ADIYAMAN - The earthquake victims, who were promised a new house in the earthquake that took place in Şemîzînan district in 2017, have been living in containers for 7 years despite the second earthquake.

 

The earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 on March 2, 2017 in Semîzînan (Samsat) district of Semsûr(Adıyaman) caused great destruction. A year later, on April 24, 2018, the extent of the destruction increased in the district, which was shaken once again. While many people were injured in the earthquakes, where there was no loss of life, thousands of citizens were left homeless. The earthquake victims, who had to live in tents for about a year, have not met their housing needs even though it has been 7 years since the 2017 earthquake.

 

Çiçek village and hamlets Dalasor and Torçik of Şemîzînan district were the places where the most destruction was experienced during the earthquakes. Citizens who have been living in containers for 7 years are still waiting for their housing needs to be met, even after years.

 

EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN LIVING IN CONTAINERS FOR 7 YEARS

 

Stating that their house was damaged in the 2017 earthquake,  Bekir Özelçi, who lives in Dalasor hamlet of Çiçek village, said: “After the earthquake, we had to live in tents for a long time. Then we settled into containers. Afterwards, the state officials came and examined our houses and said that they will build new houses for you. We have been living in containers for 7 years. For this reason, many people had to migrate from the village. Containers are very difficult, especially for the elderly.”

 

HOUSE IN INSTALLMENTS TO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS!

 

Stating that the foundations of the houses were laid before the earthquake, but were stopped due to the earthquake, Özelçi continued: "However, the state will give the houses to the citizens in installments for 20 years, that is, with money. At the same time, there is a water problem in our village for many years.  Our water was completely cut off with the last earthquake and we had to carry water to our homes by tanker; therefore, our request is to build our houses and solve the water problem of the village.”

 

EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS  HAVE TO IMMIGRATE

 

Expressing that their houses were destroyed in the earthquake of 2017 and they had to live in tents for a long time, and then they moved to containers, Abdullah Özelçi said: "We had to move to Semsûr center when no house was built for them. I lost an older brother under the rubble in the center of Semsûr in the last earthquake. Even though 7 years have passed, houses have not been built in the village yet. Before the earthquake, only 5 houses were founded, but that too is now at a standstill. Our house in the city center was heavily damaged due to the earthquake, we currently do not have a house in the village or in the center. Rents have almost tripled, so we have no choice but to come back to the village.”

 

'WE HAVE MANY APPLICATIONS'

 

Stating that he stayed in the tent for 8 months after his house was destroyed in the earthquake, Abuzer Taşkın, from Torçik hamlet of Çiçek village said:  "After 8 months, the state gave us a container. We have been living in a container for about 7 years. We could not get any help in the 8 months we had to stay in the tent. We tried to stand on our own. We worked. Even though it was very difficult to live in containers, we had to come this far. We petitioned the district governor many times, they came to the village and made investigations, but they did nothing. The foundations of the houses began to be laid before the holiday, they say that they will deliver the houses until the Eid al-Adha feast, even though it stops due to the earthquake. I hope that until then, our 6-year-old children learn that people live in houses and not in containers. We also want our houses to be built and delivered to us and our water problem to be solved, we don't want anything from anyone else."

 

MA / Mahmut Altıntaş