The earthquake with epicentre in Xoy (Khoy) in Eastern Kurdistan on 22 February 2020 killed nine people in Van province and caused high material damage. In the district of Başkale whole residential areas collapsed. The evacuation works are still going on. Around 5,000 tents were erected for the people who have become homeless.

The precarious situation in the earthquake zone has been aggravated by the Coronavirus pandemic. The villagers feel abandoned. Numerous tents and shelters for farm animals have collapsed due to strong winds. The power supply has also been interrupted.

According to HDP deputy Muazzez Orhan, the storm of the past two days has caused the collapse of temporary stables and the death of many animals under the rubble. According to Orhan, the HDP is in constant contact with the villagers and the village leaders.

"After the earthquake, aid shipments from our party and other activists were cut off. The state wanted to profit politically from the situation by making the helpless villagers dependent on itself. Since February, aid supplies have been distributed bit by bit. Only ten days ago, containers were placed. There is no shelter for the animals. Livestock breeding is the main source of income in this region. The villagers have built temporary stables made of stone and wood, some animals are also housed in tents. Sheep and newly born lambs have been killed by the storm. Actually, the wind has shown that the support provided by the state is only a sham. And even here, people are acting as if it were an act of mercy," said HDP MP Muazzez Orhan.