Earthquake in Turkey: The Desperate of Iskenderun

The Turkish coastal town of Iskenderun was particularly hard hit by the earthquake. Desperation is growing among the population, but so is anger at the government.

Iskenderun in southern Turkey, in a park in the middle of the city. Soldiers throw blankets, diapers and clothes from a truck into the crowd. The park has become a camp. People who lost their homes in the severe earthquake live here in tents belonging to the state disaster control agency AFAD.

It wasn’t easy to get a tent at all, says Behice: “Whatever is distributed, people are too crowded to get anything.” Because the relief supplies are far from enough for everyone who needs them. Behice and her family were lucky. They got one at 2 a.m. on Tuesday night. They set it up by four in the pouring rain, she says. Because they had no choice, they took blankets and clothes from their apartment – although the house could collapse at any time.

Apartments may not be entered

Even many apartments that look intact are no longer allowed to enter their residents. Because of hundreds of aftershocks, some of them strong, they don’t want that anyway. Most sleep in their cars. Tents are scarce, says 15-year-old Selin: “We don’t have a tent, so we have to sleep in the car. During the day we warm up in the sun. AFAD has delivered tents here, but they don’t have enough for everyone.”

Selin is standing in the sun at the edge of the park with her dogs. She keeps covering them up because they’re cold, she says. The sensitive cold only comes at night. “Tents are in demand at the moment, everyone has only wanted tents for three days,” says an employee of the Red Crescent aid organization, somewhat annoyed. Then he doesn’t want to say anything more. For a report? Did we want to bring him into the devil’s kitchen? He heard the criticism of the state aid organization.

dissatisfaction grows

In fact, many are dissatisfied. Özge and Abdullah are standing in front of the ruins of a residential building. They are waiting for news about buried relatives. “There was no work here on the first day. Basically, they only really started today. Our requests for help were not heard. We feel neglected.” She looks at the helpers clearing away the rubble. Most are soldiers. A crane truck from a private company is standing next to it. Özge complains about slow help. There are also helpers from AFAD, experts.

Even if the government claims otherwise: It’s too little and too late, says Özge. She wants “every need to be met and all help to be provided and such. So we don’t need a water distributor here. Drinking water will be found somehow. We need more machines and equipment.”

A criticism shared by many. The opposition and experts believe that President Erdogan’s government has ignored warnings. Turkey was not prepared well enough – and that was the government’s fault. In the Kahramanmaras region, on the other hand, Erdogan says that of course there were problems, but that the government is gradually getting the situation under control. No false reports should be spread now.

hope for the elections

Shortly thereafter, the internet is slow across the country. Then Twitter doesn’t work for a while. That can be a coincidence. Behice’s father apparently doesn’t think so. He sits in front of the AFAD tent and is angry: “They call for a state of emergency and such, but there hasn’t been any really conspicuous, remarkable state aid so far. For two days and two nights we ran through the rain in despair and freezing and didn’t know where to go. “

Earthquake aid or not – they agree: Something has to change in the country. The elections in May could do that. But many affected by the earthquake may not vote. For this they have to register at their place of residence. And a lot of people are leaving right now. Behice and her family also want to leave. But they will vote anyway: “Wherever we go – we will register for the elections and fulfill our civic duty”.