Stories of grief and hope from Turkey's earthquake survivors one year on
There are family members who now bear the scars of irreplaceable losses. Some shared their tales of that fateful day, while others choked up and walked way mid-interview as they recounted the number of family members they lost.
TURKEY - Arriving in Malatya, here under the cloak of night, there was this sense of stillness in the air that accompanied the cold, crisp weather.
On the bus ride from the airport to the hotel, there were little to no street lights that are typically dotted along the highways of a city.
We would journey through a highway sandwiched between vast landscapes of empty land shrouded in darkness before signs of civilisation emerged. Little by little, we spotted petrol stations, automotive centres, restaurants, hotels and more.
The dual earthquakes which struck Malatya and 10 other provinces in southeastern Turkey last year, have left scars on the physical landscape.
Thankfully, some parts of the province were not heavily damaged.
I, along with other press members from international media outlets were flown to the beautiful town of Malatya and then Adiyaman to visit the areas affected by the earthquake, as part of its one-year anniversary post tragedy.
As I woke up during sunrise the next morning in Malatya, it unveiled beautiful snow-capped mountains which made for a stunning backdrop to a village nestled at its base.
Beyond admiring nature’s beauty, I couldn’t help but wonder what the residents of that village went through during those terrifying moments of facing the wrath of Mother Nature.
STORIES OF GRIEF AND SURVIVAL
We made our way to visit the earthquake victims in both Malatya and Adiyaman provinces, who were temporarily placed in container cities as they await their new, permanent homes.
Its president Tayyip Erdogan promised to deliver 319,000 homes to residents within a year after the earthquake.
Along the way, we could see sights of cranes and scaffolding at ongoing construction sites as the engineers of TOKI, Turkey’s government-backed housing agency worked hard to build new homes.
The air was cold and dusty, but that was tampered down with the warmth of the people in these makeshift community shelters.
Despite having gone through a traumatic episode that altered the course of their lives forever, they were still able to smile.
There are family members who now bear the scars of irreplaceable losses. Some shared their tales of that fateful day, while others choked up and walked way mid-interview as they recounted the number of family members they lost.
A woman named Melek Celebi was seen alone, roaming around the compounds of a container city.
Tears welled in Celebi’s eyes as she spoke of the family members she lost. The interview did not last very long as she struggled to put into words of what happened that day.
“I lost my family members that day. There were too many of them that I lost, more than I could count,” she said.
Moments later, she declined to continue with the interview and walked away.
Another woman who only wanted to be known as Emine, currently lives in a container with four children. At the time of the unfortunate event, she was two months pregnant.
Despite living in a small container with four young children, Emine expressed her gratitude for being able to have a roof over her head.
She was lucky to escape the building at the time of the earthquake. To show the resilience of these victims, Emine said after the earthquake stopped, she and her family stepped out on the streets to make dua. They prayed and prayed.
“I still live in fear to this day as earthquakes still happen. But what’s important is that we have each other to lean on to. I am eagerly waiting to move into a new home,” she said.
Esengul Kilic is a medical professional who was working in a hospital when the earthquake occurred. Unfortunately, the building collapsed but she managed to make her way out before it crumbled.
“Right now, I work in temporary healthcare centres in container cities. The fear is still there, as we are still experiencing earthquakes every now and then.
“We lost so many beloved ones. My friends lost so many relatives. That’s the saddest and most challenging part of this traumatic experience,” she said.
Typically, these container cities have facilities such as social centres, makeshift classrooms for students to have access to education, playgrounds and more.
Beyond the steel structures and makeshift homes, best believe you will meet with a heartening sight- as the children will greet you with innocent smiles.
It is these simple acts of children waving and smiling that provided a reminder that even in the midst of hardship, they were determined to find joy.
When I engaged with the community, we were gently reminded not to ask the children about the earthquake, as the traumatic memories were still etched into their young minds.
I suppose, the laughter and playfulness I observed were not only expressions of resilience but it was their coping mechanisms.
If you ever get to make your way to these communities, be ready for heartwarming smiles and curious eyes as they do not normally meet foreigners.
Amidst the exchange of greetings and laughter, the children surprised me with a heartfelt request that caught me off guard – they asked for signatures and selfies!
In their hands, they held papers and pens to collect mementos from visitors who crossed their paths.
Let’s pray that these kids, along with their families will be able to move into their new homes, where they can flourish and thrive once again.
