Turkish people welcome people displaced in quakes with open arms

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Hulya Akay, who lost her home in last month's twin earthquakes in Türkiye, takes a quick look at her newly furnished apartment in Istanbul's Bosphorus-facing neighborhood of Uskudar.

“Everything has been given by the people here. They keep on giving and giving even when we don’t ask and need. It feels like home,” Akay gets teary-eyed and sits up straight on a spotless sofa as she speaks to Anadolu.

The Uskudar municipality and locals in Istanbul are helping people displaced by the earthquake by providing them free accommodation and goods after the Feb. 6 earthquakes devastated Türkiye, killing more than 46,000 people and rendering hundreds of thousands homeless.

Around 29 units in the housing complex owned by TOKI, the country's government-backed housing agency, have been reserved for the earthquake-affected families, while larger families are being accommodated in the duplex apartments.

With her husband and three sons, Akay moved into the two-bedroom apartment last week. The municipality said that she can stay in the apartment for at least a year.

The doorbell rings and volunteers hand over a bag of groceries and dairy products including cheese, butter and yoghurt. “They keep on coming everyday many times to ask what we need,” says Akay referring to the residents of nearby areas.

Akay said that before coming to Istanbul, they bought blankets for them to sleep on but were surprised to see the apartment fully furnished and having all appliances and items.

- Help center

The community has established a ‘help center’, a storeroom consisting of supplies and items being bought or donated by people to assist the quake-victims.

An official of the municipality, Saim Ovayurt, who was overseeing the operation said that requirements of the apartments are met to the fullest.

Inside the storeroom, blankets and bedsheets were stacked at one corner, pots and pans and clothes and diapers for children at the other.

“A footballer from France is also helping us to take care of the people,” says Ovayurt.

According to the official, the apartments were going to be put out in the market, but after the earthquake, they decided to use them to accommodate the displaced families.

- The terrifying night

Recalling the night of the first earthquake, Akay recalls that they were woken up by vigorous shaking.

“We gathered as a family. The shaking did not stop in any way. It got faster. It got to the point that it would throw us from wall to wall. It was like a big disaster.”

When it stopped, they tried to go outside. Akay’s apartment was not damaged, but a six-story building behind them, was leaning toward them.

It was a terrifying night, says Akay. "It was raining and there was thunder. The rain was very heavy. Most people had gone outside barefoot and had no jackets to cover themselves.

“We were really confused and in shock. We heard people crying for help,” says Akay.

“We felt the cracking of the buildings, we were only able to get ourselves out of the building to save our life.

"Everyone was asking for help. In that moment, everyone was trying to save themselves."

Her sons also rescued people who were under the rubble.

For a week, her family camped in an open ground, outside her father’s shop. There were 50 families living in the open space, staying together, cooking food and trying to help each other. Her eldest son helped relief trucks in providing aid to nearby villages.

- Hope, optimism, and a future

Despite losing her home, Akay seems optimistic about the future.

“Every winter has a spring,” says Akay quoting part of a Turkish saying which talks of hope in times of distress.

“The trees will grow again. With Allah’s will, we will also stand up…We have hope for the future,” she says, her face breaking into a smile.

“God is great. We can all overcome these tests.”

Planning to go back to her hometown Hatay in the future, Akay says that they will first wait for the area to be cleared and then rebuilt.

“After the Duzce earthquake, we overcame everything and rose again. We will rise again.”

Turkish people like to support each other in times of disaster. In big disasters such as fire and floods previously, the Turkish nation tries to help and support one another. “We experienced it," said Akay.

*Ahmet Salih and Emre Basaran helped with translation of the interviews