“I’m in a worse position than a dog.”
On the afternoon of the 12th (local time), the 6th day after the earthquake, Kadir Masharan (20), whom I met in front of a gas station in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, told the reporter, “I have been waiting for 7 hours since 6:00 in the morning, but it is still a long way away.” said. He, who has been living in a car with his family for the sixth day after evacuating from home, said, “I want to let my mother, who is suffering from a herniated disc, rest for a while in a warm place.” If he fails to refuel today, he will have to sleep shivering in sub-zero weather.
Behind Masharan, a queue of cars waiting for fuel continued for over 1km. In Adiyaman, with a population of 200,000, this is the only gas station where you can refuel. The two young men, who were waiting for their turn in front of Masharan, had a fist fight, saying “I am first,” but were stopped by a soldier and pushed out of line. Marsharan said, “The most frustrating thing is that I don’t know how long I will have to live like this.”
In Adiamya, where the earthquake struck, the survivors struggle as the missing people continue to be rescued. Displaced people slept in a tent village without a toilet in the cold weather, and those who could not even find a relief tent were struggling to survive every day to fill their cars with gas.
In a tent village where 800 victims were living, 10 people each stayed in tents less than 33 square meters (10 pyeong). Hakan Turgut (30), who lives in the same tent with a family raising a two-year-old child, said, “We survived the earthquake and even got a tent.” . Aisun Altai (22) said, “There are no toilets, so people are using the toilets at gas stations 15 minutes away.”
On this day, at the entrance of Adiyaman, a queue of cars was lined up for more than 2 km waiting to receive tents from the Turkiye Disaster Management Authority (AFAD). Ishmael (63), whom I met at the head of the procession, had been waiting for three days. When a reporter interviewed him, an AFAD official suddenly approached and stopped him. Ismael said, “(AFAD) has not yet said when they will give the tent. When foreigners came, people came out only then,” he burst into anger.
Fatma (50), who has been living with her family of five in a mid-sized car, said, “Two children are still under the rubble. No matter how cold and hard it is, you have to stay in the car. I can’t leave the city,” she cried. Adem Chakmak (43), who made a tent for the family to stay in with blankets and tree branches, said, “My three-year-old daughter has trouble sleeping at night due to the trauma of the earthquake. I think she will find stability only when she finds a comfortable place to live.”
Tired of the shock of the earthquake and the poor government response, people fought. At a rescue site on the 11th, a family rushed after hearing the news of the discovery of survivors and rushed at the soldiers blocking access. The family of the missing person did not let go of the soldier’s collar even though he was hit on the head by the soldiers and was bleeding. Citizens watching this scene shouted at the soldiers, and additional troops were put in, raising tension.
A few hours later, a middle-aged couple was rescued from the site 128 hours after the earthquake. The three children found together were recovered as bodies. Citizens who had clicked their tongues whenever the body was brought out cheered and applauded when the father, who was the last to come out, waved. Rescuers from Pakistan and Vietnam rescued a 17-year-old teenager in 138 hours.
Fatih Yu-ran (32), a volunteer from the NGO Samarkand who met at the rescue site, said, “In the first two days, people pouring onto the road were in a state of ‘chaos’ where they were afraid and did not trust anyone. There is,” he said. University student volunteer Ferdi Guller (25) said, “This earthquake will leave a serious trauma, but I believe that Turkiye will overcome it.”
Adiyaman =
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.