CHP Leader Critiques Government’s Earthquake Relief Efforts
On February 6, CHP leader Özgür Özel criticized the Turkish government’s inadequate earthquake relief efforts two years after significant earthquakes devastated southern Türkiye. He highlighted the failure to utilize $40 billion in earthquake taxes effectively for disaster preparedness, the slow pace of rebuilding, and ongoing legal accountability issues for poor construction practices. Özel proposed the appointment of a dedicated minister for disaster readiness to improve coordination across political lines.
On February 6, Özgür Özel, the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), criticized the Turkish government for its insufficient earthquake relief efforts, two years post the devastating earthquakes in southern Türkiye. Speaking in Kahramanmaraş, the epicenter of the quakes, he noted, “They collected $40 billion in earthquake taxes in 21 years. However, they did not take the necessary measures to make cities earthquake resistant.”
Özel further condemned the government’s slow search and rescue operations and the lack of timely rebuilding efforts, stating, “Some 650,000 houses were demolished. They said ‘we will build and deliver them within a year’… Last year, the number of houses delivered today was 18,019 in 11 provinces.” He lamented that only 3 percent of promised housing had been realized, leaving many earthquake victims in tents and temporary shelters.
The CHP leader also highlighted the government’s recent milestone of commemorating the delivery of the 201,000th home while many survivors still face inadequate living conditions. Critically, he remarked on the failure to hold accountable those responsible for poor construction, revealing that authorities had only issued indictments in 1,397 out of 2,031 earthquake-related investigations.
Özel cautioned that Türkiye is ill-prepared for future disasters, particularly in major urban centers. He compared the readiness of Greece, which he claimed was evacuating islands, to Türkiye’s response, stating, “While we are merely watching.” He proposed the establishment of a dedicated minister for earthquake and disaster preparedness to ensure a coordinated, effective response across political parties.
The discussion centers around the earthquake disaster response in Türkiye, particularly following the catastrophic earthquakes that affected southern regions in the past two years. The criticism from CHP leader Özgür Özel highlights perceived governmental negligence regarding disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience. This entails a focus on financial contributions allocated for earthquake safety, the inadequate rebuilding of homes and communities, and the legal accountability of those responsible for substandard urban construction.
In conclusion, Özgür Özel’s critique emphasizes significant shortcomings in Türkiye’s governmental response to the aftermath of devastating earthquakes. His remarks address both the inadequate relief efforts provided to earthquake victims and the ongoing risks posed by unaddressed infrastructure vulnerabilities. Özel’s call for a dedicated minister for disaster preparedness further underscores the urgency needed to enhance the nation’s resilience against future calamities.
Original Source: www.hurriyetdailynews.com
