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Following the February 6 earthquake in southern Turkey and Syria, hundreds of thousands of survivors sought shelter in the nearby Turkish city of Mersin. As Henry Ridgwell reports, the city authorities say they desperately need more help to cope with the influx.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
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((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TURKEY QUAKE MERSIN SURVIVORS
HEADLINE: Turkish City Pleads for Help as 400,000 Earthquake Survivors Seek Shelter
TEASER: Mersin mayor asks Ankara for extra help as locals complain of soaring prices
PUBLISHED AT: 04/14/2023 at 2:32p
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR: Memet Aksakal
DATELINE: London
VIDEOGRAPHER: Memet Aksakal
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Steve Hirsch, wpm
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:39
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Following the February 6 earthquake in southern Turkey and Syria, hundreds of thousands of survivors sought shelter in the nearby Turkish city of Mersin. As Henry Ridgwell reports, the city authorities say they desperately need more help to cope with the influx.]]
((NARRATOR))
When a devastating earthquake struck southern Turkey and Syria on February 6, the Turkish city of Mersin was spared any damage. But the city is now struggling to cope with the aftermath.
Mersin’s mayor says at least 400,000 people have arrived in the city since the earthquake.
Some have been given shelter at the city’s exhibition hall. Yasar Batman and his family fled the devastated city of Antakya.
((Yasar Batman, Earthquake Survivor (in Turkish) ))
“Thank God, they are taking care of us here, they try to make up for what we lack as much as they can. Mersin municipality provides us with bread and food in the best way they can. I hope they will build a house for us as soon as possible and we can go to our home city as soon as we can.”
Abdurrahim Bal also fled Antakya.
((Abdurrahim Bal, Earthquake Survivor (in Turkish) ))
“We asked for a tent and other things while we were there in Antakya but, so far, we did not receive any tents. If they give us one, we will go there. The life is difficult there, even if you live in a tent, it is raining and there are storms.”
((NARRATOR))
The influx of survivors is causing problems in Mersin. Local officials say house prices and rents have increased by 200% – while basic services like the health system and water supply are under pressure.
Residents say prices were already high due to the influx of refugees fleeing the war in Syria.
((Ayten Demirezer, Mersin Resident (in Turkish) ))
“A few years ago, life was easier. Rents were lower, shopping was cheaper. After Syrians came here, the rents went up and the prices doubled. After the earthquake, it went up even more.”
((Kalender Demirezer, Mersin Resident (in Turkish) ))
“It is not possible for this city to support 400,000 people. Still, many of our friends are looking for a house to rent. And now these people came from Hatay province [in the earthquake zone]. Syrian refugees also have rights, they are also human beings. But this city cannot cope with this. We need to support our own people first.”
((NARRATOR))
Mersin is not in the official disaster zone and so does not qualify for emergency government funds. Its mayor has asked for the city to be given “special status" so it can receive extra support.
((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateApril 14, 2023 14:50 EDT
BylineHenry Ridgwell
Brand / Language ServiceUS Agency for Global Media, Voice of America - English