On the night of February 6, 2023, life changed forever for Çağla Sağlam. An evening of joy and togetherness—the kind only family can bring—was snatched away in the blink of an eye by one of the most destructive earthquakes Türkiye has ever experienced. Çağla’s survival and the rebuilding of her life and home exemplify the power of human resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
Today, Çağla lives in container #253 in Kırıkhan’s container city with her four children. This is the story of her survival, strength, and how critical humanitarian aid, like that provided by Corus International, is helping her create a new foundation for the future.
Warmth, Love, and Togetherness
Life before the earthquake
Before the night that changed everything, Çağla’s life was ordinary—a life filled with love and busy family routines. Çağla and her husband, İhsan Sağlam, worked hard to provide their children Muhammet (8), Erva (5), Yavuz (3), and Azra (22 months) with the stability every child deserves. İhsan worked at a detergent factory, while Çağla lovingly cared for their young family.
Just hours before the disaster, Çağla, İhsan, their children, and extended family gathered at her mother’s house. It was a lively evening filled with laughter, singing, and shared stories. They ate together, caught up on family news, and relished the moments that truly matter. Little did they know, it would be the final time they would be united in joy.
Her life—and the lives of her children—would never be the same.
I don’t remember when it started,” Çağla recalls of that fateful night. “I only remember waking up surrounded by rubble and silence.
A moment of sheer devastation
When the earthquake hit, the family home crumbled like paper under the intense force of nature. Çağla and her four children survived, but her beloved husband, mother, sister (four months pregnant), and brother-in-law were killed. The traumatic loss of her loved ones was a heavy burden to bear as Çağla fought to keep going for the sake of her children.
We slept one night together, and in the morning, they were all gone. My loved ones—my life—all gone.
Çağla keeps cherished photos of her husband İhsan on the refrigerator—a poignant reminder of the love she lost in the earthquake.
Surviving through unimaginable hardship
The unbearable grief of losing her husband, mother, and sister was only the beginning. For three days after the earthquake, Çağla and her children crammed inside a container truck shared with 20 other people. They lacked food, clean water, diapers, and formula for her youngest, who was just 11 months at the time.
The family’s survival for the next several months in Kirikhan was grueling. For months, Çağla and her four children, along with her two teenage sisters, lived in makeshift tents with no running water, no bathrooms, and no protection from the elements. "It was unbearable," she says. “We couldn’t bathe. We couldn’t eat. There was filth and flies everywhere.”
Winter approached, and Çağla realized her family couldn’t endure what lay ahead. But hope arrived, ushered in by the support of Corus International.
A new chapter in a container home
Corus International, in collaboration with International Blue Crescent (IBC), launched a critical initiative under the "Emergency Response for Earthquake Victims in Türkiye" project. This partnership focused on providing life-saving assistance to displaced populations in the heavily impacted Hatay region, particularly Kırıkhan.
Corus supported IBC in constructing 35 container homes, offering safe and dignified shelter for 210 individuals. These high-quality containers became a durable solution, designed to support families for potentially up to a decade. These homes, unlike many others in the region, were designed with advanced features such as electricity, insulation, heating, plumbing, and functional kitchens, ensuring families had a semblance of normalcy even amid the disaster.
Additionally, Corus supported emergency food assistance in the initial weeks, with 500 meal kits feeding 3,000 individuals, while 500 Non-Food Item (NFI) kits provided essential hygiene supplies and baby care products to meet the immediate needs of survivors.
Corus and partner organization, IBC, constructed 35 pre-fab containers to house 210 people.
Corus International and IBC helped Çağla’s struggle to find a safe place for her children come to an end. They moved into container #253 in the Kırıkhan container city and now had a home equipped with beds, furniture, and an air conditioner to stave off the summer heat.
The move to was a turning point for Çağla—a small sense of stability after months of turmoil. “We were grateful to have a roof, even if it wasn’t a real house,” Çağla says. “For the first time in months, I didn’t have to worry about something falling on my children.”
For Çağla, receiving the container home was not just about safety—it was about rediscovering dignity and stability. Her children could now eat regularly and play outside without fear. She no longer had to fight against extreme heat or cold. For the first time in months, life began to feel livable again.
The challenges continue
Though the container home radically improved their living conditions, Çağla’s road to recovery remains steep. With no childcare options and limited income, she struggles to meet her family's needs.
Her husband’s life insurance provides just 5,500 Turkish Lira (around $180 USD) per month—less than half of what İhsan used to earn. This small sum barely covers essentials like transportation and food, with meat rarely making it to their table. Yet Çağla’s determination to ensure her children’s future is unwavering.
I will get them educated," she says, her voice etched with resolve. “I will do more than I can. I’ll push myself so they can have the stable life denied to me.
Çağla sits on the kitchen floor with three of her four children, where the family gathers to share their meals.