Survivors of the February 6 earthquake have been left to their fate in the Samandağ district of Hatay, one of the massively affected cities, as well as the districts of Defne and Antakya. Even though 15 days have passed since the disaster, the survivors have received no tents or water. With no hygienic measures, they are facing asbestos pollution in the district where debris removal continues. The survivors waiting in queues for hours in front of the food and clothing distribution points spoke to ANF.

NO ELECTRICITY AND WATER

Mehmet Ali Gümüş, who has been staying in the district bazaar in Samandag, said that they have been left without electricity and water for the last 15 days. Gümüş noted that the survivors were taking shelter in the tents delivered from Diyarbakır. He said: “I set up my tent by my own means, while the other tents were brought by volunteers from Diyarbakır.”

Gümüş remarked that hygienic measures were not taken in any way. Reproaching the Municipality of Samandag, he said: “There are two toilets here, but they neither wash them nor bring water. It's shameful that there is no municipality or any other official organization here.” Gümüş added that there is no electricity and water, and that they light a fire to keep themselves warm.

‘WE ARE FREEZING AT NIGHTS!’

Another resident, Nazan Yüce, pointed out that their situation has been very bad since the earthquake, adding that aid materials have not reached them there since they were confiscated by the government. “We live in the Deniz Neighbourhood, and we have neither tents nor water,” she noted.

89-year-old Faris Beyazgül, a resident of Koyunoğlu Neighbourhood, stated that they were in a very difficult situation because no tents had been delivered to them. Beyazgül said: “We are 21 people, including children and grandchildren, and sitting in nylon, freezing at nights. We have not received any tents or anything else. I don't understand it at all. A few tents came, but they were given to the relatives of the headman. No tent has been given to us.”

The residents of Samandağ, most of whom make a living from farming, stated that their cattle were also in a difficult situation because fertilizers and animal feed were not provided.