Although about a month has passed since the 2 earthquakes that shook Hatay, the basic needs of the people have not been met yet. There was no help coming from the state and the government, and people tried to rescue their relatives under the rubble with the help of volunteers and their own means. The tent problem has not been resolved yet and, in addition, they cannot find drinking water. Despite this, the Hatay Governorship said in a statement that "drinking water is constantly being delivered to the region by AFAD and we have sufficient water stocks." The statement caused reactions, yet, the governor's office was not satisfied and added: "There is no problem in the use of water for hygiene purposes," despite the epidemic warnings issued by the TTB.

Tolga Kubilay Çelik, spokesperson of the Tourism, Entertainment and Service Workers Union (TEHİS) and member of the Social Freedom Party (TOP), told ANF that water shortages continue in many districts of Hatay, Çelik underlined that the need for both drinking water and clean water should be met urgently.

'People don't trust tap water'

TEHIS and TÖP have been carrying out relief efforts in Hatay since the day of the earthquake, said Çelik, adding that the basic needs of the people have not been met even though a month has passed. He said that people use the same water for drinking and hygiene. “People no longer trust tap water because of the warnings about health problems. Therefore, we urgently need both drinking and clean tap water.”

Çelik rejected the Hatay Governorship's statement that there was no water shortage and said: "I personally know that from the field. The governor is not telling the truth. The problem of access to water continues in Samandağ, Harbiye, Armutlu and Serinyol. We distributed what we had. In Serinyol, people formed long queues to get water, but it is not enough.” Stating that the same water shortage is experienced not only in Hatay, but also in Maraş and Adıyaman, Çelik added that in this respect, it is necessary to urgently provide drinking water to earthquake zones.

He said that he had never seen the governor of Hatay since the earthquakes, and added that they had met the deputy governor once when he came to tell them to leave Sevgi Park. The earthquake victims not only suffer from water shortages but also lack tents, food and clothes, said Çelik, underlining the importance of solidarity in this regard.

'Solidarity needs to continue'

Emphasizing that solidarity should continue uninterrupted, as in the first weeks of the earthquake, Çelik said: “Solidarity should continue for 6 months, one year. People don't just have a housing problem. Aids are running out fast. People cannot achieve the necessary hygienic conditions, they cannot wash their clothes as they cannot wash themselves, they cannot stay in a clean place. Since there are not enough portable toilets, they have to go to their damaged houses for their needs. Today, we see that the political developments regarding the election take precedence over everything else. However, there is a more important agenda than this, and that is to heal the wounds of the people in the earthquake areas. Solidarity needs to be expanded and political parties should turn their eyes and ears to earthquake zones as soon as possible.”