HDP in flood-hit Van province: Başkale must be declared a disaster area

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The Van Provincial Organization of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) visited the citizens whose houses and barns collapsed due to the flood caused by heavy rainfall in the Esenyamaç (Xaşkan) Neighborhood in Başakale in Turkey's Kurdish-majority eastern province of Van.

Visiting the flood-hit region, HDP MPs Sezai Temelli, Muazzez Orhan Işık and HDP and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) provincial co-chairs and party members met the people affected by the flood.

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), while the delegation was talking to the citizens, another flood happened. Citizens complained that "the efforts were insufficient, which led to another flood."

Orhan: Houses are in an inhabitable state

After examining the neighborhood, the HDP politicians made a statement in the flood-hit area. HDP MP Muazzez Orhan recalled that several houses were damaged in the flood that occured the other day, raising concerns that the related houses were in an inhabitable situation.

Talking about their examination in the neighborhood, she said, "In our observation, [we saw that] the channel is insufficient, it has not been cleaned for 4.5 years and an overflow happened for that reason. People are in a tough situation, the rainfall is constantly ongoing and lives are at risk. We are making a call for the necessary work here as soon as possible."

Temelli: There is not even a tent

Sezai Temelli said that the houses were uninhabitable, but there was not even a tent put up for the people so that they could stay the night:

"None of the services offered to a disaster area in the real sense of the term has been offered here. But there are gendarmerie, village guards, police and security guards around. But there is no one from the institutions that are supposed to help people in case of a natural disaster. The trustee came, showing off. We want this area to be declared a disaster area as soon as possible. We want the aggrievements of the people living in this region be eliminated before it is too late." (RT/SD)