Neighbourhoods and streets in Hatay province, which has the highest death toll from the 6 February earthquakes, have a story. Armutlu is a neighbourhood that has welcomed revolutionaries and their actions throughout its history.

ANF interviewed earthquake survivor and volunteer İbrahim Kavasoğlu, who grew up in the Armutlu neighbourhood, about the neighbourhood’s streets and the effects of the earthquake. Kavasoğlu, walking on the busiest street of Armutlu during the interview, said: “These streets have a spirit, the state has been trying to destroy it for years. Policemen killed Abdullah (Cömert) in this street, and then Ahmet (Atakan) not far away. We organized marches every day from where Ahmet was killed to where Abdullah was shot. The blood of many revolutionaries was spilt on this street. We know that the state wants to destroy the spirit of this neighbourhood, but we will do our best to protect the spirit of this neighbourhood.”

NEIGHBOURHOOD IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF THE STATE

Kavasoğlu pointed out that the Armutlu neighbourhood was already in the crosshairs of the state before the earthquake because of its revolutionary legacy. He continued: “In the first days of the earthquake, we tried to rescue those trapped under the rubble by our own efforts, while the state did not come to help the quake-hit areas on purpose. There are still bodies under some of the rubble. No search and rescue is carried out to pull them out. We know that they will directly destroy the bodies while dealing with the debris. That's why we don't leave our streets. At least, we want to pull the bodies out in one piece and bury them to make sure that families do not suffer any more. Relatives of dead people are still waiting for the removal of bodies from the debris. As you can see, there is no search and rescue work here. They just clean the streets. They pave the way, and they leave. They need more to kill the spirit of the neighbourhood. Residents of the neighbourhood are not leaving here, they will stay.”

PEOPLE REMAIN UNDER THE RUBBLE

Kavasoğlu stopped suddenly as we entered another street, stating that some of his family members were residing on that very street. He said: “This is the street where my aunts lived. We have no idea how they got out. The buildings are almost destroyed. This is one of the streets where I spent my childhood. Now, we are looking for the bodies of our childhood friends. We can't do anything even now. Entrance is not allowed. In the next street, there is the building where our relatives and uncles lived. We have no contact with them. We don't even know if they survived. There are still corpses under the rubble. We have no idea how to get through, but we must revive the spirit of this neighbourhood.”