Earthquakes in Turkey: in Adıyaman, Erdogan asks “forgiveness” for the shortcomings of the State

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and, alongside him, the leader of the nationalist MHP party Devlet Bahçeli, pose with members of the rescue team at the Afad coordination center in Adıyaman, this Monday, February 27, 2023. AFP - HAND OUT

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Three weeks after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated south-eastern Turkey and killed more than 44,000 people in the country, it is time to take stock.

Highly criticized for their lack of efficiency in relief and aid interventions, the Turkish authorities are called to account.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was visiting the city of Adıyaman, one of the worst affected provinces.

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With our correspondent in Istanbul, 

Céline Pierre-Magnani

Faced with the anger of the population, the President of the Turkish Republic, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, chose to apologize to the inhabitants of the city of Adıyaman, very affected by the destruction.

The help had arrived late on the spot, to the point that the population accuses the State of having abandoned it.

Erdogan's visit to the region is an attempt to heal the wounds.

“ 

Unfortunately,

conceded the President,

due to the devastating effect of the tremors, adverse weather conditions and damage to road infrastructure, we could not work the way we wanted in Adıyaman during the first days.

I apologize for this.

We are fully aware of this.

Let everyone be assured of the fact that we are currently doing and will do everything in our power. 

»

This statement comes as the Turkish Red Crescent, Kızılay, is at the heart of a scandal.

The charity has indeed sold tents on the third day of the earthquake to the NGO Ahbap, for nearly 2.3 million euros.

Distrust is growing a little more against the Turkish authorities, while the presidential and legislative elections scheduled for May 14 are for the time being maintained.

► To read also: Earthquakes in Turkey: a new aftershock of magnitude 5.6 in the province of Malatya

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  • Turkey

  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  • Earthquake

  • Natural disasters