GAZİANTEP- Serpil Sungu, who lost her husband, child and mother-in-law in the wreckage of her house destroyed in the earthquake, was told that she needed to show her residence address for rent assistance.

 

In the rural Kerküt (Boğaziçi) Neighborhood of Gaziantep's İslahiye district, where the earthquake caused great destruction, 80 people lost their lives under the rubble. In the neighborhood, whose shelter needs have not yet been fully met, the people continue to heal their wounds. Citizens who continue to live in tents are going through difficult times due to the cold weather.

 

Serpil Sungu, who lost a child, husband and mother-in-law in the earthquake, is trying to heal her wounds with her 7 and 15-year-old children, whom she managed to save alive. Stating that his wife and child's voice came from inside after the earthquake, Sungu said: "My son, wife, sister-in-law, father-in-law and mother-in-law stayed inside. It was my son's voice. My wife shouted from inside, "I'm next to the seats". I said to them, 'don't sleep, talk to each other, I'm going to get help'. It was raining snow. Our neighbors were also in turmoil. Voices were coming from everywhere. There was a constant earthquake. When the sky got bright, my child was saying 'Save me', my son was alive until 10:00, he was calling me, 'Mom, it hurts, save me'. But there was no one. My child froze to death under the rubble."

 

60 PEOPLE LEFT IN 2 TENT

 

Saying that later, her sister-in-law and her father-in-law were dug out of the rubble with the help of her neighbors, Sungu said: "After a day passed, they were able to dig up their bodies with the help of a scoop sent by the villagers and the mine. We stayed in the car for 3 days after the earthquake. After that, 2 tents came. We set up those tents with our own means. There were 60 people in the tent. We were taking turns. When one got up, the other was asleep.”

 

'EVERYTHING IS UNDER THE HOME'

 

Expressing that they were given containers on the 32nd day of the earthquake, Sungu said: "The authorities were told that rent assistance could be given to him only after he showed a place of residence. My two children are alive now. I cannot leave this place. I get support from psychologists who come here with my children. I don't know how I'm going to live in a container with two kids. Everything was under the house. I have nothing. My neighbors say to me, 'Take the visible ones from the wreckage'. But nothing appears for me. I feel bad every time I see this wreck, so I want it removed as soon as possible. I want my children to continue their education. Right now I need everything from needle to thread that I might need in a house. I don't have any income."

 

MA / Delal Akyüz