Cash response breathing life back into Adiyaman
2023.
In the Adıyaman Merkez, Mahmut and his wife Nurdagül, had a thriving clothing business that was the heart of their family's life. They worked hard for over 35 years, running a two-story shop that served their community's clothing needs. When the earthquake hit, their world fell apart along with their shop, leaving behind only remnants of what once stood. Adıyaman was one of the worst hit provinces, with 69% of buildings damaged or destroyed. Overall, it is estimated that Adıyaman lost almost half of its population in the earthquakes.
Even with support from the local authorities, who provided Mahmut and Nurdagül with a temporary space, and their supplier providing some materials on a deferred payment basis, challenges remained. Moving to a smaller space and a new location meant losing familiar faces and loyal customers. Mahmut said, "Our new place is very small, and we lost all our old customers because of the new location."
We selected Mahmut and Nurdagül’s shop as part of our multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA) initiative for Adıyaman residents. Mahmut and Nurdagül agreed to serve SARD’s e-voucher program participants, attracting new business and customers significantly boosting their income. Within a fortnight, they saw a significant increase in sales through purchases of participants in SARD's e-voucher program. Participating in SARD's multipurpose cash assistance project made a significant impact on their business and lives. Now, they have become advocates for the program in the community.
Mahmut and Nurdagül’s story illustrates how cash assistance, even for just a short time, is just what is needed to bring back a business and hope after a major disaster. Through this initiative, made possible through the generous support of the German Caritas Association, SARD is supporting local families to purchase and access the goods and services they need in the earthquake’s aftermath while also supporting local businesses to recover, ensuring they can serve their communities for years to come. SARD’s MPCA is breathing new life into Adıyaman, a community devastated by the earthquakes.