The delegation included the co-chair of Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Berdan Öztürk, the co-spokesperson of Democratic Congress of Rights (HDK) Sedat Şenoğlu, the co-chair of Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Saliha Aydeniz, HDP Deputies Murat Sarısaç, Muazzez Orhan, Musa Farisoğulları, HDP members, HDP Municipal co-mayors, provincial co-chairs.

 

The delegation visited earthquake victims in the neighborhoods of Başkale where two 5.9 magnitude earthquakes occurred on 19 February.  

 

The delegation first went to Özpınar (Giyk) and visited the condolence tent established for 9 victims. Later, the delegation met earthquake survivors in Güvendik (Eleze) where a person died and also visited the neighborhoods of Gelenler (Qiratî), Böğrüpek (Xanîk) and Kaşkol (Qaşqol).

 

People protested the seizure of trucks carrying aid sent by HDP municipalities and asked the HDP to deliver the aid collected to the neighborhoods.

 

After the visits, a press conference was held. HDK co-spokesperson Sedat Şenoğlu said: "The HDP had sent aid to the victims but this aid was prevented from reaching people. We came and saw that the work the media is saying that is being done is a lie. Nothing has been done here. We have not seen anything other than soldiers here."

 

Şenoğlu underlined that there were not enough tents in the neighborhoods and added: "We will definitely deliver our aid to this people. Earthquake, avalanche, flood are the laws of nature, but what happens here is not the law of humanity. When the victim is a Kurd, humanity becomes something more complex."