The rubble is still to be removed in the rural neighbourhoods in Antep's Nurdağı district, 80 percent of which was destroyed by the earthquake on 6 February. 25 people lost their lives in the rural Hisar neighbourhood where 350 people reside. 90 percent of the buildings were damaged in the neighbourhood, and the demolition of 40 houses rendered 50 houses located next to them uninhabitable.

ONLY 10 HOUSES LEFT STANDING

The residents of the neighbourhood are trying to survive by their own means after the earthquake. A survivor named Veysi Çirçir, whose nephew was killed by the earthquake, said: “We are in great sadness. My deceased nephew had 4 children. After the earthquake, there are only 10 houses left standing in the Hisar neighbourhood. The rest is all destroyed or damaged.”

‘WE SLEPT OUTSIDE FOR 5 DAYS’

Speaking to MA, Çirçir stated: “During the earthquake, our door was locked. I jumped out of the window. Right after, I broke the door from the outside, rescued my children and brought them to a riskless point in the village square. I slept on a wooden pallet for 5 days. I was not alone. My children were with me. Since it snowed a lot, the children got very cold, but we had nothing to get warm.”

DEMOLISHED HOUSE MARKED 'MODERATELY DAMAGED'

Çirçir, who could not find any tent to take shelter during the first 5 days, stated that they were still faced with problems due to lack of electricity and water. He noted that the tent provided afterwards was very uncomfortable due to the cold weather. The damage assessment commission listed Çirçir’s house as "moderately damaged".

“After that, I talked to many people, and they all said the opposite. Most recently, a demolition team said that my house was uninhabitable, because the house was further damaged due to the aftershocks that still continue. We are afraid to enter the house. The house is very likely to collapse soon. Still, the damage assessment commission says that the house is inhabitable.”

HDP PEOPLE WERE MISREPRESENTED

Çirçir emphasized that the aid materials delivered to the neighbourhood have been provided through the HDP from the first day. He continued: “Since the first day, we have been receiving trucks of aid from Silopi, Cizre and Mardin. Other cities followed. The HDP people, who are constantly portrayed as “terrorists”, were the first to come to our aid. These cheerful and warm-hearted people gave us stoves, beds and blankets. They are not what others claim they are. They did not make any propaganda before us. They were misrepresented. God bless them. I thank all of them very much.”