In disasters that result in injuries and illnesses among affected individuals, timely and appropriate medical responses, accurate triage, effective evacuation or transfer, and the organized distribution of injured patients by local medical management systems are crucial factors that impact the clinical situation. The 2023 Turkey earthquake posed a significant challenge for health and disaster management systems, requiring a coordinated response to meet the urgent needs of the impacted populations. The analysis of the experiences that members of the expedition team and their support group encountered is integral in transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge, utilizing appropriate research methodologies. This paper investigates the experiences and insights of international relief and health teams deployed during a disaster, emphasizing the challenges faced and strategies employed throughout the operation. By synthesizing the lessons learned from these experiences, this study aims to contribute valuable knowledge that can enhance future disaster management strategies. Through a thorough examination of the relationships between concepts and the contextual dynamics of disaster response, this research seeks to elucidate the complex interplay of factors influencing effective relief efforts.

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers disasters as A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and capacity, leading to one or more of the following: human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts [1]. The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) has published its latest report for 2023, which highlights that 399 natural disasters have occurred worldwide, resulting in 86,473 fatalities. These disasters have affected 93.1 million people, causing over $202.7 billion in damages to different communities. The 2023 earthquake in Türkiye and the Syrian Arab Republic was the most catastrophic event of the year regarding mortality and economic damage, with 56,683 reported deaths and US$42.9 billion in damages [2]. Throughout history, disasters have persistently impacted human societies, leading to significant repercussions for both the environment and populations. These events have resulted in substantial loss of life, as well as extensive financial, psychological, and ecological damages. The complex interplay of these consequences highlights the multifaceted nature of disasters and their persistent influence on human development and environmental sustainability [3]. Access to healthcare services is a crucial indicator for the survival of patients and injured individuals in the immediate aftermath of disasters. In this regard, the philosophy of Sphere international project has considered two core beliefs; first, that those affected by disaster or conflict have a right to life with dignity and, therefore, a right to assistance; and second, that all possible steps should be taken to alleviate human suffering arising out of disaster or conflict [4]. In the two international documents of Hyogo and Sendai, “increasing the level of preparedness to provide an effective response to the effects of accidents and disasters at all local, regional, and national levels” was raised as one of the basic priorities, which emphasized the provision of effective health services [5,6]. The medical response system in disasters is an important part of the disaster risk management system. This system is responsible for providing appropriate services for the physical, mental, and general health of the covered population. The ultimate goal of the system is to minimize as much as possible the amount of death and suffering of the affected people by properly managing the discrepancy between the immediate health needs and the actual medical response capacity [7]. One of the most important cases in the field of Health and treatment in disasters is the preparation of mobile treatment structures, due to the destruction of fixed structures in crises, the presence of mobile hospitals with facilities, equipment, human resources, and experienced protocols will be necessary and very useful [8].

On February 6, 2023, at 04:17 Turkish time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 shook central and southern Turkey. The 2023 earthquake in Türkiye was the most catastrophic event of the year regarding mortality and economic damage, with 56,683 reported deaths and 42.9 $ billion in damages [2,9]. The earthquake in Türkiye not only affected the local population but also prompted a sizable response from foreign relief and health teams. After the earthquake, the relief, health, and treatment team of the Islamic Republic of Iran was ready to be dispatched in less than 24 h and arrived at the site of the accident on February 8, 2023, and served the affected people of Turkey until February 22, 2023. Using the experiences of the members of the expedition team, and the support group, with the appropriate research methodology, and explaining the related concepts and relationships between them can be considered as a valuable experience and lesson learned and turns the hidden knowledge of this expedition group into apparent knowledge. The research question is: “What lessons can be learned from the experiences of foreign relief and health teams during the 2023 Turkey earthquake, and how can these insights inform future disaster response efforts?”.

Unlike prior studies that primarily focused on local responses or broader disaster management frameworks, our study uniquely captures the experiences and lessons learned from international teams operating in a specific disaster context, providing insights that are critical for enhancing future humanitarian efforts. This paper explores the experiences and insights of foreign relief and health teams (specially Iranian teams) deployed during the disaster, highlighting the challenges encountered, strategies employed, and focusing on the lessons learned that can inform future disaster management strategies.