A major challenge after an earthquake is how to establish a new residential area of a similar or even improved standard for people who have suffered psychological, social and economic impacts and witnessed significant damage to the physical environment. As part of a research project conducted in 2005 and 2008, questionnaires were administered to the permanent occupiers of post-disaster houses in the Turkish cities of Çankırı and Dinar. They were asked to compare the comfort levels and other characteristics of the houses in which they now reside with those of the traditional houses in which they used to live. The survey revealed that such aspects do not differ between the two types of accommodation. However, differences were identified between the two areas under review (Çankırı and Dinar). In addition, average scores for traditional houses were higher than those for post-disaster houses in both places.
© 2011 The Author(s). Disasters © Overseas Development Institute, 2011.