The commemoration programme held at the Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) Law Amphitheatre began with a moment of silence in memory of the students, graduates and citizens who lost their lives in the earthquake, and the playing of the National Anthem. After a recitation of the Holy Quran and the prayer that followed, speeches were delivered by distinguished participants as part of the commemoration programme.
Speaking at the commemoration programme, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli said: “The 6 February earthquakes opened deep wounds in our hearts and left scars. However, the spirit of support and solidarity that emerged in this difficult time made us all strong and strengthened our unity and togetherness in healing the wounds. As Hasan Kalyoncu University, we tried to support our students, our staff and the earthquake survivors with all our strength during this challenging period. We worked together, hand in hand, to heal the wounds of the earthquake. We mobilised to meet urgent needs, to provide shelter and healthcare services, and to provide psychosocial support. At Kalyon Container City in İslahiye, the first temporary living centre to be put into service after the earthquake, our academic and administrative staff served in rotation at the service unit we set up as HKU. In addition to the work carried out at İslahiye Kalyon Container City, we also operated in two tent cities in Kahramanmaraş and Adıyaman. I thank everyone who contributed to these efforts. I hope such disasters are never experienced again. I pray for God’s mercy upon our students, graduates and citizens who lost their lives in the earthquake, and offer my condolences to their families.”
HKU Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Hanifi Çanakcı took part in the commemoration programme with his talk “Earthquakes and Civil Engineering”, Head of the Department of Guidance and Psychological Counselling Asst. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ayaz with “Resilience and Career Needs of University Students After the Earthquake”, and Chief Nurse of Medical Point Gaziantep Hospital Sena Serpil Kılıç with “What Happened in the Hospital During and After the Earthquake”. As part of the programme, the “6 February Earthquakes Photo Exhibition”, consisting of frames reflecting the effects of the earthquake and what was experienced in the region, gave participants emotional moments.
Following the commemoration programme prepared for the second anniversary of the ‘disaster of the century’, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, academics and students visited the area on campus where trees were planted in memory of the students and graduates who lost their lives in the 6 February earthquakes.
