GAZİANTEP- Stating that they will not leave their homeland despite the difficult life conditions, earthquake victim Hatice Yıldırım said: "We live in very difficult conditions, but despite everything, we insist on staying in our homeland."

 

The victims of the Maraş-centered earthquake are struggling to survive in harsh conditions this time. Güler Yıldırım, who stayed in the tent that was set up late in Haltanlı (Altınüzüm) Neighborhood of İslahiye district of Gaziantep, stays with her three children in the tent that was damaged in the strong wind. After the earthquake, Yıldırım and her family stayed in his neighbor's coal shed for 12 days with 28 other people and were able to reach the tent 12 days later. Despite all the negativities experienced, Yıldırım, who doesn't want to leave the homelands, said: "I will stay here and resist."

 

Stating that she saved her husband, who was under the rubble, with her own efforts, Yıldırım said: “Citizens brought us aid. Now we have no home, no belongings, no incoming or outgoing. It looks like the wreckage of our house. Nobody came and picked it up. I live in a tent with my family. We burn the woods we can find from the rubble of our house to keep warm."

 

'THERE IS NO LIFE IF YOU DO NOT RESIST'

 

Stating that they have dreams and memories where they live, and that it is the place where their children grow up, Yıldırım said: “Everyone should see us. We will continue to live here from now on. We cannot leave our land, there are also those who have left. We live very hard. But despite everything, we insist on staying in our homeland. No one should leave their land, we should resist. People have to resist. I want those who left here to come again. They say 'no life' here. There is no life if you do not resist. Despite everything, we will resist. Our vineyard, our garden, our mothers, our ancestors are here. We should even think about our graves when we leave here."

 

MA / Delal Akyüz