‘They say no more goods need to be sent; send whatever you have on hand’ says Turkey’s Interior Minister

Turkey’s Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has made a statement live on TRT Haber, the state channel. Discussing the areas affected by the earthquake, he said, ‘They say no more goods need to be sent. I want to appeal to my beloved people. Send whatever goods you have on hand because there are millions of people here in these regions, and each of them needs food. It’s true that the kitchens are operating, but tomorrow or the next day, the kitchens will have difficulties with supplies.’

Soylu noted that there are currently about 300,000 workers in the disaster zone, and the work is being coordinated by Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). He added that 1,113 trucks have entered Kahramanmaraş so far. On the very first day of the disaster, damaged shops reopened through the intervention of police officers, and food was distributed to the people until help arrived via trucks.

Addressing security issues, Soylu stated, ‘Security issues these days are not just about looting, but also about deceit. Our friends here are sleeping only 2, 3, or 4 hours a day and feel well rested because we all share the responsibility. Perhaps with just one minute difference, a child, a woman, an elderly person, or someone else could be saved.’