Amid the rising death toll in Turkey after a series of devastating earthquakes, the Turkish leadership is now facing the wrath of helpless and angry citizens in the most-affected regions as they look for basic amenities like food, shelter, water and electricity.
Many of the people displaced by the quakes live in tents and have no access to clean water, food and other necessities as they struggle to get back on their feet. The situation is particularly bad in the southern region of Hatay, where dozens died in the most recent quakes.
The Associated Press spoke with several people who have fled their homes in the region to find safety in tents and to access basic amenities like water, electricity and food. They say that the situation is getting worse and they are beginning to feel abandoned by their government.
They have been protesting against visits by high-profile leaders, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. They accuse them of trying to sway voters in favor of the ruling party ahead of the May election and they say that they have been subjected to constant pressure by the authorities.
Despite their complaints, the government has also tried to encourage those seeking to leave their homes to do so. They have arranged for people to be given temporary shelter at stadiums and schools.
But a recent report by the International Rescue Committee shows that the condition of many refugees is worse than what they were before the earthquakes. Some families are not even getting the water they need, while others are unable to pay for their food and electricity bills.
Residents are angry and frustrated that the government has not been doing enough to help them during the crisis, reports Reuters news agency. They are voicing their discontent in the most visible ways.
Some of them have gone on Twitter and posted pictures of a shattered building in the town of Kahramanmaras. They have criticized the government for its slow response to the crisis and for its lack of equipment and personnel to rescue those in need.
The government has been accused of blocking Twitter access for up to 12 hours to stifle information sharing on the location of those in need and the arrival of aid. The government said that it was targeting false and misleading information.
People are angry because the government has not been providing them with any food, water or other assistance during the quakes and they are upset that their homes were damaged.
They also believe that the country’s leadership has been using money and resources to support their political interests instead of those of the people.
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