**2.3 WhatsApp helpline and bot**

During the rescue and relief operations, WhatsApp helplines played a vital role in disseminating information about relief efforts, rescue operations, and volunteering opportunities. Local non-profit organizations, such as the AKUT Search and Rescue Association of Turkey and the AHBAP, established WhatsApp helplines to offer assistance and support to those affected by the earthquake [12]. For instance, AHBAP released a statement that read, "*If you have an urgent need in earthquake areas or want to support those affected by the disaster, write 'Hello' to our WhatsApp support line*" [13]. After sending a message with "Hello," the individual would receive two options: asking for help or providing support.

To prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure an accurate information, Meta partnered with AKUT to establish a WhatsApp helpline to provide assistance and information to individuals affected by the disaster [14]. The helpline allowed individuals to message a designated number on WhatsApp with the word "Hello" and receive relevant information.

#### *Technology and Disaster Relief: The Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Case Study DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.111612*

In addition to the WhatsApp helplines, several organizations, and individuals released WhatsApp bots to support during the disaster. The Deprembot [15], for instance, was one such bot that allowed people to easily reach the nearest aid points by simply sending their location. By leveraging location-based services, such bots could help people in need and streamline relief efforts, allowing rescue teams to quickly identify those in need of assistance and reach them in the shortest possible time. Moreover, such bots could help reduce the number of unnecessary calls or messages, freeing up lines of communication for urgent requests and ensuring the information was provided to the right channels. As technology continued to evolve, these bots could be further improved, potentially integrating with other emergency response systems to provide even more comprehensive support during natural disasters.

WhatsApp helplines and bots provide a quick and accessible way for individuals to receive assistance and information during a disaster [16, 17]. They were particularly helpful for those who may not have had access to other means of communication or who were struggling to navigate the complex and rapidly changing relief efforts.

#### **2.4 Cryptocurrency**

In the aftermath of the disaster, the cryptocurrency community came together to donate millions of dollars in crypto assets to support relief efforts. On Twitter, Haluk Levent, the founder of AHBAP and a local artist, stated that there was a widespread desire among people globally to contribute to charitable causes using cryptocurrency. The local non-profit organization, AHBAP, received over \$3 million in donations, as reported by blockchain analytics firm, Chainalysis, which estimates that the total crypto donations sent to Turkey and Syria exceeded \$5 million. Cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, pledged \$5 million in donated funds, and the total value of cryptocurrency tokens pledged by various crypto firms was found to exceed \$10 million by blockchain analytics firm, Elliptic [18].

Despite the admirable intention of crypto advocates to offer financial relief in the aftermath of natural disasters, questions have been raised about the real-world utility of crypto assets. Critics argued that although cryptocurrencies enabled near-realtime transactions, they failed to provide practical financial solutions in daily life. For example, locals in Turkey still needed to convert their crypto assets into Turkish lira and withdrew the converted fiat to their bank accounts, which could be a cumbersome process in times of crisis. Furthermore, some traders reported difficulties in releasing funds from popular exchanges, highlighting the need for more efficient and reliable financial mechanisms in emergency situations.

In addition to these solutions based on blockchain, a number of other initiatives have emerged to harness the power of technology in order to support efforts being made to aid victims of natural disasters. For instance, a number of different crowdsourcing campaigns to raise money for victims of natural disasters have been launched on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. In addition, some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations in the area have created websites and mobile applications to disseminate information regarding available resources, shelter locations, and volunteer opportunities.

#### **2.5 Open-source hubs**

In order to facilitate quicker loading times, a large number of open-source crisis assistance websites and platforms have been developed and created using fundamental HTML. A portion of the funding for the beginning stages of these projects came from crowdsourcing. These platforms included heatmaps for rescue services, which used information gathered from calls for help to identify the locations of survivors buried in rubble; databases of blood donors; links to providers of temporary accommodation, food, and clothing; lists of people known to be trapped in the rubble or in need of urgent medical or humanitarian assistance (which were generated using AI to sort through scattered data); and apps that matched volunteers with those in need of help.

Aside from the previously mentioned relief efforts, several open-source hubs and platforms were used to aid in crisis response. The platforms created served as crisis mapping tools, tracking and sharing information about rescue efforts in real time. It enabled citizens to report trapped individuals, damaged infrastructure, and other critical information via various channels such as SMS, email, and social media. The collected data was then visualized on a map, allowing rescue teams to identify areas that required immediate assistance. During the disaster response, another useful platform was ihtiyacharitasi.org (translates as the need map), which helped manage donations, volunteers, and aid requests.

Furthermore, the open-source community was instrumental in developing tools and resources to aid in disaster relief efforts. Several 3D printing communities, for example, collaborated to create open-source designs for prosthetics and medical equipment that could be produced quickly and cheaply. These initiatives show the power of open-source collaboration in responding to crises and developing innovative solutions to meet urgent needs.
