World Humanitarian Day 2023: an Interview with Shoto Aiba, Peace Winds Humanitarian Aid Worker in Türkiye
On August 19, Peace Winds joins in commemorating humanitarian workers around the world for World Humanitarian Day. From Iraq to South Sudan to Ukraine to Türkiye, Peace Winds staff members work every day to put the needs of refugees and displaced people before their own.
Shoto Aiba is one of these humanitarian workers. With a background in NGO work and a history of travel in Türkiye, Aiba knew he had to do something to help as soon as he heard about the earthquakes. He has been working tirelessly alongside other Peace Winds staff members to provide numerous types of aid and alleviate the hardships that Türkiye’s earthquake survivors have faced over the past six months. Peace Winds spoke to Aiba in an interview about the work he has been doing since he arrived in Türkiye in April.
− Where were you on February 6th when the earthquakes hit Türkiye?
Aiba: I was in Costa Rica, where I was supposed to start my graduate studies. But the beginning of my course, Peace Studies, was postponed until this fall, so I had an unexpected gap. Then I learned that southern Türkiye, where I once traveled and love, was close to the epicenter and badly damaged, so I applied to Peace Winds wishing to be of some help.
− You were dispatched immediately because you had previous experiences with Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (in Sri Lanka and Myanmar) and with other NGOs. When did you arrive in Türkiye?
Aiba: On April 5th, two months after the quakes. When I landed at Adana Airport, the damage nearby was not so bad, but the closer we got to the Peace Winds office in Iskenderun, which is a two-hour drive away, the more severe the damage became. There were many houses and other buildings that had collapsed, and I began to see trucks carrying aid packages, or for construction work.
− Was it different from the Türkiye you knew?
Aiba: I was a college student when I traveled through southern Türkiye in 2011. I traveled through Hatay Province, where Iskenderun is located, and on to Aleppo in Syria, because the conflict in Syria was not so severe at that time. Antakya, the capital of Hatay, was a beautiful city with many historical buildings, including churches from the Roman Empire era. What I saw this time was so different because most of the buildings had been destroyed by the quakes. I was shocked to find nothing I could connect to my memories.
Hashim, the leader of Tanisma Village, with a soon-to-be demolished mosque in the background
− What have you been doing since your arrival in Türkiye in April?
Aiba: Before my arrival, Peace Winds had been supporting the search-and-rescue operations, providing medical support at an ad-hoc clinic, and providing tents and emergency relief packages. After my arrival, we first investigated the needs of the people in the most disaster-hit areas, in consultation with the local leaders, and we provided packages of food and other daily necessities in the villages of Tanisma and Madenboyu.
Then, we obtained, stored, and sorted out the goods and delivered more than 12,000 packages to residents in those villages. We have begun providing these packages in two more villages and continue to deliver in accordance with what the residents need the most.
− Have the needs of people changed over the past six months?
Aiba: Food and hygiene kits were the priority immediately after the quakes. We delivered food items including rice, flour, salt, sugar, oil, lentils, jam, olives, and so on. With time, there has been less need for foodstuffs because people have more and more access to food. Now the most urgent need is for items that help people survive the heat of the summer. The air inside the tents is so hot, especially during the daytime. So it is important to deliver fans and cooler boxes, which we are now preparing to do.
Bozhuyuk villagers help Peace Winds staff with the delivery of cooler boxes
− Do you see any changes in the people’s reaction to these disasters?
Aiba: We see signs of recovery and reconstruction in bigger cities. Stores are reopening there and in Iskenderun, and people are more upbeat about post-quake work and life. Recently, I was surprised to see the beauty of the entire park in central Iskenderun after all the tents there were removed.
On the other hand, for people in remote villages such as Tanisma and Madenboyu, there is less progress. Many people say nothing has changed. One of the reasons why recovery is slow there is because villagers prefer to live in temporary dwellings next to their homes instead of establishing a big compound of tents where it is easier to provide water and electricity en masse.
− Now you are leaving Türkiye to restart your graduate studies. How do you feel about leaving?
Aiba: Part of me does not want to leave because I want to see through the projects we have started to the end. I had decided to study at the United Nations University for Peace because I realized the need to study more after I worked for another NGO. I want to be able to work more effectively with ethnic conflicts and learn how to solve them. I hope to be back one day with a better, stronger version of me.
Peace Winds’ aid activities in Türkiye have been made possible by funds from Japan Platform and by donations from our generous supporters. Please click here to make a donation in support of Türkiye’s earthquake survivors, and follow Peace Winds on social media for regular updates on our support activities for populations around the world.