The TJA and the Peace Mothers Council continue their solidarity with the earthquake survivors in Urfa province. The International Women's Day will be marked by expanding solidarity instead of festivities due to the earthquake disaster this year.

The TJA, meeting women in the earthquake-hit cities, draws attention to the importance of women's organized struggle and solidarity. Since the first day of the earthquake, numerous women have been going to the earthquake areas and actively participating in the relief efforts. Women are working to provide shelter, heating, food and beverages to earthquake-affected families, emphasizing the importance of popular solidarity.

'WE WILL REACH EVERYONE'

TJA activist Sema Aişeoğlu who is helping the earthquake victims in Urfa noted that activities to mark March 8 were accompanied by great enthusiasm in the past years. “This year, however, we welcome March 8 amid a great disaster. All the peoples of Turkey have seen how the government left women alone, how the government and the state left victims under the debris with no relief efforts. For this reason, we will stand by women in solidarity in the earthquake-hit areas. As the TJA, we will never leave these areas alone. We will reach all the survivors and we will stand by them,” she said.

Aiseoğlu pointed out that even before the earthquake, women were suppressed by the system, male mentality and violence, and the difficulties experienced by women have increased with the earthquake.

“We are also providing women with their basic needs,” she said, adding that they delivered hygiene items in particular to those in need.

'SURVIVORS HEAL THEIR WOUNDS BY THEMSELVES'

A member of the Urfa Peace Mothers Council, Adalet Çay (63) has been taking part in relief efforts since the first day of the earthquake: “Kurdish residents had to leave their hometown after their houses were destroyed by the earthquake. Cities were destroyed. No one helped them when this disaster happened. The people have pulled their relatives from the rubble by their own means, and they are healing their wounds by themselves.”

“I have been active in relief efforts since the first day of the earthquake. It is meaningful to stand together in difficult times. The survivors get strength from each other,” she noted.

Çay noted that they visited families from the earthquake areas, offering condolences and psychological support. She added that the Kurdish people took care of each other, and called for this solidarity to continue.