Earthquake victims in Turkey blocked

Leyla Seker (65) lives alone in a tent, just as thousands of her fellow citizens in the southernmost Turkish province of Hatay. Her tent is located in the meadow near where her house has been now ruined.

This woman lost her mother and sister in the devastating earthquake half a year ago. But they were not the only ones who suffered. My uncle's brother left this world with his entire 15-member family,” says Sheker. It has been six months since the powerful earthquake destroyed southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. In Turkey alone, about sixty thousand people died, twice as many were injured.

The former parliament and the ancient mosque were also destroyed at Hatay. This is no longer Hatay, but a ghost town,” says Sheker in tears.

The Danger of Infection

The house is not renovated. They get food help because there are no food stores nearby. Large mangues also have water supplies. Six months without a drop of water from the water. Some have wells, but we have nothing. There's nothing here except bacteria and flies”, says this woman.

City authorities say only ten per cent of the province's capital currently has running water. Doctors warn that lack of hygiene leads to serious diseases, perhaps even infections.

The Economy Chamber in Hatay states that 600,000 people were homeless from the earthquake that is more than a third of the population. Many have left this region, while others have remained in tents.

The state is planning more than three thousand new buildings with 255 thousand apartments. Looks like the first buildings will be ready in December.

Who has money for credit?

Rustem Choclu (48), a construction worker, finally has work to do, but he is not satisfied with state plans. He himself lost his home and will now have to take on 40 percent of the costs for a new apartment in the form of a 20-year loan.

We'll get through something. But the State was supposed to ask us nothing. I've expected the state to take over all expenses”, he says.

Layla Sheker is not even thinking about a new apartment. She says she has neither money nor life enough to pay off the loan because she is in the most advanced age.

Serkan Koc from the Urban City Chamber shakes his head. He says the state is neglecting infrastructure reconstruction, access to drinking water, electricity and the internet. Because of the slowness of the state, people have started building houses themselves illegally, he says.

Such houses are currently being built without any urban plans. If the state cannot satisfy people's basic need for a roof over their head, then people should take care of themselves”, Koc says.

After the earthquake, much was discussed in this region about incontinent construction and construction mistakes. And now, when everyone is building as they can, it is difficult to expect these buildings to withstand a possible new earthquake.

Was it politically neglected?

In this remote region of Turkey, many think they have been neglected, for political reasons. Hatay is considered a cosmopolite province with a large Alevi minority.

To this day it is unclear what will happen to the 15 thousand buildings and houses with <x0 secondary damage”. Will the use of these objects be allowed or will they be destroyed? The ruins will not be removed by the end of the year.

Sheker plans to stay in a tent near her previous home. She says she has been working abroad for 32 years to save for a home. There's nothing now, but it doesn't want to resume life elsewhere. /dw