Turkish minister defends state earthquake response and criticises NGO efforts

Türkiye's Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, has defended the government's handling of the February 6, 2023 earthquakes during housing and infrastructure ceremonies in Malatya and Şanlıurfa.

Speaking at public events, Kurum targeted private relief campaigns and online commentary that emerged following the disaster, specifically mentioning the non-governmental organization Ahbap. He asserted that during the post-disaster response, certain actors attempted to "come between the state and the nation."

Kurum rejected digital criticisms of official recovery operations, asserting the central role of government institutions in disaster relief. "The state is not an empty slogan thrown from screens," Kurum stated, describing the government as an "age-old plane tree that embraces its nation in difficult times."

Sources: Anadolu Agency, TRT Haber