“We will provide both material and emotional support for each and every one of our citizens”

 

Speaking following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President Erdoğan, as regards the ongoing relief efforts in the earthquake zone, said: “Just as we erased the destruction’s traces and delivered new residences to their owners in a short span of time following past disasters, we will do the same this time around as well. We will provide both material and emotional support for each and every one of our citizens, and will make sure that aid and housing efforts continue in an orderly manner.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the AFAD headquarters in Ankara.

“Our goal is to complete the construction of high-quality and safe buildings within a year enough to meet the housing needs in the entire earthquake zone. In the meantime, we are planning to meet the temporary housing needs of earthquake victims by making use of our country’s all means and resources including tents, containers, prefabricated structures, dormitories, hotel rooms and public guesthouses assigned for this purpose, and rented houses in other provinces. I want our citizens in the earthquake zone to be patient for a year,” the President said.

“WE WILL FULLY COMPENSATE FOR THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY THE EARTHQUAKE”

President Erdoğan pointed out: “We will inshallah fully compensate for the destruction caused by the earthquake, with the houses we will either reconstruct in their current locations or build in other suitable areas, depending on the analyses to be made. Just as we erased the destruction’s traces and delivered new residences to their owners in a short span of time following past disasters such as the Van, Elazığ, Malayta, İzmir and Bingöl earthquakes, the Kastamonu, Bartın, Sinop and Giresun floods, and the Antalya and Muğla fires, we will do the same this time around as well. We will provide both material and emotional support for each and every one of our citizens, and will make sure that aid and housing efforts continue in an orderly manner.”

“I want my citizens in the earthquake zone to be diligent about every aspect of their lives including their provinces, districts, neighborhoods, homes and businesses. We will alleviate the sufferings, heal the wounds, and compensate for the losses resulting from this disaster without giving into fatigue and desperation,” President Erdoğan stated.  

President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “In this regard, we have already announced that we will offer TL15,000 for moving expenses and between TL2,000 and TL5,000 in rent aid for every house that has become non-inhabitable, as well as TL10,000 support for every household in the initial phase. We also cover the fuel expenses of those who transfer their families to the provinces outside the earthquake zone by their own vehicles. In addition, we provide TL100,000 in-cash aid to the relatives of citizens who have lost their lives in the earthquake for their urgent needs. We will provide additional support to our citizens in accordance with the needs that might arise in the upcoming days. Joining forces as the state and the nation, we will leave no victim behind.”