Last year, on February 6, a 04.17 magnitude earthquake occurred in Kahramanmaraş's Pazarcık district at 7,7, and a 13.24 magnitude earthquake occurred in Elbistan district at 7,6. In the disaster of the century that hit Hatay, Osmaniye, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, Kilis, Adana, Malatya and Elazığ as well as Kahramanmaraş, 53 thousand 537 people lost their lives and 107 thousand 213 people were injured. The earthquakes, which directly affected 120 million citizens in an area of 14 thousand square kilometers, caused heavy destruction in 11 provinces, 124 districts, 6 thousand 929 villages and neighborhoods. While national mourning was declared for 7 days throughout the country, a state of emergency was declared in the earthquake region.
LIVES SAVED FROM THE WRAPPLE DROPED TURKEY WITH JOY
Osmangazi Municipality, which took action as soon as it received the news of the disaster, made intense efforts to heal the wounds, alleviate the pain experienced by our citizens who were affected by the earthquake, and alleviate the difficulties experienced, even to some extent. Mobilizing all its resources, Osmangazi Municipality first sent its search and rescue team to the region to help the lives trapped under the rubble cling to life. In addition to the 6 vehicles and the 38-person civil defense unit that set out for search and rescue efforts immediately after the news of the disaster, 440 personnel and 120 vehicles went to the earthquake area and worked to heal the wounds. The search and rescue team brought great joy to the whole of Turkey by saving our lives trapped under the rubble alive. In the post-earthquake period, a coordinated aid campaign was launched for the people of the region and qualified humanitarian aid materials were delivered to the earthquake victims to meet priority needs. Dozens of aid trucks containing unused winter clothes, blankets, diapers, baby food, fuel, stoves, supplies and hygiene materials were sent to the region.
INSTANT SOLUTION TO THE HOUSING NEED IN THE REGION
After the earthquake, Osmangazi Municipality made an effort to meet the shelter need, which is the most basic need for the citizens affected by the earthquake, and met one of the most important needs by delivering tents, beds, stoves and sleeping bags to the earthquake victims. Osmangazi Municipality's catering tents also took their place in the earthquake zone in a short time. The teams supported the earthquake-affected citizens during their difficult times by offering hot meals. Every day, hot meals for 2 thousand people were distributed to earthquake-affected citizens in the safe areas established by municipal teams for earthquake victims. During the month of Ramadan, iftar and sahur meals were served to a total of 4 thousand people every day in Islahiye and Antakya.
OSMANGAZI NEIGHBORHOOD OF 100 HOUSES WAS ESTABLISHED
Osmangazi Municipality established a prefabricated city in İslahiye, one of the districts most affected by the earthquake. 15 households settled in Osmangazi District, built on an area of 100 thousand square meters. The construction of temporary residences, including a mosque, school, playground, public cafeteria and computer classroom, was completed in a short time. The infrastructure works of the prefabricated city, transformer, sewage, waste water and clean water expenses were all carried out by municipal teams. Houses with sinks, kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, toilets, as well as refrigerators, washing machines and armchairs were delivered to earthquake-affected citizens.
HEALTH SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO EARTHQUAKE SUCCESSORS
In the regions affected by the earthquake, factors such as the deterioration of infrastructure and limited access to water and cleaning materials also revealed the risk of epidemic diseases and pest formation. For the health of the citizens, Osmangazi Municipality teams regularly sprayed the surroundings of the tents where the earthquake victims stayed and the garbage containers against pests and rodents that carry infectious diseases. In addition, the team consisting of 1 doctor, 2 laboratory assistants, 1 psychologist, 1 nurse and 1 medical secretary performed health screenings on earthquake victims, especially children staying in temporary accommodation centers and tent cities.
DÜNDAR: “WE TAKEN OUR PLACE IN THE AID CHAIN”
Osmangazi Mayor Mustafa Dündar stated that the feeling of solidarity has reached its highest level in the great pain experienced and said, “We mobilized all our resources for the earthquake region and our earthquake-affected citizens. We worked in every field for the earthquake zone and our earthquake-affected citizens, from search and rescue activities to humanitarian aid. As Osmangazi Municipality, we took our place in the chain of love, unity, solidarity and aid created after the earthquake. We healed our wounds together. On the anniversary of the disaster of the century, our state showed that it stands by our citizens by delivering the houses they need with the services it has provided. May God have mercy on our citizens we lost in the earthquake and I wish a speedy recovery to our injured. "May God not test us with such a disaster again," he said.
