3rd Anniversary of the Deadly Earthquake Disaster

It has been three years since the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and impacted Syria and also felt in Iran, Iraq, Lenbanon, Cyprus, and Egypt on February 6, 2023. While the true death toll remains unknown, official Turkish figures stand at approximately 53,000, while Syrian authorities report roughly 9,000 deaths. Local populations, however, contend that these numbers are at least double the official count.

Under the Erdoğan administration, the February 6 earthquakes once again exposed the systemic rot in Turkey. For days, people in 11 provinces were left to die under the rubble waiting for aid, laying bare the reality that the primary cause of these deaths was the government’s total lack of preparation and capacity in the face of such a disaster. Countless individuals are still missing. Over 350,000 people continue to live in container cities plagued by fundamental issues like lack of electricity, water, and proper sewage systems. Furthermore, residents in these container cities are facing forced evictions. For those whose homes were destroyed, a process is being imposed where only property owners are entitled to new housing—and only by paying exorbitant sums. In many regions, particularly Hatay, people are still living side-by-side with ruins. Education and healthcare services remain a luxury in these cities.

Since coming to power in 2002, Erdoğan’s economy has been driven at a breakneck pace by the construction sector, urban rent, and artificial growth figures tied to them. In this era, where construction capital and political power became inextricably linked, no one responsible for the lives lost under collapsed buildings has faced a genuine trial. More tragically, not a single politician or public official responsible for the construction and oversight of these structures has been prosecuted. Today, the Erdoğan government uses state resources to build a limited number of housing units for propaganda purposes.

On the anniversary of the earthquakes that impacted 11 cities, the people were in the streets at 04:17, the exact time of the earthquake, protesting with deep grief and anger.

The manifesto issued by the Socialist Laborers' Party (SEP) of Turkey regarding the 3rd anniversary is as follows:

To the trashbin with the order of ruin!

An organized working classs to demand accountability and stop future disasters!

Exactly three years have passed since the February 6 earthquakes. The account for the horrific loss and destruction, turned into a massacre by the savage capitalist order prevailing in this country, has still not been settled. Sham trials were held where contractors received symbolic sentences, but no public lawsuits have been filed against the state. Those who operated the wheels of rent in municipalities, those who issued permits for rotten buildings, and everyone responsible for this slaughter from the local level to the ministries: not a single person has yet been held accountable! Those who were incapable of sending a single piece of aid for days; those who tried to sell tents to the people for profit; those who embezzled earthquake taxes: none have been prosecuted! Those who ignored scientific warnings to turn this era into the "Age of Contractors" are all still in their seats, preparing the way for new disasters!

For three years, those who have condemned the people to the worst living conditions—those who boast of "building TOKİs" while tens of thousands spend the winter in dusty, muddy container cities with power and water outages—are still shamelessly pursuing publicity!

The destruction in cities, especially Hatay, is being turned into a massive rent-seeking opportunity, and the multicultural urban fabric is being destroyed. Basic services like healthcare and education, and vital needs like electricity and water, are still not provided. Earthquake survivors in 21-square-meter containers are condemned to live with a myriad of problemsi cold, dust, poverty, unemployment, and psychological distress, under the unhealthiest conditions. Those who lost their loved ones are still fighting for survival. As if this weren’t enough, container cities are being cleared through forced eviction orders. Since the AKP’s concept of "rebuilding a city" consists of a few flashy groundbreaking ceremonies and aerial shots of showcase locations, the misery of thousands is being openly concealed. The government, lying about "finishing the houses," is driving survivors into debt under the guise of making them "homeowners." Those who were tenants before the earthquake are offered no rights at all. Furthermore, the housing being built is neither sufficient nor high-quality. Thousands remain homeless, and millions live in cities that no longer feel like cities. The earthquake's destruction is being used as a pretext for rent; olive groves, agricultural lands, and public spaces are being plundered.

Moreover, despite these tragic losses, there is still no serious preparation for the Istanbul earthquake, which is a scientific certainty. Are they waiting for millions to die? How many more lives must be sacrificed to the profit system and the AKP-MHP government?

1999 Gölcük, 2011 Van, 2020 Elazığ, 2023 Maraş… in this country, the incompetence and incapacity of the system have turned every natural disaster into a murder. As long as the order of profit and rent continues, this will remain the case. More mass deaths and disasters will certainly occur as an administration with no capacity left to govern in AKP’s Turkey tries only to keep itself afloat!

Our pain is immense! The account to be settled is even greater!

Workers must grow stronger against this "order of ruin" and become a center of organized struggle. Only in this way can we demand accountability for past disasters and put a stop to the system of profit and rent that causes future ones.

On February 6, 2023, we learned through the most painful experience that the working people have no choice but solidarity and organization. We will certainly hold those responsible accountable for our people who were left alone and helpless, waiting for aid for days, amidst screams and laments.

We call on everyone to take to the streets and participate in actions to demand accountability for this great massacre.

TIME FOR EARTHQUAKE MOBILIZATION!

• Prosecute all those responsible for the February 6 earthquakes! Hold public officials at every level of administration fully accountable!
• Guarantee the right to free, high-quality, and safe housing for all citizens affected by the disaster through state provision! End forced evictions from container cities immediately!
• Launch an immediate education mobilization for all children whose schooling was disrupted by the earthquake!
• Halt all rent-seeking projects driven by earthquake opportunism and the destruction of urban cultural heritage!
• Provide a full public accounting of all "earthquake tax" funds collected over the years!
• Declare an immediate earthquake mobilization and initiate genuine, scientific preparations for the expected Istanbul earthquake!
• Identify unsafe buildings in all earthquake zones, particularly Istanbul, and commence urgent reinforcement or reconstruction based on need. Cover all housing and relocation costs for those in at-risk structures from the earthquake fund. Establish new disaster assembly points and demolish all structures encroaching on these areas! Relocate damaged public buildings without delay!
• Implement mandatory earthquake safety training across all schools, workplaces, and all collective spaces!

To the dustbin with the order of ruin; socialism is the only solution!