Scandalous grievance in the earthquake zone: Earthquake insurance money paid to survivor is being demanded back

In the 11 cities that sustained heavy damage in the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, the housing and reserve area problems of earthquake survivors continue. In Adıyaman, the Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool (TCIP) deemed the compensation given to an earthquake survivor to be excessive and demanded back more than half of it. In Hatay, a building with minor damage was demolished without notifying its owner.

In Adıyaman, an earthquake survivor whose insured house sustained moderate damage received compensation from the Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool (TCIP) following the earthquake. Later, following appeals made to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change regarding the first damage assessment level, the damage ratio of the building was changed, and it was stated that the building had lower damage.

According to İlayda Kaya from BirGün, the TCIP sent a letter to the citizen stating that it had made an overpayment and demanded the return of a large portion of the payment it had made. 

'EXCESS AMOUNT HAS BEEN DEPOSITED'

In the official document sent by the institution, it was stated that repayment must be made within 30 days, and it was said: "The amount paid to you as a result of the initial damage assessment of the residence is 214,286.80 TL. The amount that should have been paid to you with the damage assessment made as a result of the objection is 32,799.00 TL. The overpayment amount is 181,487.80 TL. Our insured parties to whom we made excess damage payments according to the first assessment have begun to return the excess damage payment amounts they received according to the new assessment. In this direction, the amount of 181,487.80 TL, which was overpaid to you according to your damage status finalized as a result of the objections presented in detail above, must be deposited into our institution's specified bank account number."

'THEY DEMOLISHED THE BUILDING WITHOUT A JUSTIFIED DECISION'

While the demolition of buildings damaged in the earthquake continues, the housing problem of earthquake survivors is deepening. A building in the Armutlu neighborhood of Hatay's Defne district sustained minor damage in the February 6 earthquakes. After the building owner made applications, the earthquake survivor was informed that no demolition would take place. Last Sunday, however, the earthquake survivor passing near the building saw that the structure had been demolished. The earthquake survivor reacted to the demolition of their building without being notified, stating, "I had objected to the demolition and it had been accepted. There is no core sample, there is no justified decision; they came with a piece of paper and demolished it. The value placed on my apartments is also unacceptable. They have valued my 12 apartments between 1 million TL and 1 million 400 thousand TL. It is a building with minor damage. After my objection, it was demolished without a second notification arriving. This is an injustice."

Stating that they also did not benefit from rent assistance, the citizen noted, "I have been victimized in every respect. I am confused as to who we will go to, who we will apply to. The people of Hatay cannot even find anyone to talk to."

A complaint filed by CHP Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal to the Ombudsman Institution regarding the seizure of agricultural subsidies of farmers in Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır, where buildings were destroyed in the earthquake, was evaluated. The institution stated that farmers were prevented from engaging in production and decided to recommend that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry make an exceptional regulation in favor of the farmers.

News Source: 12punto