Statement from İzmir Metropolitan Municipality regarding the homeless man who passed away

58-year-old Adnan Kale, who lived on the streets and was filmed yesterday by a citizen in İzmir's Buca district while asking for help, saying, "I am disabled and have nowhere to go. My brother is a doctor," was found dead this morning. Following Kale's death, the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality issued a statement regarding allegations that it did not provide assistance to the deceased man.

The statement included the following remarks:

“Our teams affiliated with the Department of Social Services went to the location of our disabled citizen on 19.11.2023 following a report. The individual was brought to the Müyesser Tufan Temporary Men's Guest House affiliated with the Metropolitan Municipality. In order for him to receive the most appropriate care due to his disability, we contacted the Disability Services Unit of the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, and his placement in the TOREN Disability Care Center was ensured on 27.11.2023 within the scope of circular number 2022/06. Our disabled citizen later left the institution of his own volition due to alcohol dependency and was not the subject of any reports other than the news that appeared on social media yesterday. We went to the specified address on 14.12.2024, but received information that the citizen had passed away. Our Müyesser Turfan Temporary Men's Guest House currently continues to provide services to 72 homeless citizens.”