HDP Muş MP Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit told ANF that three weeks have passed since the earthquakes, and yet the problem of clean water, hygiene and tents continues and there are still people sleeping on the street.

Koçyiğit said that what happened was an enormous catastrophe and added: “On the one hand, there is the earthquake disaster, and on the other there is the AKP-MHP disaster, which is much bigger than the earthquake. When we went to the earthquake areas, we saw very clearly that the problem was not just a natural event. Some 22 days have passed since the earthquake, but there are still places where tents have not gone. Tens of thousands of people don’t have a tent. In the earthquake, people desperately threw themselves outside and live on the street for 22 days, warming themselves by the fire. Since there is no real disaster management and the rent-seeking mentality of the AKP-MHP does not allow disaster management, people are left to their own fate.”

Not just a housing problem

Koçyiğit said that there are hygienic problems that will lead to serious diseases in addition to the housing problem. “We are not just talking about a housing issue in the classical sense. After an established life, you suddenly end up on the street. The garbage is not collected, the toilet needs are not met, there was not even drinking water for a very long time. Access to drinking water was provided by volunteers. Many places still do not have water to use. People can't wash their hands and face, they can't meet their bathroom needs. The Turkish Medical Association (TTB), Health and Social Service Workers (SES) and volunteer health workers have done a lot of work on this issue. Tankers need to bring water, mobile toilets, mobile bathrooms, and mobile hairdressers. Just posting a toilet doesn't solve the problem either. It is also necessary to establish a mechanism that will ensure the cleanliness and hygiene of the toilet. We saw that all this did not happen.”

Drawing attention to the danger of epidemics in tent cities, Koçyiğit said that rodents are beginning to be seen.

An enemy of people's power

Noting that hospitals have collapsed in many cities and access to health has become much more difficult, Koçyiğit said that field hospitals are also insufficient. She argued that only fast first aid can be provided in field hospitals. “There have been bodies under the rubble for 22 days. The government has acted late and now tents are being sold. We have always said that this government is the enemy of the people, and this was seen once again in this earthquake. When we said that the AKP was taking away society's right to health by liquidating the existing health system, opening it to the market, turning it into an anti-social, tradable commodity, they were talking about how big hospitals they built and the number of intensive care beds. The City Hospitals they built at the point we arrived at were destroyed in the first earthquake. People could not find a health institution to have their arms and legs plastered. We are faced with an anti-social, anti-people government in every aspect. On the one hand, we will heal our wounds. On the other hand, we will stand side by side, but we will never forget to hold those responsible accountable.”