The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Crisis Coordination Centre, which was established after the devastating earthquakes in the region around Maraş on February 6 and has been working in the disaster area for eight days, met in Ankara under the leadership of co-chair Mithat Sancar. The politician summarised the findings so far on the earthquake and the management of its aftermath in a comprehensive statement. Below are some excerpts of Sancar's statements at the meeting:

A PAIN DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE

"We are experiencing a pain that is very difficult to describe. We are in a time when words are stuck in our throats. The cries of the people and their growing, righteous anger will never be forgotten. The government is trying to deflect from their responsibility and incompetence by calling the earthquake a 'fateful plan' or 'disaster of the century'."

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WERE NOT TAKEN IN TIME

"It is the behaviour and policies of governments and states that turn earthquakes into humanitarian and social disasters. Lack of precaution is one of these factors. Failure to take timely precautions is another factor. Failure to provide emergency aid and relief supplies in time is also one of the main factors that aggravate the destruction. The indifference and lack of coordination of the administration is the cause of the magnitude of the disaster. The main cause of the destruction is policies that focus on profitability and exploitation instead of people and society-centred administration."

DISASTER MANAGEMENT WAS TWO DAYS LATE

"It would be absurd to speak of a disaster management plan by a government that erects dilapidated buildings in an earthquake zone and stands behind them. The most concrete indicator of the lack of a crisis management plan is the state of the disaster management agency, AFAD. The number of AFAD staff, excluding volunteers, is 5,982. Yes, the number of staff at the agency responsible for providing emergency relief to a population of more than 85 million is 5,982! Can a disaster management plan be prepared with fewer AFAD staff than the number of collapsed buildings? Of course, AFAD staff and volunteers carrying out rescue operations on the ground cannot be excluded from this work. Their efforts are beyond any kind of appreciation. AFAD staff and volunteers must be recognised. The problem lies in the mentality of the administration and the policies of the government. AFAD, which was supposed to be an emergency organisation and coordinating body, took up rescue operations only after more than two days, due to the incompetence and inability of incompetent leadership."

DIYANET RECEIVES 4.5 TIMES MORE MONEY THAN AFAD

"The measures to protect against natural disasters and calamities are never included in the budget targets. AFAD's budget is only TL eight billion 75 million out of a budget of more than TL four trillion in 2023. The share of the total budget is less than 0.5 per cent. Comparisons are always made because they are striking, let us make the same comparison. The budget of the Bureau of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) is 4.5 times the budget of AFAD. This earthquake has shown that the AKP/MHP government is not prepared for disasters, but has a political mentality and preferences that multiply the destructive effects of disasters."

CHAOS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF AID

"Today is the eighth day of the earthquake disaster. Unfortunately, according to official figures, more than 30,000 people have lost their lives. There are still many collapsed buildings that have not yet been searched. There are places and villages that have not yet been visited. We have tens of thousands of people under the rubble. In the middle of this winter, people are left to their fate in the cold. The need for tents, stoves, blankets etc. is not being adequately met at the state and government level. There is great chaos and confusion in the distribution of aid. People in the earthquake region are trying to survive through social solidarity and aid."

THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT COLLAPSE: HUMANITY

"There is great destruction, but there is also something that is not destroyed: humanity. It is standing tall. Civil society, millions of volunteers, individuals, intellectuals, artists, trade unions, businesspeople, political parties and local communities are mobilising for relief. Out of this great destruction, great humanity is once again showing itself. Such meaningful solidarity is the most fundamental way to heal our wounds. With this solidarity, we will ease our pain and heal our wounds."

3000 ACTIVISTS COORDINATE HDP EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS

"As HDP, we immediately established our central crisis coordination centres in Ankara and Diyarbakır on the first day of the earthquake. In addition, we have transformed our election coordination centres in the provinces and districts where we are organised into local earthquake crisis coordination offices in order to work effectively in the earthquake regions. Currently, more than 3000 of our colleagues coordinate the work of thousands of volunteers. In addition, our caucus and our youth and women's councils are on the ground in their entirety. In the six provinces where the devastation after the earthquake was the most severe, our deputies are constantly and alternately working with our people to heal the wounds and alleviate the suffering."

60,000 REQUESTS TO THE COORDINATION CENTRE

"To date, about 60,000 requests have been received by our coordination office. As a result, about 300,000 separate communications have been made. We have mobilised in all areas, from reporting to AFAD where people are under the rubble, to organising and delivering emergency aid to the earthquake zones. Our colleagues have personally participated in the rescue operations and continue to do so. We are trying to immediately relay the voice of every person who reaches us to every necessary agency. We will continue these efforts. Contact has been made with 12,322 disaster victims who have been transported from the earthquake areas to hospitals in Ankara, Mersin, Urfa, Istanbul and Kayseri for treatment and discharge. Supplies and material assistance continue to be coordinated."

617 RELIEF DELIVERIES TO THE EARTHQUAKE AREA

"So far, we have delivered 617 vehicles, including trucks and vans, to the affected provinces, districts and villages. Shelter has been arranged for 345 families. We have established four separate committees within Central Crisis Coordination: Technical, Transport and Shelter, Communication with AFAD and Communication with Provinces. Information received through the hotlines we have set up is confirmed by our colleagues and forwarded to AFAD and the provincial crisis coordination teams to ensure the provision of assistance. Our lines are manned 24 hours a day."

THE RUBBLE OF GOVERNMENT HAS FALLEN ON OUR PEOPLE

"In the earthquake, not only ramshackle buildings collapsed on the people. The rotten order and corrupt power collapsed on our people. The rubble of the monist AKP/MHP government, which knows nothing but war, plunder, war, profit and lies, has fallen on the people. If the institutions of the state and the public are not available to the people in such times, when will they be?"

BORDER CROSSINGS TO SYRIA MUST BE OPENED

"Syria is also affected by the earthquake, especially the regions of Afrin, Aleppo, Latakia and Idlib are directly affected by the destruction. Due to the war in this region and the occupation position of gang groups, the struggle for survival after the earthquake is unfortunately taking place under very harsh conditions. A situation is emerging that is even more serious than the serious picture in our country. Previously, aid was transported through the Turkish border crossing of Cilvegöz [Bab al-Hawa to Idlib], but due to the destruction of the roads caused by the earthquake, the United Nations announced that it had stopped aid deliveries on the first day. After that, many countries called on Turkey to open its border gates for the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid. As we know, all Turkey's border gates to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria are closed. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced on 10 February that 5.3 million Syrians have been left homeless by the earthquake. In this context, the uninterrupted provision of aid to Syria is crucial. International aid agencies are calling for the removal of obstacles to the delivery of aid. In the earthquake crisis, where a severe humanitarian tragedy is unfolding, the border gates must be opened immediately. This applies to all border crossings, and in particular the Mürşitpınar border gate to Kobanê must be opened for humanitarian aid."

KCK DECISION TO CEASE MILITARY ACTIONS IS IMPORTANT

"The KCK's decision to remain inactive after the earthquake and similar decisions are important. In an environment where, on the one hand, an intense war is being waged and, on the other hand, all revenues are going to war, such a decision paving the way for the cessation of hostilities is important. Even if solidarity arises out of a disaster, it opens up new possibilities and new paths. We would like to take this opportunity to emphasise once again the value of dialogue and negotiation. The war and security policies of the state and government must come to an end at this time. We see this as an important step for the coming period."