HDP Southern Kurdistan representative Nahide Ermiş spoke about the ongoing aid campaign for earthquake victims. Ermiş expressed her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the earthquake and a speedy recovery to the injured. She said that the Kurds in Sülaymaniyah and Hewler rushed to help the victims with national feelings. Ermiş said, “We've been collecting donations for about a week. We would like to thank our people, all institutions and individuals for their interest and efforts to strengthen their campaigns. There is still a lot to be done. That's why everyone should support the campaign, and we will deliver the aid we collect to the public as soon as possible."

Ermiş stated that, apart from the KDP, many Southern parties and personalities also supported the campaign. “We are collecting aid in our center. We did not have the opportunity to put it in a central and crowded place, so more people would support the campaign. We applied for it, but we were not allowed any other place. The requirements are too many. Material aid is also needed for Rojava and Northern Kurdistan, but since the aid goes to Turkey, the government confiscates it. Now, three institutions in Turkey have announced that they will collect aid, AFAD, IHH and Kızılay.

The AKP-MHP government gave the task to these institutions. Whatever aid comes from the South, the Middle East, and anywhere else in the world, is taken over by these institutions, that, unfortunately, do not give aid to the earthquake victims, but to their supporters. This is a known fact: the opposition is saying it. The Turkish media are saying this. On the contrary, you can be sure that everything, money and materials donated to the HDP campaign will definitely reach the victims and those in need. So support our campaign.”

Turkish institutions deliver aid to their supporters

Underlining that the aid collected by the Southern institutions and delivered to institutions such as AFAD, IHH and Kızılay was given to the gangs, not the people, Ermiş said: “Everyone knows that these institutions do not help the people. For example, AFAD does not deliver aid to those in the Kurdish and Alevi regions, but to neighbourhoods with its supporters. We want everyone to see this truth. We are not talking about a political issue.”

Drawing attention to the Turkish government's anti-Kurdish and Alevi hostility, Ermiş said: "We are not talking about the government's indifference, we are talking about the government's anti-Kurdish policies. This hostile approach is experienced every day. Twice the people who lost their lives due to the earthquake died because of the careless and hostile policy of the government.”

Ermiş continued: “We started a 2-week aid campaign for the earthquake victims in the first place, but our campaign will continue because there is a great need. I call on the people of the South to continue to support the earthquake victims. We must deliver our aid as soon as possible and help them heal their wounds.”