Main opposition CHP visits Van quake survivors in hunger strike

VAN – Anadolu Agency

CHP Tunceli deputy Hüseyin Aygün, Istanbul deputy Melda Onur, Bursa deputy Sena Kaleli and Tokat deputy Orhan Düzgün joined Tanrıkulu during the visit to the container cities. AA photo

A delegation from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) visited earthquake survivors in the southeastern province of Van, who are holding a hunger strike to protest the worsening conditions in the container cities ahead of the winter.

“This place must have more humane conditions so that our people can live here during winter,” said CHP deputy leader Sezgin Tanrıkulu, heading the delegation.

Tanrıkulu criticized the cutting of electricity, health and religious services that has been ongoing for over a month, describing it as “not humane.”

“The state has many funds and these can be used for providing electricity to these people,” he said.

“Our citizens have no place to go. TOKİ [Turkey’s mass construction firm] did not allocate an apartment for them, and they do not have any sheltering place inside Van. It’s the government’s duty to provide minimum sheltering conditions for these people,” said Tanrıkulu.

CHP Tunceli deputy Hüseyin Aygün, Istanbul deputy Melda Onur, Bursa deputy Sena Kaleli and Tokat deputy Orhan Düzgün joined Tanrıkulu during the visit to the container cities, to which families moved after two strong earthquakes hit the city on Oct. 23, 2011 and Nov. 9, 2011.