The Labor and Democracy Platform in Batman made a statement to the press regarding the solidarity activities they have carried out since two devastating earthquakes centered in Maraş that devastated parts of Turkey, North Kurdistan and Syria on February 6.

The spokesperson of the platform, Deniz Topkan, defined the earthquake as one of the greatest disasters in the history of the country, stating the following:

“All segments of society have taken on responsibility from search and rescue efforts to collecting and delivering aid in the affected areas from the first day. It is obvious that we must enhance and perpetuate solidarity to heal the wounds inflicted by such a great disaster that devastated a broad region and affected over 15 million people. As the search and rescue operations in the region continue, the basic needs of survivors, such as shelter, food and heating, have not been fully met yet, and voluntary aid activities are prevented, which is unacceptable.

There is an explicit need for further solidarity to support our people, not only those who remain in the region, but also those who had to move to other cities. We call on the government to avoid taking steps seeking to discourage social mobilisation and the sense of solidarity, and to facilitate volunteers’ efforts on the ground. As the components of the Labor and Democracy Platform in Batman, we have taken action from the first moment on, begun to collect aid rapidly and tried to deliver it to the areas hit by the earthquake.”

While trying to determine the needs of people in earthquake areas and delivering aid on one hand, we have also formed a new coordination to take care of our guests who survived the earthquake and the injured who have been hospitalized in our city. We have provided shelter for affected families and provided packages containing food, clothes, shoes, sanitary materials, toys for children and household goods. As far as we have been able to confirm, 900 people were taken to the public and private hospitals in our city and 43 are still receiving treatment.

In addition, we provide support for hundreds of families who have applied to us. Since the first day, our volunteers have been working with great commitment, trying to share the pain of people. We once again thank all our friends who have taken on responsibility in the process, opening their doors to victims and delivering aid to affected families.

As the rehabilitation and reconstruction process will take a long time, there is a need for medium- and long-term planning to maintain social mobilisation. With this awareness, we in the Labor and Democracy Platform in Batman will continue doing our part in the coming process.

We call on the people of Batman to contribute to the provision of the needs of victims and to continue their solidarity.”