Incapable of Solving even the Toilet Problem in Earthquake Areas, the Government Stages a Show of Aid Campaign!

On 15 February, a few days after the earthquake, the government launched an aid campaign, named “Turkey One Heart”, via a joint live broadcast through television and radio channels. In these TV broadcasts, which turned into a show, some institutions of the state announced that they donated billions of liras. So the government took the money from one pocket and put it in the other. Despite this campaign show and the billions of money collected, even the most basic needs such as shelter, food, heating and toilets in earthquake areas have not been solved.

Although two weeks have passed since the February 6 earthquakes, even the most basic problems in the earthquake area have not been resolved. The wounds of the earthquake survivors, who stated that they were abandoned and left alone from the first day, are not healed, and their pain is increasing day by day. Since the most basic needs such as shelter, heating, toilet, hygiene and medicine in earthquake areas are not provided, problems are growing. While the healthcare workers working in the earthquake area warned that epidemics such as diarrhea and cholera began to spread with the effect of the toilet problem, which became very serious, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca made statements that “the risk of contagious diseases in the earthquake area is under control”.

Painful people whose houses were destroyed and who lost their families and relatives were condemned to darkness and hunger on the streets for days in the cold. The needs such as containers, prefabricated toilets and shower cabins, which should be sent to the region as a priority, have not been met to a large extent. The tents set up by AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey), which are not suitable for cold weather conditions, are insufficient both in number and quality. Most tents do not have the necessary materials (pillows, blankets, heaters, etc.). Moreover, the placement of these tents does not comply with the disaster regulations. The tent areas, which are packed and irregularly located, cannot be evacuated in case of a possible danger such as fire. Even the toilet problem of tent camps has not been solved. Many people are trying to live in these overcrowded, unhygienic and unsanitary conditions. Due to the cold weather, these unfavourable conditions become even more unbearable.

According to the statements of the of health professionals (physicians, pharmacists etc.), earthquake zones are becoming areas where the risk of spreading diseases increases day by day. There are many health issues as people are huddled together in crowded tents and have to use insufficient number of toilets (in many cases hundreds of people have to use a single toilet). For example, it is said that pregnant women avoid drinking water due to the absence of a toilet. Lack of clean water, hygiene materials such as soap, piles of garbage and many other reasons cause risk of epidemics. If necessary steps are not taken immediately to ensure food and clean water and personal hygiene, if all the resources of the state are not mobilized, it is inevitable that epidemic diseases will emerge. Pointing out that cases such as diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, wound infections, scabies and even lice will increase, organizations of health professionals state that the Ministry of Health’s statements that necessary precautions have been taken are not true, and that the scene in the region is not at all as described.

While this is the case, the Minister of Health can say that the state is present there in the earthquake zone with all the means. The rotten pro-regime media, speaking in the language of the government, does not hesitate to give advice on “mask, distance, hygiene”, just as they did during the pandemic. They also say that sleep and proper nutrition should not be neglected to keep immunity strong. Well, are there enough and proper tents and containers in the area to be positioned at a proper distance? No. Are there enough toilets, shower cabins, clean water and soap that can be used in accordance with the hygiene rules? No there are not. All the images, observations, writings and complaints of the earthquake victims we met face to face from the region testify that the government is incapable of meeting even the most basic needs. We are talking about a regime/state that has not even been able to solve the toilet problem in the earthquake zone. But those who cannot even solve the toilet problem claim that the state should never be insulted and that the state is sacred. Why should a state that cannot even solve the toilet problem, that does not come to the aid of people, that humiliates and oppresses people, and that does not prioritise people, be sacred? First of all, why should the state that is said to serve society be sacred? It is clear that those who bless the state do not want us to hold the state accountable for the lack of preparation, incompetence, indifference, and greed that actually caused the death of tens of thousands of people.

The regime exploits religious beliefs in order to escape responsibility by saying “will of god”, on the other hand it claims that most of the destroyed buildings were not built during its rule. However, this is even denied in reports of Turkish Statistic Institute (TURKSTAT). These reports show that 51.8 percent of all residences in 10 province devastated by the earthquake were built in 2001 and after. According to the reports, more than 60 percent of the houses were built after 2001 in Maraş where the greatest destruction occurred. In fact, this is not surprising for us since after 2000, urbanization in Turkey accelerated and cities grew and turned into metropolises. The collapse of new buildings, residences that are touted as earthquake resistant, and fleeing from country of their contractors are already enough to reveal the reality. 

The government is aware that the earthquake, which cost the lives of tens of thousands, will cause a great defeat for itself in the upcoming elections. That is why it has mobilized all means at its disposal to create a perception, impress the public, regain its lost reputation, and appear as if it is doing “great things”. The regime organized a big show program by gathering toady media, pro-government business, public institutions and banks together. On the evening of February 15, celebrities, politicians, businessmen, heads of big sports clubs, union bureaucrats and of course Erdoğan announced their “donations” via broadcasting “Turkey One Heart” through 213 television channels and 562 radios. Through this broadcast in Turkey and abroad, state agencies advertised the money it collected from the public through taxes, and the big bosses made a show of their money earned by exploiting the workers! While only 2 weeks have passed since 10 provinces fell under the rubble, hundreds of thousands of people were in the grip of poverty, millions are in pain, people are waiting to reach their families, loved ones, and the regime has the face to show off with great hypocrisy. They intend to create the perception that they are carrying out a great mobilization, cover up their responsibility for what they have not done so far.

From the first day, the working people and non-governmental organizations, trade unions, socialist workers’ organizations/parties have mobilised to provide aid. They all strived to deliver aid to the victims of earthquake, they still do. While the working people in poverty were extending their hands to their class brothers and sisters the regime was nowhere to be seen for the first three days. Even more, they turned a deaf ear to the labourers who asked “Where is the state?” When the people’s questions mounted up, the government did not hesitate to resort to scapegoating and inciting hostility. The government and its sycophants showed their strength by standing at the forefront of the show. Joining the live broadcast, Erdoğan said, “Despite the size of the devastated area and winter conditions, we started search and rescue operations, and relief work with an extraordinary effort. We continue our work. The deficiencies and problems in the first days were eliminated in a short time. The response and intervention have been accelerated with the efforts of our 250,000 officials and our nation as a whole.” He also told that they would restore the region within a year with the aid collected. According to them, “great volunteers” of Turkey fulfilled their duties with great donations and deserved applause! However, a very important part of the collected 115 billion 146 million liras (approximately 86 billion liras) was given from public institutions and organizations. In other words, they showed off by transferring the resources in the hands of the state from one pocket to another. Cengiz Holding, one of the staunchest pro-government holding companies which made a show of itself by announcing a seemingly big sum of donation, received government incentive and tax deductions the next day. This is another expression that all are just a show-off! In short, they showed once again that those who imposed a minimum wage below the hunger limit, those who pocket the taxes collected from the public, pillage the nature for rent, build houses that were graves for tens of thousands of people, grant amnesty to 290,000 substandard unlicensed buildings under the name of “reconstruction peace,” are “one heart”!

The fake “togetherness” campaign, fabricated news, manipulations, attacks on organisations and parties that organize solidarity... All these show that they are resorting to covering up the facts that emerged with this destruction and suppressing the anger of the society. But no matter how hard they strive to hide it, they cannot cover up the truth. Unfortunately, when the cameras are turned from lighted studios to earthquake zones, they show nothing but massive destruction and abandonment. Hundreds of thousands who are left without shelter, food, water, toilets, and hygienic conditions in the midst of the destruction are still trying to make their voices heard and asking for help. According to the statement of Turkish Medical Association (TTB), if residential areas are not properly designed in earthquake regions, epidemics may cause new disasters.

Workers unions, unions of professionals, socialist parties, the organisations that formed the Labour and Freedom Alliance, opposition parties such as TİP, HDP, CHP, and socialist workers’ organizations such as UİD-DER, they all have mobilised in order to extend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters devastated by the earthquakes. We will keep standing firm and united until all the demands of our class brothers and sisters hit by earthquake are met, until the government is called to account and forced to mobilize all the resources at its disposal. Let’s keep in mind that solidarity grows when we wage struggle!