Problems persist in Turkey’s container cities 1.5 years after quakes

Fatma Keber / Gazete Duvar

Residents of the Vartana Temporary Living Area established for earthquake survivors in eastern Turkey’s Adıyaman province struggle in poor living conditions, with access to clean water still an issue over 1.5 years after the disaster.

Gazete Duvar reached out to survivors living in the temporary living unit, which houses 2,700 prefabricated homes in the central district. The survivors recently protested the long-standing and unresolved water issue by blocking traffic on Besni Road.

The survivors reported that the drinking water provided to them was unhygienic, containing worms, larvae, and frog larvae. They were also afraid to drink the tap water they used as drinking water due to its contamination. 

An anonymous survivor recounted, "Yellow water comes from the taps. It invites disease. We've seen insects in our water; it's not drinkable. It tastes and smells bad when we brush our teeth with it. So we have to carry water from another neighborhood."

Despite applying to various places, including the Presidential Communications Center CİMER, the problem remained unsolved, according to the survivor who said, "We long for a glass of clean water," and called for a solution. When asked about the allegations of waterborne diseases, Adıyaman Medical Chamber President Associate Professor Erdal Yavuz Vartan confirmed previous reports of illness.

Vartan noted that complaints about water cuts had recently increased and warned those in the container city not to drink the tap water for their health, "Please do not consume tap water, not even to rinse your mouth. Do not use it for cooking. We have said this before and are repeating the warning." He added that they had spoken with officials in response to health complaints, who said they were renewing the infrastructure to address these issues. Vartan reiterated, "These waters should only be used for washing hands, face, and toilets."

Another survivor claimed that many people had health problems due to the water, "We have had serious issues with the water. It is not drinkable; we only use it for washing dishes and toilets. They even stopped providing that. We've seen all kinds of things in the water, like insects. The water smelled even when I bathed the children. They denied us clean water."

A survivor said a messaging group was formed to inform them about water cuts, but when they complained, they were blamed. "They scold us, saying we use the water poorly and cause others to suffer. They even used God's water against us."

The survivor mentioned that many people became sick from using the water and that a water purification device brought to them did not clean the water and was put back in the box after a few attempts. Expressing concern for their children's health, the survivor said, "Our neighbor has a car, and he kindly brings water from the center or other places every three days, filling 10-15 bottles. Sometimes we have to buy it."

Another survivor stated that the water problem had always existed but reached a crisis level in recent weeks. "Now we get water for two hours a day, and we're fed up. We already live under difficult conditions in 27-square-meter containers, and the water issue is really tough. We were victims of the earthquake, and we are still suffering."

The survivor described finding insects in the tap water and added, "We saw many things; they had untrained workers doing the spraying. We started bringing our water from outside. We are living in a real disgrace. I wish you could see the water purification places. When we report it, they don't let anyone from outside in because the tanks are full of insects. They are not cleaned; there may be up to 10 centimeters of accumulated soil and moss inside."

Duvar’s attempts to reach the municipality for comments went unanswered.

The 7.7 and 7.8-magnitude earthquakes of Feb. 6 shook 11 provinces in Turkey's east and southeast. Official figures put the death toll at 8,387 whereas 17,500 were injured in Adıyaman. Over 5,000 buildings were damaged in the province. The total death toll was 53,537, with 107,213 injuries, and 38,901 destroyed buildings.

(English version by Ayşenaz Toptaş)