President Erdogan To Turkish Citizens: Please Stay In Hotels, Free Foods Are Prepared

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan via @rterdogan_ar

JAKARTA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Kahramanmaraş, the epicenter of the earthquake that has devastated Turkey. Erdogan promised not to let his citizens live on the side of the road.

In this place, Erdoğan ensured that all of the country's resources had been mobilized. All will be directed to the affected people.

"Our citizens don't have to worry; we will never allow them to live on the street," Erdogan said as quoted by Daily Sabah, Wednesday 8 February.

Erdogan invited earthquake victims to stay in hotels or similar in the provinces of Antalya, Alanya, and Mersin.

He came to the epicenter of the M 7.7 earthquake in Kahramanmaraş. His first stop was at the city's 12 Şubat stadium, where tents were set up for survivors.

The President said the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) is working with all government agencies to respond to the impact of disasters. He acknowledged that there were some problems in the response on the first day of the incident.

“We have significant room capacity (in the hotel). If our citizens don't want to live in tents here, we will accommodate them in hotels. They will be provided with accommodation, food, etc. It's free there. It can also help us (to accommodate more people here). Our work will accelerate," he said.

The President emphasized that all families affected by the earthquake would be assisted. Turkey has prepared a very large budget.

He promised mass housing operations would be launched in the 10 affected provinces within this year.

"As we do in other provinces where we have experienced disasters."