NGOs launch an aid campaign for flood-hit Van: ‘The damage is enormous’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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While the southern cities of Turkey have been hit by forest fires since July 28, the eastern cities of the country, especially Van and Hakkari, have been ravaged by heavy rainfall and floods since then.

In the successive floods that first hit the districts of Başkale, Özalp and Çaldıran in Van on July 28, several houses in 21 neighborhoods have collapsed and hundreds of animals have lost their lives.

After over 15 houses collapsed and dozens of others became uninhabitable in the Esenyamaç Village in Başkale on July 31, the heavy rainfall that struck the district of İpekyolu on August 3 submerged the houses built by the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ).

In the wake of this flood disaster, an aid campaign has been launched by the Van Labor and Democracy Platform, which comprises the Van Bar Association, Van Medical Chamber, the Van Provincial Coordination Board of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK) Van Branches Platform and the Van Branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD).

60 houses damaged, 15 houses collapsed

Murat Atabay, the Chair of the Education and Science Laborers Union (Eğitim-Sen) Van Branch Chair, has said that they, as a platform, visited Başkale, one of the most severely affected districts.

According to Atabay nearly 60 houses have been damaged and 15 houses have entirely collapsed in the Esenyamaç Village. Atabay has indicated that the damaged houses are in an uninhabitable condition.

Noting that 11 houses have been damaged in the Onikidere hamlet in Esenyamaç, Murat Atabay has said that the tents have been put up in a school garden distant from the village and people are now mostly staying with their relatives or neighbors.

Atabay has underlined that there is an urgent need for dry food, diapers, sanitary pads, underwear and clothes: "The damage is enormous, people are miserable. We expect everyone to help as much as they can."

Takva: Let's do what we can

Necdet Takva, the Chair of the Van Chamber Commerce, which is not a part of the platform, but is supporting the campaign, has also said that "he stayed in Başkale for two days" and that "the situation is no good":

"The construction in the river bed and natural causes led to a flood. In both Başkale and Çaldıran, people have lost their houses and their animals, which were their means of livelihood. Tents have been set up for the ones who have a problem with housing. Some of them have started staying with their relatives. But people need a lot of help.

"We talked to the sub-governor after the first flood in Başkale. We sent 10 tons of water. We will provide food and water support. We also make a call to the businesspeople from Van. People have lost their houses and their animals, their means of livelihood. Let's do what we can."

The list of needs: Dry food, baby food, packaged water, blankets, diapers, sanitary pads, underwear for women and children, children shoes (size 27-38), shoes for women and men, clothes for female and male adults, face masks, gloves, disinfectants, eau de cologne. Contact: +90(432) 214 61 69 - +90(545) 535 06 65

(RT/SD)