Tents given to AKP affiliated, say people in Van
Tents given to AKP affiliated, say people in Van
Earthquake victims in Van tell that prefabricated houses and winter tents were only provided to the people who have relations and connections with senior bureaucrats and members of the ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party).
People are leaving the city of Van which, following two major earthquakes in early November, continues to shake with various magnitudes between 4 and 6.
Apart from ongoing earthquakes and extreme weather conditions, people in the earthquake-shattered area also suffer from the AKP government which has been making effort to save its ‘own people’ in the area. The rest, those not supporting the AKP, are left no choice but to migrate or try to survive in jerry-build tents.
Earthquake victim Muharrem Aydýnlý complains that the Turkish media reflects the image AKP wants, not the realities in Van. The media dissembles the discrimination in the distribution of aid materials, underlines Aydýnlý and remarks that the promises of PM Erdoðan and government officials have produced no recovery in the area. Aydýnlý says that “The life in Van began to go worse and worse as of the end of the first week. People were sending aid materials from all parts of the country but we don’t know to whom those materials were given. Those who have close relations with the Governor or a member of the AKP were the first ones to benefit from these materials which were kept under the control of police and gendarmerie. You are abandoned to your fate if you don’t have such connections with authorities. Besides, the media acted in accordance with this process.”
Aydýnlý tells the followings as to the discrimination made against earthquake victims; “I am trying to survive in a two square meter tent with my wife and six children. Yes, prefabricated houses have been built but the relatives and friends of government officials have been settled in all of them. Thousands of poor people like me myself are getting closer to death day by day. I have spoken to Turkish channels at least ten times so far but none of them has broadcast my expressions. They don’t reflect the truths we tell.”
People are leaving the city of Van which, following two major earthquakes in early November, continues to shake with various magnitudes between 4 and 6.
Apart from ongoing earthquakes and extreme weather conditions, people in the earthquake-shattered area also suffer from the AKP government which has been making effort to save its ‘own people’ in the area. The rest, those not supporting the AKP, are left no choice but to migrate or try to survive in jerry-build tents.
Earthquake victim Muharrem Aydýnlý complains that the Turkish media reflects the image AKP wants, not the realities in Van. The media dissembles the discrimination in the distribution of aid materials, underlines Aydýnlý and remarks that the promises of PM Erdoðan and government officials have produced no recovery in the area. Aydýnlý says that “The life in Van began to go worse and worse as of the end of the first week. People were sending aid materials from all parts of the country but we don’t know to whom those materials were given. Those who have close relations with the Governor or a member of the AKP were the first ones to benefit from these materials which were kept under the control of police and gendarmerie. You are abandoned to your fate if you don’t have such connections with authorities. Besides, the media acted in accordance with this process.”
Aydýnlý tells the followings as to the discrimination made against earthquake victims; “I am trying to survive in a two square meter tent with my wife and six children. Yes, prefabricated houses have been built but the relatives and friends of government officials have been settled in all of them. Thousands of poor people like me myself are getting closer to death day by day. I have spoken to Turkish channels at least ten times so far but none of them has broadcast my expressions. They don’t reflect the truths we tell.”
