MELETÎ - Women whose lives were squeezed into container city areas in the earthquake zone said: "There is no electricity, no water, no social life. We are just living, we don't know how long we can live like this."
The effects of the earthquake that occurred in 11 provinces on February 6, 2023, centred in Mereş and affected millions of people, continue. While many of the promises made by the government have not been fulfilled, thousands of people are still struggling to survive in tents or container cities.
The lives of women staying in container cities established in Meletî are compressed into an area of 21 square meters. Women who struggle to survive in plastic-coated containers that allow air and water to pass through, also experience "security" problems. Another problem experienced by women who are left to live in unprotected places with unstable doors is the danger of breaking away from society. Women are squeezed into container cities and their needs are not met. Women have to shoulder tasks such as childcare and cleaning. While women could not access many services in the field of health, they contracted many diseases in the process.
PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE
Women, who came face to face with state institutions after the withdrawal of the people and non-governmental organizations who came to the earthquake region for solidarity in the first period, are experiencing great problems, especially with AFAD officials. Women are subjected to psychological pressure due to the abusive and humiliating attitudes of the officials. They cannot meet their needs by not receiving adequate help.
71 YEAR OLD LIVES IN A CONTAINER
71-year-old Hatun Korkmaz, who lives in the container city area in Meletî, stated that although they live in the container, they still try to throw themselves out when the earthquake occurs, and that the trauma of the earthquake continues.
Stating that they cannot rent due to the increase in house rents, Korkmaz said: “Even tiny 3-room houses start from 10 thousand Liras. We are literally struggling to survive. It's a one-room place. We live as three people."
Stating that they had to visit many places to meet their shelter needs in Meleti after the earthquake, Gönül Korkmaz said: “Our house was slightly damaged, but the owner evicted us after the earthquake. Owner increased the rent from 2 thousand liras to 11 thousand Liras. Then we settled in this container here in the container city. We live here with my children and my husband.”
Korkmaz said: “When you cook in just one pot here, the whole smell permeates the inside. Even that is a disgrace for us. I don't know how long we will live like this. We have an infrastructure problem. Our lives are disrupted due to power outages. We can't go anywhere, we can't leave this place. We had no social or personal life left after the earthquake. We are just living."
MA / Ceylan Şahinli