Founded under the leadership of the faculty members of the Faculty of Sports Sciences of Near East University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Erdağ, Assist. Prof. Dr. Musa Oytun and Assist. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Behlül and Derviş Çapkıner, who participated in the search and rescue efforts carried out at Adıyaman Isias Hotel, the Natural Disaster Search and Rescue Association aims to create a strong civil society pillar in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s fight against natural disasters.

Our champion angels and many of our people lost their lives in Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes in Turkey which affected a large region spread over 11 cities. Famagusta Turkish State College students, who were caught in Adıyaman, where they went to participate in the volleyball tournament to represent the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were at Adıyaman Isias Hotel, where their families and teachers, including Near East University Sports Sciences lecturer Osman Çetinbaş, were also staying.

After the earthquakes, the earthquake risk of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the magnitude of possible earthquakes, and the durability of the building stock became the most frequently discussed agenda items. However, the earthquakes experienced in Turkey once again showed that the strength of the professional response teams required in an earthquake or any other possible natural disaster is as important as the structural preparations required to mitigate the effects of the disaster.

Based on this fact, Near East University Faculty of Sports Sciences academic members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Erdağ, Assist. Prof. Dr. Musa Oytun, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Behlül established the Natural Disaster Search and Rescue Association to create a strong civil society pillar in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s fight against natural disasters.

The first goal is to create a fully equipped and trained search and rescue team of 40 people.
Under the management of DAAK, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Erdağ’ is the President, Musa Oytun is the general secretary and Derviş Çapkıner is the vice president, in the administrative board Faysal Sadikoğlu, Prof. Dr. Hasan Ulaş Yavuz, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Behlül, Mücahit Erden, Mehmet Bektaş, Cevdet Çağlar, Tuğşad Ebeoğlu and Hasan Kurumanastırlı take place.

DAAK President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Erdağ says, “After the necessary training and equipment procurement, our first goal is to create a fully equipped and trained search and rescue team of 40 people.” Stating that the names of the 40-person search and rescue team have been clarified, Erdağ said “Our team consists of experienced people such as doctors, paramedics, dog trainers and retired soldiers who are experts in their fields,”

Emphasizing that post-disaster search and rescue efforts require serious discipline and composure, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erdağ said, “Considering the extent of the impact of disasters, it is unacceptable that the relevant public institutions, especially the Civil Defense Organization, are left alone in the struggle. For this reason, a very strong and organized civil society support is needed in the fight against disasters. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erdağ said, “While we keep our own team ready for a disaster that may occur at any time, with internal trainings we will carry out activities to raise awareness of the society, especially students and youth, with the trainings and exercises we will carry out.”

DAAK Cyprus will come to the aid of Turkey and every country in need.
Following the 1999 Kocaeli earthquake in Turkey, DAAK Secretary General Assist. Prof. Dr. Musa Oytun said, “We are running to the aid of the society in natural disasters by providing effective disaster education to our students in cooperation with the Near East University AKDER and the TRNC Civil Defense Organization. While AKDER consists of Near East University students, we aim to spread these studies throughout the country in a much more professional way with DAAK, which we established.”

Emphasizing that DAAK will not only carry out search and rescue activities in the TRNC, Assist. Prof. Dr. Oytun said, “We will create a structure of international power, where we will rush to help if needed, wherever there is a disaster in the world, especially in Cyprus and Turkey.”