Türkiye is “working hard” to rebuild its southern provinces hit by highly effective earthquakes final month and to heal victims’ wounds, the nation’s communications director stated on Monday.
“We are working hard to rebuild and improve all 11 provinces. Our state did not abandon its citizens in Van, Elazığ or İzmir in the past. We will also stand with our brothers and sisters that were hurt by the ‘disaster of the century’,” Fahrettin Altun stated on the closing session of a panel in Brussels.
“In this sense, we heal the wounds and reverse the damage to the region’s economic life, demographics, culture, historical heritage and environment,” Altun added on the occasion, titled “Solidarity to Overcome Disaster” and arranged by the European Parliament.
On Feb. 6, the magnitude 7.7 and seven.6 quakes struck 11 provinces — Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Hatay, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa, and claimed the lives of greater than 48,445 folks.
More than 13.5 million folks in Türkiye have been affected by the devastating quakes, in addition to many others in northern Syria.
Stressing that Türkiye was going by means of a “difficult period,” Altun stated that although the earthquakes had been centered in Kahramanmaraş, all of Türkiye was shaken.
“But even people with no ties to the region were deeply wounded. Despite the weight of this burden and the difficulty of this test, the Turkish state and people got back on their feet together,” he stated.
With all its establishments and below the coordination of its catastrophe administration company AFAD, Türkiye launched rescue efforts and started addressing primary wants like meals and shelter, added Altun.
“At the same time, our friends abroad — including many European governments — answered Türkiye’s call. They made cash and in-kind donations as well as deployed their search-and-rescue teams to save many lives.”
The senior official underlined that it’s amongst Türkiye’s priorities to construct protected and everlasting housing models for the survivors and to ship these to them inside a yr because the nation focuses on making ready for future disasters, together with in Istanbul.
“As Our President (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan) said: ‘We are determined to make Türkiye the best prepared and most rapidly responding country in the world — with common reason, common conscience, common morals, and a common vision’,” he added.
INTERNATIONAL AID
Altun voiced appreciation to nations and folks that stood with Türkiye on this troublesome time.
“Many international locations despatched rescue staff to Türkiye. They made money and in-kind donations. They construct area hospitals and cellular kitchens. Senior officers from many international locations provided their condolences by telephone or in particular person.
“They visited our embassies to leave messages. Some countries hosted telethons to raise funds for earthquake relief. There is a beautiful Turkish proverb: ‘A true friend makes themselves known in difficult times’,” he added.
Pandemics, wars, and disasters have international impacts and a brand new mannequin of worldwide cooperation ought to be developed to cease them and heal the injuries, Altun harassed.
On an upcoming worldwide EU donors’ convention in Brussels, Altun stated: “We attach great importance to the upcoming donor conference by the European Commission. This event shall highlight the European states’ support to Türkiye and raise funds for long-term projects for earthquake survivors.”
On March 20, the European Commission and the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU will host the convention to assist the folks in Türkiye and Syria affected by the current devastating earthquakes.
‘DISINFORMATION THREATENS PEOPLE’S LIVES’
Altun stated Türkiye had accredited 1,400 worldwide media representatives to make sure that they might function safely and comfortably after the earthquakes.
He added that the Communications Directorate revealed bulletins to fight disinformation on social media platforms and responded on to faux news.
Turkish parliament handed a regulation to fight disinformation, Altun famous, stressing that many international locations got here to see disinformation as a “major threat” in recent times.
“We have been making an attempt to cease the systematic dissemination of pretend news on social media. At the time, some folks criticized Türkiye by hiding behind freedom of expression.
“Particularly, our European friends criticized Türkiye over a vital issue like the fight against disinformation but took very similar precautions themselves. Naturally, that raised some questions. After the earthquakes, however, it became clear that disinformation threatens people’s lives and property, not just state security,” Altun stated.
International social media firms, significantly Twitter, had some shortcomings at first, Altun stated, including that Türkiye had not obtained sufficient assist from that platform initially.
“But, after some meetings, the company began to pay attention to disinformation. We are now working closely with Twitter,” he stated.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
