Ibrahim Yılmazcan, the mayor of Pazardzhik elected from the ruling Islamic AKP, who visited the tent cities after the storm, responded to the people’s protest asking, “Where were you after the earthquake?” replied in a threatening and condescending manner: “Who brought these tents? I had it brought. You are staying in the tents I brought. Then don’t stay in the tent if you don’t like it. You’re staying in the tent I brought.”
The epicenter of the February 6th earthquake was in Pazardzhik. The Turkish government, although having tents in its inventory for disasters, withheld the distribution and, instead of sending the tents to the victims, sold them to third-party relief agencies. The same town faced another disaster couple of days ago when heavy storms damaged the tents the victims were able to get long after the earthquake disaster. Ibrahim Yılmazcan, the mayor of Pazardzhik, run by the ruling Islamic party AKP, visited the tent cities after the storm, but he faced a public outcry.
To the people’s question, “Where have you been?” criticizing the government for being AWOL during and after the disaster, he replied, “The state is here. The Turkish Armed Forces are here. Two governors are here.” To another citizen’s question, “Where have you been?”, Yılmazcan replied, “I am here, I am here. Relief agency AFAD’s tents are here. The state is here.”
Another earthquake victim reacted, “No, you are not here,” Repeating the complaint that the Turkish government is unable to help the victims. Yılmazcan said, “If it wasn’t for me, would you be able to stay in these tents?” Another citizen asked, “The state set up these tents. Did you set them up? Did you set up these tents? Did the state set them up? You didn’t come here even once and ask about how people were doing.” Yılmazcan replied, “I am here, uncle.” The citizen said, “We have been disgraced here for 70 days. We are humiliated.” Yılmazcan replied, “Who brought these tents? I had it brought. You are staying in the tents I brought. Then don’t stay in the tent. You’re staying in the tent I brought.”
Yılmazcan said, “The state is here. The state set up 200 tents in two hours. Why don’t you reply to this? I am the elected mayor. I got 18,000 votes.”
In many places hit by one the worst earthquakes in the history of the country, neither the government nor the relief agencies were present, sometimes even for several days or even weeks. The relief agencies are being privatized and are working with secretive religious cults close to the government. Top managers who are tasked with privatizations have no credentials in relief efforts, and nepotism and favors run rampant. Managers appoint themselves to many top positions and draw paychecks from each position within the organization.
Source: ANKA News Agency
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