How Should We Categorize Population Movements after an Earthquake? an Analysis Based on Fieldwork on Mobility Following the February 6 Earthquakes in Turkey

The earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, caused the largest disaster-related migration ever recorded in Turkey. More than 2 million survivors from the earthquake–affected area, which includes 11 city provinces with a population of approximately 13.5 million, relocated to other provinces. 2 million Syrians live in the area under temporary protection were also affected. The decision to migrate is typically seen as a strategy by individuals or households to maximize their utility based on personal, social, and economic factors. However, it is challenging to understand how this decision is made in extreme situations such as war or disaster due to the uncertainty and urgency involved. Previous studies on population movements caused by disasters mainly refer to four types of mobility patterns: i) those who remained in their places (immobility), ii) those who migrated by their means, iii) those who migrated with the support of the public and civil society, iv) those who were displaced due to legal regulations. This study examines how and why the migration movements emerged after the February 6 earthquakes. Based on the mobility justice framework, one of the crucial questions is identifying these migratory movements by focusing on who had the means to leave, where, and why. Therefore, it is critical to determine whether these movements could be considered a type of forced migration, a displacement, or simply mobility of choice. Based on in-depth interviews with key experts who worked during the post-disaster recovery in the zone and survivors who relocated to Ankara and Mersin, the key aim of this study is to uncover the reasons behind in/outmigration to/from the zone. By doing so, it aims to draw attention to the multidimensionality of post-earthquake migration movements, contributing to the complexities of defining them.