Challenging living conditions are still being faced by earthquake victims who lost their houses in two major earthquakes that hit the province of Van in 2011, on 23 October and 9 November. These people are since living in the Anatolia container city which they are being forced to leave now. They have nowhere else to go.

A group of earthquake victims went on an alternate hunger strike 25 days ago after the governor's office ordered power cut-off in the container city. Four among them therewith turned their hunger strike to death fast on 12 September. On Sunday, the death fast has been joined by seven more people living in the container city which is currently hosting 120 families made up of 400 people.

Following the power cut which began 25 days ago, the mosque in the container city was closed and the security staff has been recalled from duty.

With the death fast, earthquake victims are protesting against the conditions they are being subject to.The fast is expected to be joined by more people in the coming days.

The people currently on death fast are; Gülten Turgut, Hicret Bayram, Özgül Toprak, Piltan Şahbaz, Zeliha Koç, Lalilan Çiçek, Sedat Koç, Şerif Manay, Mehmet Aslan, Abdülmecit Oral and Kitan Gören.

Speaking on behalf of the earthquake victims on death fast, İsa Gören said that ;"The governor (of Van) should know very well that we are not afraid of death. We have nothing else to lose. We are standing here all together and saying enough."

Gören, remarking that the state would be responsible for the consequences of the death fast, called on the government to end its suppression policies and to answer earthquake victims' demand for their housing right.

Gören added that they will not send their children to school nor end their protest until they are granted with their rights.