akut

AKUT, short for Arama Kurtarma Derneği, is a Turkish non-governmental organization dedicated to search and rescue, disaster response, and safety training. Founded in 1996 by volunteers, it operates across Turkey and participates in international relief missions. The organization focuses on urban search and rescue, mountain rescue, and water rescue, and provides rapid field support during emergencies to public authorities.

AKUT trains volunteers in search techniques, incident management, first aid, rope rescue, and related skills, and maintains teams and equipment to respond quickly to disasters. In addition to active missions, it runs public education programs on disaster preparedness and safety awareness to strengthen community resilience. Its members come from diverse backgrounds, including engineers, medics, climbers, and other professionals working on a voluntary basis.

Over the years, AKUT has been involved in numerous rescue operations following natural disasters and accidents in Turkey and abroad, and it has developed training programs, mobile response units, and logistical capacity to support field missions. The organization emphasizes ethical standards, safety, and collaboration with governmental agencies and other rescue groups, and participates in international mutual-aid networks and joint trainings to improve global disaster response.