequate. The cities affected by the earthquakes are filled with stories of families desperately seeking answers. Caner Yurdakul, whose sister, brother-in-law, and their six-year-old twin daughters disappeared after the earthquake, lamented, 'We would settle just for a single bone, but nothing was found. ' The determination of these families to continue their search for answers is unwavering. Nursen Kisa, Emir's aunt, remains resolute, stating, 'There is nothing yet to prove that my nephew Emir is either dead or alive. ' She is committed to finding him and will not succumb to pressure to declare him deceased.