1908 Messina Depremi ve Osmanlı Devleti’nin Deprem Yardımları
1908 Messina Earthquake and the Earthquake Aids of Ottoman State

Summary/Abstract: In the first quarter of the XX century, the titles that emerged based on the political relations between the Ottoman Empire and Italy were the Tripoli War, World War I, and the Italian invasion attempt in Anatolia afterward. Italy-Ottoman relations could settle on the grounds of amity after Italy occupied Libyan lands under Ottoman rule in 1911. During the First World War, the two countries fought between the enemy alliances, and after the war, Italian troops took part in the Anatolian lands occupied by the Allied Powers. However, when we look at the years just before these developments, some developments, which can be evaluated within the scope of humanitarian and friendship relations between the Ottoman Empire and Italy in connection with a natural disaster, draw attention. The earthquake and the tsunami that occurred on December 28, 1908, the epicenter of the Strait of Messina, located at the southern end of Italy, became a complete disaster for the region’s people. The region was severely damaged by the earthquake in the morning, and the tsunami waves that hit the land for a short time after the shaking further increased the impact of the disaster. After this earthquake, in which 60,000 people lost their lives and many settlements, especially the cities of Messina and Reggio Calabria, became almost uninhabitable, many countries extended a helping hand to Italy, providing medical aid, shelter, food, and other assistance. In this context, the Ottoman Empire took action immediately after the earthquake news reached Istanbul and decided to help Italy. This study explores the humanitarian aid that the Ottoman Empire delivered to Italy to heal the disaster survivors’ wounds after the 1908 Messina earthquake.

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