The European Kurdish Women’s Movement (TJK-E) released a statement on Friday regarding the demonstrations which will be held on 25 February in various European cities and called for action for the victims of 6 February earthquakes in the Kurdish and Arab populated cities in Turkey and Syria.
“We have witnessed cries for help from our people due to the lack of search and rescue operations,” said TJK-E, drawing attention to the economic and social fallout of the earthquakes.
Finding the Turkish government directly responsible for the devastating impacts of the earthquakes, TJK-E said that the government is trying to eliminate political parties, NGOs, institutions and organisations that are trying to help by declaring a state of emergency following the quake.
The women’s organisation also said that the Turkish government failed to deliver any aid to many villages and settlements, and even detained the groups who wanted to deliver aid and confiscated aid collected by volunteers.
TJK-E added that the Turkish state aims to use the earthquakes as an opportunity to change the demographic structure of the region, and underlined the role of Erdoğan’s regime in preventing aid from reaching North and East Syria.
“By bombing Rojava despite the earthquake, it aims for an even greater destruction and a total massacre,” the Kurdish women said, while highlighting the Kurdish freedom movements’ decision to stop its military actions after the quakes.
Stating that the earthquake revealed how essential the solidarity and organisation of people is, TJK-E pointed to the mobilisation by Kurdish people and their European supporters to set up crisis desks in every region to provide the necessary coordination for aid and services.
“In this sense, we invite you to the rallies and marches to be organised by Kurdish people, Kurdish women and their friends in European countries on 25 February,” said the Kurdish women.
