The earthquake victims in İskenderun district in Turkey’s southern province of Hatay struggle as the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) seized their aid materials and tents on Wednesday.
Volunteers from the women’s organisation Bread and Rose (Ekmek ve Gül) and several unions have been evicted from the area, leaving the earthquake victims without the aid they desperately need.
According to Bread and Rose, the earthquake victims were frustrated with the state’s prevention of aid, while the tents provided by AFAD have issues with water ingress, leading to concerns about hygiene.
The victims complained about being moved from tent to tent and suggested that the government should provide sheltered containers instead. Some victims expressed concerns about the timing of AFAD’s intervention as elections approached.
The Turkish Food Industry Workers Union (Gıda-İş) released a statement demanding that AFAD remove its hands from the aid collected, while citizens and organisations have criticised the government’s post-earthquake response.
AFAD has confiscated aid trucks and supplies from various organisations, including the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), DEVA Party and Alevi associations in Europe.
The government has also taken over aid distribution centres and disbanded aid sites for earthquake victims, leading to accusations of a crackdown on opposition voices.
