April 30, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Erdogan needs concrete measures

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is under fire, and accusations are increasingly heard of the insufficiency of his actions in organizing rescue operations.

Visiting the affected areas, the Turkish president confidently declares: “Turkey will quickly overcome the consequences of the earthquake.” However, criticism is already falling on him and other senior officials, which intensifies over time – for insufficient efforts to organize rescue operations and distribute assistance to the victims. Erdogan admitted “some mistakes” of the authorities and promises full support:

“While the damage is being assessed, at this transitional moment, we will allocate economic assistance in the amount of 10,000 lira ($530) to our citizens. With this support, we want to alleviate their situation at least a little.”

The President calls on fellow citizens for unity and solidarity in the face of disaster, but the survivors demand from him more effective and concrete measures.

Many left without a roof over their heads are forced to spend the night in the open. In some areas, debris removal has not yet begun. The injured woman is outraged:

“We support all these efforts. But I’m not a crane, I can’t lift these concrete blocks. I’m a mother, my heart can’t bear so much pain. But no one listens. Where is the army? Where is the state? Where is unity? Where is solidarity? “.

Huge casualties and destruction forced to speak loudly about corruption. People are sure that because of it, in earthquake-prone areas, both new buildings that did not meet the standards were built, and already standing houses erected with violations were ignored.

The total number of victims of a powerful earthquake that occurred on Monday in the south-east of Turkey and in northern Syria, exceeded 20 thousand people. Thousands of buildings lie in ruins, tens of thousands of families are left homeless. The rescue operation continues, but there is less and less hope of finding survivors under the rubble. Turkish Ministry of Emergency reported on Thursday evening that the country’s death toll had reached 17,134, while Syria recorded at least 3,162 deaths.



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