The Turkish government was absent from the worst-hit province of Hatay for several days after the 6 February earthquakes, said pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democracy Party (HDP) MP Tülay Hatimoğulları Oruç in an angry speech in parliament on Tuesday.
Born in Turkey’s southernmost province, and elected in neighbouring Adana, the MP witnessed the aftermath of the natural disaster firsthand.
“In our neighbourhood, there are five houses left standing right now. The rest have collapsed,” Oruç said. “I have no neighbours left, most of my relatives are gone.”
“Nobody should dare say they already mended the wounds of the earthquake. You have not tended to any wounds,” she continued.
“I was there from the early hours. For two days in some regions, three days in others, the state was absent,” she said, addressing MPs from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). “None of you were there.”
Citizens were forced to clear rubble, mend roads, and even act as traffic police, Oruç said. “There was not one soldier around.” The MP’s comments follow claims made by the Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence that the armed forces were, from day one, present in the disaster zone.
Oruç went on to address a recent scandal involving the Turkish Red Crescent. She accused the charity-turned holding company of selling tents, blood and food to survivors instead of providing resources free of charge, as it should, since it was originally founded as a charity.
She also called out the government for suppressing grassroots efforts to provide relief. “Now you are trying to launch operation after operation against social solidarity networks, this is the height of shame,” she said.
The MP called on the government to resign and said survivors remained in dire need of support. She implored parliament to work with professional chambers, NGOs, and the victims themselves to rebuild cities and find lasting solutions.
“This government must resign immediately. The most fundamental duty facing this parliament in the following period is; how are we going to heal the wounds of earthquake victims? All these questions need to be answered, and it is this Parliament that must answer them,” Oruç concluded.
