MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Çewlig (Bingöl)- An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 occurred in Çewlig (Bingöl) on June 14, 2020. The earthquake's epicenter was the city’s Karlıova district and affected the villages in Karlıova, Yedisu and Adaklı. 22 houses collapsed and at least 214 houses were seriously damaged. While villages repaired their damaged houses with their own means, the villagers, whose houses collapsed, have been living in containers without electricity and water for two years. The earthquake victims say no promises to them have been kept and they do not know what they will do as winter is approaching.

They are asked money for newly built houses

The earthquake caused financial and psychological damages for 31,487 citizens in the 108 settlements. The politicians promised the earthquake victims that new houses would be built for them; however no promises have been kept although two years have passed. The seriously damaged houses in Yedisu have been pulled down. The people told us that they do not have any place to live in and they are asked money for living in the newly built houses.

While these citizens look for a place to live in, the people living in the Kaynarpınar village of Karlıova have been living in containers for two years. Gülcan Aydın is one of the villagers, whose houses collapsed in the earthquake.

“We have been living in containers for two years”

Gülcan Aydın and her husband were trapped under debris after their house collapsed. After being rescued, they first lived in a tent and then moved to a container. “This region is an earthquake region. Instead of building houses in this region, new houses are built in other regions. We have been waiting for a house to be built for us for years. Now, they tell us that they will give us a house but we have to pay for it. We did not cause this earthquake, it was a natural disaster. We do not have money to pay for the house. The state wants us to live in debt. We are two old people, what will we do in winter? Our children cannot come here, why? Because there is not enough space for them. This container is too small to host more than two persons. We have been trying to live in this condition for years.”

No water

Stating that they do not have water, Gülcan Aydın said, “One of our biggest problems is the lack of water. There is no water. I planted a tree but had to remove it because there is no water in this region. Everyone is aware of the problems faced by us; however, no step is taken for us. When the contractors come here, we tell them that there is no wood here and they say to us, 'If there is no wood, then you will leave here'. We have to live here because we do not have a house.”

“The promises should be kept”

Indicating that the promises have been kept for two years, Gülcan Aydın said, “Everyone sees how we struggle here, the construction company sees what we have faced for two years. We are asked to pay the electric bill. As soon as we were rescued, we were asked to pay the bills. We do not know what to say anymore. They have been building houses for two years. All promises should be kept.”