Nagehan Alçı comments on earthquake survivors in containers: 'The state cannot provide forever'
Journalist Nagehan Alçı, in impressions shared on her social media account following a visit to the earthquake zone, commented on a sense of "complacency" among earthquake survivors living in container cities.
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Stating that she was in the region for YouTube filming, Alçı claimed that the electricity, water, heating, and food aid provided by the state in container cities have created a habit among some citizens. In her post, Alçı made the following claims:
"Unfortunately, a sense of complacency has emerged among earthquake survivors in the region. Due to the facilities in container cities, the reflex to spend money has disappeared in some survivors. Because they do not want to cover expenses such as electricity and heating, some citizens who have been granted the right to a home and have had their houses delivered continue to live in container conditions rather than moving into their sturdy homes."
Arguing that citizens have "lost the reflex to spend money" due to the free facilities provided by the state, Alçı stated, "No one should take offense, but the state cannot provide everything forever." The expressions used by Alçı sparked reactions on social media.
"NOT FAIR"
Describing the demand for housing from the state by earthquake survivors who were tenants as an "economic burden" and "injustice," Alçı argued that rents for new housing in the region are very affordable compared to major cities. Alçı assessed, "Rents for apartments that would cost at least 50 thousand in Istanbul are in the 8-9 thousand band here. It is not fair for the state to provide houses to tenants; justice and equality are not the same thing."