Minister Süleyman Soylu: "Entrance to Heavily Damaged Buildings Is Prohibited"
22.02.2023
Minister Süleyman Soylu made statements at the Disaster Coordination Center in Hatay, regarding the earthquakes measuring 6.4 and 5.8 on the Richter scale in Defne, Hatay and then in Samandağ. Informing the public, Soylu reported that 6 citizens have lost their lives and 18 out of 562 citizens were seriously injured.
Stating that after the search and rescue works and the damage assessment on heavily damaged buildings continues, Süleyman Soylu said that citizens can object to the results of this assessment and can demand from the authorities to reevaluate their houses.
"Earthquakes Continue in the Region"
Stating that the buildings decided to be demolished will be demolished by the teams, Minister Süleyman Soylu said that it is strictly forbidden to enter these buildings. Underlining that the earthquake continues in the region, Soylu said that they will not take risks and that they have given instructions to all law enforcement units in accordance with this decision.
Emphasizing that it is also risky to enter heavily damaged buildings, Minister Soylu underlined that, within the framework of their evaluations with the Ministry of Urbanization, it is prohibited to take any belongings from these buildings or to enter for any other reason.
"The Amount of Aid Will be Announced"
Underlining that AFAD and the Ministry of Family and Social Services will work in coordination regarding aid, Minister Soylu said that the amount of the aid will be announced in 3 or 4 days. Minister Soylu stated that they are working on the shipment of the current amount.
"The Stakeholders Will Come Together"
Making a statement about the location and the planning of the city regarding its’ reestablishment, Soylu said that the Minister of Environment and Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum visited all the provinces and held consultations on that matter.
Noting that they made evaluations on each province both with the professors working in the science committee of AFAD and with the professors from other universities for 6 hours yesterday in Gaziantep, Soylu said that the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources also carried out this study with MTA (Mineral Research and Exploration General Directorate).
Stating that the governorships, provincial directorates of environment and urban planning, AFAD directors, mayors, deputies, chambers of industry and commerce, chambers of artisans and opinion leaders will come together in 2-3 days, Soylu emphasized that all evaluations will be compared and a conclusion will be reached.
"The State Will Bring Everyone Responsible for Excessive Prices to Account, But Leave the Rest to Allah”
Underlining that they will hold accountable those who set excessive prices, Süleyman Soylu said that it is completely wrong and evil to undermine people and to take advantage of their grievances. Stressing that they have given the necessary instructions to all governors with this regard, Soylu said that necessary action will be taken against these people. Stating that the relevant NGOs, the chambers of commerce and artisans should also take necessary action towards these people. Soylu said that all chambers and NGOs should detect them and ensure that these people will not be represented or become a member.
" Rapid Rise in the Rents is a Matter of Abuse "
Stating that they gave instructions to relevant authorities to against excessive rents, Soylu stated that the sudden increase in rents is a separate issue of abuse. Stating that the earthquake victims staying in the tent will keep their souls, Soylu stated that those who estimate excessive rents get no change out of this money.
Underlining that the ones who abuse and harm people also harm the unity of the nation, Soylu said that they will shoulder the burden brought by the earthquake together for a year and will enter into a process in which they will rehabilitate and help people who have experienced earthquake trauma.
Regarding the container cities, Soylu stated that people whose houses are destroyed or heavily damaged or are planned to be demolished will be able to live in container cities and then obtain a house from AFAD or houses built by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. He stated that the martyr's relatives are the first beneficiary of the house. The second, third, fourth and fifth priorities regarding ownership are given to people with 6 year old or younger babies, those who are bedridden or seriously ill, to people with disabilities, and to individuals over the age of 65 and seek socioeconomic support, respectively.
Stating that citizens with moderate damage can also benefit from this support if there is available space, Soylu generally listed their order of priority as the house owners, the houses with serious damage, the houses determined to be demolished, the houses with moderate damage, and the tenants.
Stating that they gave 2 thousand Turkish liras rent support to the tenants with the authorization given by President Erdoğan, Soylu said that they also balanced the moving expenses.
Stating that nearly 80 percent of the damage assessment works in the earthquake area have been completed and the number of independent sections has reached 400 thousand, Soylu said that with the completion of damage assessment works, some of the citizens will placed in containers, some will prefer to rent a house and some citizens will be provided with accommodation.
Stating that they wanted citizens to participate in the "Let My Home Be Your Home Campaign" with a desire to help, Soylu stated there are contributions and participation in the campaign and that they will make a comprehensive statement regarding participation.
Expressing that the shelter problem cannot be solved only with containers and tents, Soylu said that Minister Soylu, who asked the beloved nation to support the campaign with their magnanimity and sense of cooperation. Soylu stated that they wish people to continue living in their own cities in order to preserve the demographic structure and integrity of the cities.
Call for Support to the “Let My Home Be Your Home” Campaign
Pointing out the importance of the " Let My Home Be Your Home Campaign " for children and the elderly people, Süleyman Soylu ask citizens to support the campaign and said that the campaign should be considered as a great rehabilitation mechanism to cope with the traumas of the citizens who faced the earthquake.
"All Municipalities Are Under the Order of AFAD"
Stating that some people act with the desire to cause damage by seeking deficiency and failure by sharing with the public, Minister Soylu underlined that the nation needs support and that AFAD, which has coordinated the process from the beginning and gathered all institutions within its body under the presidency of the President Erdoğan, is trying to reach every point in the earthquake zone. Underlining that no other country could resist such an earthquake as well as Türkiye with its nation and the state, Soylu said that the State reaches every point of the country in coordination with helicopters, search and rescue teams, volunteers, NGOs, Red Crescent and AFAD.
Underlining that the state mobilized with all its capacity in the earthquake, which was effective in an area almost three times the size of the Netherlands, from the first minute, Soylu emphasized that the municipalities of people who act with the desire to cause damage and seek deficiencies are also under the command of AFAD. Stating that at the end of the third day of the earthquake, food aid had reached every region, catering services were provided and tent cities were established, Soylu said that 301 thousand tents have been set up under the coordination of AFAD. Noting that the tent shipment continues, Soylu said that all preparations were made for a total of 100 thousand container cities to become active in two months.
"Do not waste our time with lies and slander”
Stating that some opposition newspapers, columnists and people working for various foreign media organs made false claims about the morning of the earthquake, Soylu said: "Do not waste our time with lies and slander”.
Emphasizing that the Türkiye Disaster Response Plan came into effect after the earthquake, and that they declared 4th level alert state, made an international call for help Soylu said that they mobilized all capacity of the state. Minister noted that 99 percent of the notices of robbery in the earthquake area turned out to be groundless.
Stating that teams are continuing to work in 5 debris Soylu stated that after the completion of the works here, the search and rescue and other removal works will end.
