Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the earthquake-hit region of Elazig and Malatya provinces over the weekend amid widespread criticism of the government’s response to the earthquake. Erdogan was accompanied by several ministers and promised to rebuild houses destroyed by the disaster.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake, which struck the two provinces on Friday, resulted in the deaths of 11,000 people and the displacement of thousands more. It was the deadliest earthquake in the country in over a century.
Despite the fact that Erdogan declared three days of national mourning, his visit was met with criticism from the opposition, which accused the government of neglecting the plight of the city’s residents. Some people took to the streets to express their anger, chanting “down with the government” and “we’re hungry, we’re exhausted, and you do nothing.”
The government has come under fire for its handling of the disaster and its slow response to the earthquake. Many have accused the government of not doing enough to help the victims and of failing to provide adequate relief and aid. There have also been reports of looting and people being unable to access basic needs such as food and water.
The slow response of the government has been especially criticized by the opposition, who have pointed out that it took several hours before Erdogan visited the disaster area, while other countries such as France and the United States had already sent aid.
The criticism of the government extended beyond its response to the disaster. Erdogan’s visit to the region was seen as an attempt to boost his own political support ahead of the 2023 elections. Critics say the government is using the disaster as an opportunity to score political points rather than focusing on the needs of those affected.
The earthquake has highlighted the government’s lack of preparedness and raised questions about its ability to manage a disaster. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to the disaster and if it will be able to rebuild the affected areas.