“I was helping people who were affected by the earthquakes. I felt proud to help them access the health care they needed. That kept me going.”
That sense of purpose defined Gökhan Gülhan’s work in the aftermath of the earthquakes that struck Türkiye in February 2023. Over 59 000 people in southern Türkiye and northern Syria lost their lives. Tens of thousands more were injured, and thousands of homes and public buildings, including hospitals and health facilities, were damaged or destroyed.
As part of WHO’s emergency logistics response, Gökhan, a key member of the operations and logistics team at the WHO Country Office in Türkiye, helped ensure that essential health supplies reached people affected by the disaster.
On the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes, he reflects on his role in WHO’s response to that series of devastating earthquakes.
Backbone of the response
In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, Gökhan’s role expanded significantly beyond routine responsibilities, focusing on ensuring the flow of humanitarian health supplies to affected populations.
WHO supported the response in both Türkiye and northern Syria through a range of emergency health actions, including:
- the dispatch of life-saving medicines, trauma supplies and essential health kits;
- the activation and deployment of emergency medical teams to deliver urgent clinical care and support field operations;
- support to disease surveillance and rapid response teams to detect and respond to water-borne, infectious and respiratory disease risks; and
- the scale-up of mental health and psychosocial support services.
This included supporting the customs clearance of large volumes of internationally procured supplies, coordinating incoming international medical missions and supporting the establishment of field hospitals. Gökhan worked as part of the logistical backbone of the response, often under intense pressure, with long days that stretched into nights.
“The scale of the response was visible across the country – public institutions and response teams from the Government of Türkiye and international partners were working day and night,” he says.
“Crises don’t wait”
One of the moments he remembers most clearly was the delivery of WHO’s essential health kits to families relocated to temporary shelters. Seeing these kits reach those who needed them most – and hearing how they helped families protect their health – gave meaning to every step of the response.
“In emergencies, everyone deserves dignity. Medical assistance must reach people equally, without distinction.”
He pauses when recalling the people he met.
“In emergencies, you first observe the situation in the country,” he explains. “Then you identify the right people, assess the risks and communicate constantly. Communication is as important as trucks and warehouses.”
For him, the most critical skills in crisis settings are clear: communication, rapid decision-making and the courage to take initiative when time is limited.
“Crises don’t wait,” he says simply.
A global institution
The earthquake response permanently changed his perspective. Today, he instinctively assesses terrain, access routes, logistics flows and security risks in any setting.
“My perception of the field changed,” he says. “I’m always thinking about what could be improved, what might go wrong, and how to fix it before it does.”
“During the earthquakes in Türkiye, I witnessed the resilience of the Türkiye response firsthand. No matter how difficult the conditions were, public authorities, national institutions and communities came together, supported one another, and did everything they could.”
After 13 years with WHO, he still feels the strength of working for a global institution.
“When I do my job, I know WHO stands behind me. WHO’s presence means support, coordination and hope,” he reflects. “That awareness pushes me to succeed. It’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve come this far.”
Because for him, logistics and procurement have never been just about systems or processes.
It has always been about people.
On the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes, as we remember those who lost their lives in the earthquakes in Türkiye, stories like Gökhan’s also remind us of the essential operational work that underpins every emergency health response.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, WHO continues to strengthen emergency preparedness and response capacities in Türkiye, supporting more resilient health systems that can respond rapidly and protect communities in future crises.