Monday’s quakes have killed more than 11,000 people across southern Turkey and northwest Syria. Read more at straitstimes.com.
ISTANBUL - Criticism of Turkey’s earthquake response mounted on Wednesday, with the political opposition and people in the disaster zone accusing the government of a tardy and inadequate relief effort.
“Where is the state? Where have they been for two days? We are begging them. Let us do it, we can get them out,” said Ms Sabiha Alinak, near a snow covered collapsed building where her young relatives were trapped in the city of Malatya. But on Wednesday he accused the government of failing to cooperate with local authorities and weakening non-governmental organisations that could help.
Rescue workers have struggled to reach some of the worst-hit areas, held back by destroyed roads, poor weather and lack of resources and heavy equipment, while some areas are without fuel or electricity.Mr Nasuh Mahruki, founder of a search and rescue group active in response to the 1999 earthquake that killed 17,000, said the army did not act soon enough because Erdogan’s government annulled a protocol enabling it to respond without instruction.
“Now it seems the responsibility is with AFAD , but it is not prepared for such a colossal problem,” Mr Mahruki added.
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