Özgür Özel in Kahramanmaraş: 'They made earthquake survivors sign blank promissory notes!'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and his delegation are conducting visits in Kahramanmaraş for the second anniversary of the February 6 earthquakes. After attending a memorial program in Adıyaman last night alongside Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya, Özel traveled to Kahramanmaraş. 

Addressing the public there, Özgür Özel targeted the shortcomings left by the government regarding the earthquake. Speaking about the housing project for earthquake survivors, which was one of the government's primary promises during the election period, Özel said, "They have only provided housing to 30 out of 100 earthquake survivors so far. People are being made to sign blank promissory notes." 

Özel stated the following: 

"We came to Elbistan on February 6. We made great efforts, but on the other hand, the ruling party was accused of failing to mobilize the heroic army for 3 days, and it continues to be accused of this. Can criticisms regarding the earthquake be directed at today's government? If it were a 2-year-old government, they could not be directed, but they had been in power for 21 years when the earthquake struck. During their tenure, 3 trillion dollars in taxes were collected. This is an indescribable amount. In 21 years, they only collected 40 billion dollars in earthquake taxes. They issued 8 zoning amnesties that legalized non-resistant structures. In other words, they granted zoning amnesties to those earthquake-vulnerable houses that became graves for many of our citizens. Furthermore, they generated 26 billion liras in revenue from these 8 zoning amnesties, but they did not make the cities earthquake-resistant nor did they take the necessary precautions for the aftermath. 

'THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE HOUSING TO 30 OUT OF 100 EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS SO FAR'

It is necessary to remind everyone of the following; Mr. Erdoğan is in Adıyaman today. Yesterday, I left him some questions and made some suggestions in Adıyaman. Let's see what he will do and what he will say. He comes to the region and says, 'I am filled with the pride of keeping my promise.' It is embarrassing even to hear. The earthquake happened on Monday, February 6. On Wednesday, February 8, Erdoğan took the microphone and said, 'No one should worry.' While people were still under the rubble, while there were no tents, and while municipalities in Turkey were struggling to arrive and set up mobile kitchens, he was unfortunately speaking. He said that day, 'No one should worry. 650 thousand houses were destroyed, we have identified them. We will build and deliver these within 1 year.' He repeated his promise after Friday prayers on February 10. Then, he conducted a major election campaign, explaining that only they had the power to build the houses in the earthquake zone within 1 year, that a new government would not be able to complete these houses due to inexperience, and how skilled they were in construction work. Last year, at this hour, I was in Hatay and the first year had ended. The number of houses delivered across 11 provinces was 18 thousand 19. That is 2.7 percent. Not even 3 percent. At the end of 1 year, the part of the promise kept was 3, and the part not kept was 97. But we were facing a government that won an election 2-3 months after the earthquake based on that promise. After all; look at the high votes received in Kahramanmaraş and Gaziantep. People trusted, believed, and voted. The election passed, 1 year ended; 2.7 percent. Now, today, he claims in his own figures that they have built 201 thousand houses. That means they have provided housing to 30 out of 100 earthquake survivors."