Time works so slowly in some periods of history that even though months and years pass, one gets the impression that nothing has changed. When the movement that was fermenting in these slow periods of history come out, days become months, and perhaps an intervention developed in a few days can make its effects felt for years. Just as the earthquake itself is the manifestation of the energy accumulated on the fault lines and this is embodied in a very shocking way, it can be said that the political subjects who develop interventions after the earthquake have a similar potential.

More than a week has passed since the earthquake. The people who rushed to the aid of those around them at the first moment of the earthquake, boiled soup together with the pot they grabbed from the house and drank soup in turn from glasses, are now able to provide all their basic needs on their own, including electricity and water. What makes this possible is not the state that reached the city only after three days; it is the revolutionaries who set up teams and run to the wreckage from the very first hours, who are there wherever there is a need, and who flock to the city from all over the country. The people, together with the revolutionaries, have already begun to heal their own wounds.

The intervention and practice developed by the revolutionaries at this point will shed light on the future. Just like the other fire, flood, and earthquake experiences that made this now-achievable practice possible.

Now the question is about what will happen tomorrow.

Earthquake is a natural disaster. It is a disaster that we can take precautions against, although the exact time of its occurrence cannot not yet be determined. Yes, the Palace Regime is disintegrating and indeed it is incapable of neither taking precautions against the earthquake and not developing an intervention for its consequences. But this does not mean that the sovereigns do not have a certain political agenda. The Palace Regime is based on profit, plunder and war. Therefore, these three phenomenon should be kept in view in every event.

The destruction caused by the earthquake in Antakya was hardly covered by the mainstream media during the first two days. Only at the end of two days, thanks to the news from the earthquake victims and the revolutionaries who reached the city, the true extent of the destruction was understood. In the following process, the attitude of the state has been to encourage people to leave the city. In the first place, despite all the efforts of the revolutionaries, the feeling of loneliness and abandonment reinforced in people, and then fear was accentuated through the spiral lies like a flood was about to happen, and the looting/police violence. The looting gangs are themselves part of this order, they are a state organization and they are tasked with spreading fear.

Although perhaps people were not forced to evacuate by physical force, they were forced to leave the city by all forms of violence. This situation cannot be explained only by the incompetence of the state. On the contrary, there is a political move and it should be met with a political move.

Antakya has a deep-rooted history in terms of both peoples and revolutionaries. For this reason, the state tries to erase its history. The first step to dehistoricization is dehumanization, in the sense of leaving the city without humans. It is no secret that a few days before the earthquake, the question of what will happen to the gangs that were being evacuated from Idlib was the most heated debate in the city. The state’s dehumanization policy has received some response; but it is still in our hands to reverse the situation. We should not be limited to only bringing aid to those in need, but we should attempt to reorganize life. If we were able to come to the aid of our neighbors in the most difficult and painful moment of the disaster, if we were able to share our bread, we can rebuild our city. It would be naive at best to hope for help from those whose names are not mentioned for days after the earthquake. The experience we gain in a week is indeed worth months of experience, and this experience imposes new responsibilities on us.

Disaster coordination centers should cease to be places where revolutionaries only organize aid distribution. If we have the claim that we will not abandon our city, but will rebuild it, then our practice should develop accordingly. Our next task is to reorganize life by mobilizing all the means at our disposal. For this, we do not have to wait for the state to establish a container city. On the contrary, we should start taking steps by calling everyone who shares this claim back to Antakya. It is quite possible to unite and spread disaster coordination centers and turn them into political centers for people who share our claim.

Unfortunately, health workers mobilized for health, distribute supplies alongside providing health services; in addition to providing legal support, lawyers had to meet the most basic needs. Although distributing aid seems like a priority due to the urgency of the basic needs in the region, we should focus on the more critical needs ahead of us and start organizing necessary stept for them. If there is a water and electricity problem in the city, the engineers should take over. If the epidemic is predicted with certainty, doctors should organize preventive health measures. Lawyers should not only inform the public about the earthquake laws, but also set up crisis desks against torture and executions. Disaster coordination centers that have already been established should be expanded and all medical, technical and legal fields, including aid, should be organized by units that are established in these centers. What we need is not for professional organizations to distribute aid, but for them to carry out work in their fields of expertise. This is the need not only of Antakya, but also of all provinces affected by the earthquake.

It is time to leave behind the initial shock and bewilderment caused by the earthquake. We can’t clean up this wreck just by thinking about the next day. What we face in a month or a year depends on what we do today and how we position ourselves. Let’s not forget that if we have the problem, we also have the cure.

Kaldıraç Antakya

17.02.2023

As a result of the 2 large earthquakes that occurred in the Maraş province, unfortunately tens of thousands of our people lost their lives, hundreds of thousands are injured, and millions are deprived of basic necessities like shelter, food, clothing, health. It is clear that since the earthquake, the state and public institutions have not intervened timely and sufficiently to this colossal destruction. With the consciousness that solidarity will keep alive against the death brought by profit and lack of oversight; many political parties, organizations, chambers, unions, societies and civil initiatives in Ankara built humanitarian aid networks and begun efforts to seek solutions to the immediate problems. We are creating the Ankara Earthquake Solidarity Platform to grow this solidarity network in a more coordinated and organized manner, through the collective mind. 

It is clear that the effects and consequences of this destruction that affects such a large area and population will be long-term; it is a duty faces us to build the necessary preparations, teams, and infrastructures necessary for this. We hope that this platform will on the one hand, create solutions to the immediate problems, and on the other hand respond to the need of coming together to organize and create the coordination and continuity of the long-term solidarity process. It is clear that coordination is needed among ourselves and in municipalities and public institutions not only regarding the needs and problems of the earthquake zones, but also for the needs and problems of the injured/sick, babies, children, those affected by the earthquake who arrive at Ankara. We believe that this platform will hasten and facilitate this coordination. 

Ankara Earthquake Solidarity Platform is not founded as a rigid platform; in time, we can grow and shape a more effective platform together. For now, the platform aims at coordination based on working groups focusing on Housing, Aid-Transportation-Transport to the Earthquake Zone, Food-Nourishment, Goods-Clothing, Psychological Help, Communication and Social Media, Legal Aid, Children, Disability, Education, Youth, Women and Immigrants. We hope that people and representative of organizations who work in, have knowledge and experience on these areas will reach out to us. 

We invite all political parties, organizations, chambers, unions, organizations and civil initiatives in Ankara to join us in this platform to come together, talk about things we can do, grow the solidarity in a collective manner, with the aim of coordinating, organizing, collectivizing the facilities, capacities and solidarity. 

19 independent civil organizations and unions release a common statement of demands in the ongoing and growing protests. This statement is s decisive response to the Iranian right-wing opposition who had a meeting at Georgetown University in Washington on February 11th 2023 where they said they would publish their manifesto soon in an attempt to defeat the revolution of the Iranian people with the support of the world capital and in cooperation with some elements within the Islamic regime including former reformists, and orchestrate a change of power from top.

The statement notes that the state is in a crisis that cannot be resolved in the existing political system. The signatories note that the protests against “misogyny, gender discrimination, endless economic insecurity, labor slavery, poverty, misery, class oppressions, as well as national and religious oppression” are furthered by a generation determined to form a “modern, prosperous and free society in Iran.” 

They define the current movement in Iran as a movement that will “permanently end the formation of any power from above,” a “humane social revolution” that will free Iranian people from all oppression.

The declaration gives a list of 12 minimum demands that they call anyone who “value freedom, equality and emancipation” to raise in all sections of society and internationally. 

The demands include the release of all political prisoners and the end to criminalization of political activities, as well as trial of those who oppress the protests. They further demand freedom of speech and protest; abolishment of death penalty, torture and execution; equality among men and women in all levels, protection and recognition of LGBTQIA+ people; end to the religious rule and recognition of religion as “a private matter of individuals”. 

The demands also include workplace protections and increases in salary determined by representations of workers; end to “national and religious discrimination”; formation of local and national councils that will enact political power and the power to dismiss government officials via voting; confiscation of property of officials, persons, government “that have obtained the property and social wealth of the Iranian people through direct looting or government contracts”. The groups also call for an end to environmental destruction and child labor; providing free education and a life “free from economic and social hardship” to all children; and normalization of foreign relations. 

Here is the full text of the statement:

WOMEN, LIFE, FREEDOM

The Manifesto for minimum demands by independent trade unions and civil organizations in Iran

Honourable and Free People of Iran!

On the 44th anniversary of the 1979 Revolution, the economic, political, and social foundations of the country have plunged into a vortex of crisis and disintegration. No clear and achievable perspective can be imagined to end it within the framework of the existing political system. It is for this reason that the oppressed people of Iran, including women and young people who seek freedom and equality, have turned the streets all over the country into the center of a historic and decisive struggle to end the inhumane conditions and despite regime’s bloody repression, they have not rested for a moment since five months ago (16 September 2022).

Today, these fundamental protests, the flag of which has been raised by women, students, teachers, workers, those seeking justice, artists, queers, writers, and all oppressed people of Iran in every part of the country from Kurdistan to Sistan and Baluchistan and has received unprecedented international support, is a protest against misogyny, gender discrimination, endless economic insecurity, labor slavery, poverty, misery, class oppression, as well as national and religious oppression. It is a revolution against any form of religious or non-religious tyranny that has been imposed on the Iranian people throughout the last century.

These radical protests happen in the context of large and modern social movements and the emergence of an invincible generation that is determined to put an end to a century-long history of backwardness and fight for a modern, prosperous and free society in Iran.

After the two great revolutions in Iran’s contemporary history, the leading social movements – including the labor, teachers’, and retirees’ movements, the women’s, students’, and youth’s equality seeking movements, as well as the movement against death penalty – have now gained a historical and decisive position that can impact and shape the political, economic, and social structures of the country from a grassroots level and in mass dimensions.

Thus, this movement aims to permanently end the formation of any power from above and to be the beginning of a modern, humane social revolution that frees people from all forms of oppression, discrimination, exploitation, tyranny, and dictatorship.

We, the unions, civil organizations, and institutions, the signatories of this manifesto, while focusing on uniting and connecting social movements and their struggles against the current inhumane and destructive situation, see the following minimum demands as the first orders and outcomes of Iranian people’s revolutionary protests and also as the foundation for building a new, modern, and humane society in the country. We call upon all those honourable people who believe in freedom, equality, and emancipation, whether they are in factories, at universities or schools or in localities or the world at large, to raise the flag of these demands at the high peak of freedom.

1. The immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, an end to the criminalization of political, union, and civil activities, and the public trial of those responsible for the repression of mass protests.

2. Unrestricted freedom of opinion, expression and thought, press, political parties, local and national union and mass organizations, gatherings, strikes, rallies, social networks and audio-visual media.

3. The immediate abolishment of all types of death penalty, execution, and retribution, as well as the prohibition of any type of mental and physical torture.

4. Immediate declaration of equal rights of men and women on all political, economic, social, cultural and family levels; unconditional abolition of discriminatory laws and forms against sexual and gender orientations, recognition of the rainbow society of “LGBTQIA+”, decriminalization of all gender orientations and unconditional adherence to women’s rights over their bodies and destiny and preventing patriarchal control.

5. Religion be recognized as a private matter of individuals and should not be involved in the political, economic, social, and cultural decrees and laws of the country.

6. The provision of work safety, job security, and an immediate increase in the salaries of workers, teachers, employees, and all working and retired individuals, with the involvement, intervention, and agreement of their elected representatives of independent and nation-wide organisations.

7. Abolition of any laws and norms that are based on national and religious discrimination and oppression, the establishment of suitable supporting infrastructure for fair and equal distribution of state resources for the development of culture and arts in all regions of the country, and the provision of necessary and equal resources for learning and teaching of all spoken languages in society.

8. Dismantling the organs of repression, limiting the power of the government, direct and permanent engagement of the people in the country’s affairs through local and national councils. Removal of any state or non-state authority by electors at any time should be recognised as the fundamental rights of the electors.

9. Confiscation of the properties of all real or legal persons and all state, quasi-state or private institutions which have plundered directly or through state rents the properties and social wealth of the people of Iran. The confiscated resources should be spent immediately on modernization and renewal of education, pension funds, environment, and the needs of those regions and sections of the people in Iran who have been deprived and enjoyed the least resources during the reign of both regimes of monarchy and Islamic Republic.

10. Ending environmental destruction, implementing fundamental policies to restore the environmental infrastructure that has been destroyed over the past hundred years, and returning to public the ownership of those parts of the environment (such as pastures, beaches, forests, and foothills), which denies the people their rights to access and use them under the guise of privatisation.

11. Prohibition of child labour and the provision of subsistence and education for every child irrespective of the economic and social circumstances of their families, the general provision of welfare through unemployment benefits and substantive social benefits for all people who have reached the legal age to work or are unable to work. Access to free education and healthcare for all people.

12. Normalization of foreign relations at the highest levels with all countries of the world on the basis of fair relations and mutual respect, banning the acquisition of nuclear weapons and striving for world peace.

In our view, the above minimum demands can be realized and implemented immediately, considering the existence of potential and real natural wealth in the country and the existence of an informed and capable people and a generation of young people who aspire to a happy, free and prosperous life.

The demands in this manifesto are the general outline of our beliefs and it goes without saying that as we continue in our struggle and as we gain strengths in our solidarity, we will endeavour to present them in further details.

Signatories

– Coordinating Council of Trade Union Organizations of Educators in Iran

– Free Union of Workers of Iran

– Union of Student Organisations of United Students

– Centre for the Defence of Human Rights

– Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Cane Sugar Company 

– Organising Council for the Protests of Contract Workers in the Oil Industry

– House of Educators of Iran (Khafa)

– Voice of Women in Iran

– Independent Voice of Workers in the National Steel Group in Ahvaz

– Centre for Defence of Workers Rights

– Kermanshah Electrical and Metal Workers Union

– Coordinating Committee to Help Establish Workers Organizations

– Union of Retirees

– Council of Retirees in Iran

– Organisation of Progressive Students

– Council of Free-Thinking Secondary Students

– Syndicate of Painters in Alborz Province

– Follow-up Committee for Establishing Workers Organisations in Iran

– Council of Retirees of the Social Security Organization (Basta)

Hatay Crisis Coordination — Press Release – February 27, 2023

First of all, we express our condolences to the relatives of all those who lost their lives in the earthquake disaster that shook our country deeply, and we promise that we will fight with all of our strength so that those responsible at all levels will be held accountable before the judiciary. We will succeed in directing the struggle for life after the earthquake, which we are carrying out in order to enlarge the struggle at all levels against its real interlocutors, together with all our wounded who are fighting for their lives in hospitals, and those who have lost their homes and shelters, and to protect the precious memory of our losses, some of which have not yet been found.

Unfortunately, HATAY has become a city that need not be repaired but “re-established”, especially in Antakya, Defne, Samandağ and Kırıkhan. What collapsed is not just the hypocrisy of the politics of profit and plunder, but the collapse of the attitudes of neglect, discrimination, ignoring and not valuing that have accumulated for decades, in concrete blocks, on our people.

In the process we live in, feeling anger and hatred towards immigrants and different identities, images of battering up to lynching by alleged looters, reports of torture and death coming from the gendarmerie station are unacceptable.

Today, we do not want to convey once again the deficiencies, mistakes and incompetence during the rescue operations, the rescue teams whose videos have been shown at all levels for the last 15 days, and whose cries have been reflected, and who did not arrive. We came together to share with the public and our valuable press our urgent demands that need to be met and those we cannot allow to be delayed, while exposing the political mentality of the irresponsible government that by exploiting the humane, conscientious and religious values of the society, calls a “destiny plan” such a massacre that caused us to lose almost in 100 seconds in one night the loss that could have been suffered in a major war, legitimizes uncontrolled and illegal buildings with  zoning amnesties, asks for money after every disaster, tries to cover up the disaster with threats and declares a state of emergency on the pretext of preventing looting events; and revealing the public enmity that the state mind and bureaucracy carry in their genes. 

Our urgent demands that we call to be met immediately and without delay on behalf of those who sign this statement and all the labor organizations, initiatives, chambers, associations, foundations, working groups, unions, political parties, headmen and all forces that will join later, for all the lives damaged by the 6 February earthquake in our country, for our city HATAY, are as follows:

1. First of all, the “shelter problem” of all the peoples of HATAY who are in need, whose houses were destroyed and heavily damaged, should be resolved by taking into account the unique character of the city, in a way that the infrastructure problems are resolved, and taking into account the magnitude of the devastating effect of the earthquake. Tent neighborhoods should be established instead of tent cities for thousands of people. In the long term, container cities should be created in neighborhoods.
2. Nutrition, clothing, health and education needs of our peoples must be solved in a way that will not create any deficiencies. Disabled, chronic patient etc. disadvantaged groups should not be victimized in any way.
3. A regular and continuous “cash” support above the “minimum wage” should be provided to all our peoples who suffered from the earthquake. 
4. In the reconstruction of the city of Hatay, the “historical and cultural” texture of the city should be respected, the return of the people who had to leave the city should be encouraged, and the city should not be handed over to construction profit in any way.
5. With the awareness that the deaths of tens of thousands of lives are not caused by disaster, fate or earthquake, all bureaucratic and political officials, old and new, who hold the power to govern the country and have the authority to make all kinds of decisions, should be held accountable.
6. The transfer of earthquake victims to other cities should be removed from the supervision of institutions based on sect-mafia relations, and the housing problem in the cities that receive the victims should not be fixed via the evacuation of student dormitories, but through the use of hotels, hostels, residences and public buildings that property owners hold for profit and through the buildings that are open to public but has been given by the government to their adherent groups. 
7. The choices for the location of the housing constructions for the earthquake victims should not be rushed and forest, pasture, agricultural areas etc should not be recklessly plundered while the wealth of the companies close to the government gain wealth. 

All of this is a declaration that we will not only have these “demands” but also be determined defenders of and fight for these issues. Our call to the peoples is that we must raise the struggle and take care of these lands and our lives.

Hatay Coordination Center

Components:

Anarşistler

Bağımsız Devrimci Sınıf Platformu

Çağdaş Hukukçular Derneği

Demokratik Bölgeler Partisi

Devrimci Hareket

Devrimci Parti

Ezilenlerin Sosyalist Partisi

Halk-Der

Halkevleri

Halkların Demokratik Kongresi

Halkların Demokratik Partisi

İnsan Hakları Derneği Hatay

Kadın Savunma Ağı

Kaldıraç Hareketi

KESK

Mor Dayanışma

Mücadele Birliği Platformu

Partizan

Proleter Devrimci Duruş

Partizan

SODAP

Sosyalist Meclisler Federasyonu

Söz ve Eylem

SYKP

TMMOB

Toplumsal Özgürlük Partisi

Türk Tabipler Birliği

Türkiye İşçi Partisi Hatay İl Örgütü

Tuesday, February 7

After the earthquake that took place on Monday morning, we started a call for solidarity from all available channels and arranged a vehicle to go to the earthquake zone at 01.00am on Tuesday. We set off with our supplies, blankets and equipment that we could pack on the 45-seat bus. We arrived in Antakya at the end of a 15-hour journey.

There is stable building left in Antakya. All buildings are either cracked, tilted or completely collapsed. As a first thing, we went to the Armutlu-Akdeniz Coordination Center established in Defne. A commune life has been established here with our comrades and earthquake victims.

The coordination made a large open area and the headman’s hut a living area. An awning has been stretched over the park and some of it has been converted into a kitchen. A huge cauldron is boiling in the middle. A pit was dug on the other side of the park and turned into a toilet by enclosing it. Because there is neither electricity nor water nor a solid building where we can use the toilet of.

There are people staying on the tennis court next to the park. Since it is a large area, we plan to turn it into a dormitory tomorrow. While some of us take care of the planning of the area and the transportation of the supplies, some of us go to search and rescue activities.

We see people who were rescued from the wreckage alive come to the coordination area several times. Those who come are taken to the infirmary established in Defne House. There are paramedics in the field, but the supplies are scarce. That’s why we go to places such as markets, pharmacies, electricians, and hardware stores in the vicinity and procure our needs from them. In the current situation, anything we can find works.

We eat our dinner and plan the next day. We arrange the evening shifts and the search and rescue team. After sharing the duties, we sleep on the bus we arrived. Most of the people also sleep in the surrounding vehicles. The night is cold.

Wednesday, February 8

As a search and rescue team, we get up at 06:00 in the morning. It is very difficult to sleep because of the cold. We have very few blankets for now, we are sharing among ourselves what we have. We put the sandwich made by the night shift in our bags and have our breakfast with canned food and bread. As the weather gets brighter, we divide up the regions, group by group, without wasting any time.

There is a lot of destruction around. On the road, we see a family that is under a rubble. After checking the situation, we realize that we cannot save the only survivor there with the picks and shovels we have. As our equipment is insufficient, we have to leave the family. Time is short, wreckage is a lot.

As we find equipment from the surrounding area, we take it with us and continue on our way. It is very difficult to find anyone other than volunteers around. Except for a few small teams of the fire department, there is no indication of the state’s search and rescue efforts. There is nothing along Armutlu except for two work machines. There is a general shortage of equipment. We are looking for sound along the ruined streets. However, since the condition of the streets is very bad, there is rarely any sound coming from the wreckage.

Towards the square, the revolutionaries have set up aid tents, and parcels are distributed to the people. Surrounding the wreckage is full of people seeking help. Since most of the wrecks require a drill or construction equipment, our assistance is very limited. All we can do is search for sound and help working teams. However, there are still people saved.

We wander around the neighborhoods looking for sounds all day long. While we are resting, we meet a boy named Nur. Nur is going to the first grade. He is even the class president. He meets all of us individually. He says that if his house was not damaged, he would invite us for coffee. We say that’s okay, we are sitting in the park together. Antakya is finished, it could never exist again, he says, under the influence of what he heard from his surroundings. We say that we will rebuild it together. Nur wants a purple, lilac and pink house. We like this idea very much and leave the field. Nur hugs us all.

While continuing our work, we also collect materials for the needs of the area of the coordination center. In the evening, we return to the field with our hands full. Although there are people we have saved, there are many people we have not been able to save. Our of necessity, we act according to our possibilities.

In the meantime, in the area, clothes from the aid parcels are being distributed. The boxes are piled up in the middle and the surrounding is closed, and people are in a line in front of them, telling the clothes they want. However, as sometimes it was difficult to form a line, there were moments when we had difficulties due to the mixture of supplies that will satisfy people’s needs. Even though there were those who wanted to take more than necessary, we tried to maintain order by communications political explanations and keeping calm. Aside from this, there are those among the people who help us. So we distribute together.

One of the challenges here is earthquake survivors in distress. Since the first day of the earthquake, the lack of support from the state, any support aside from the volunteers, and the lack of sufficient support increased the fear of people and led to the development of a protective attitude. Everyone is left alone in a great crisis.

We are constantly telling that we cannot get out of here without solidarity. In addition to those who cannot control their nerves, there are many who thank us. We don’t need a lot of thanks though. We did not come here to help, but to build a common life together. Tomorrow we plan to build a kindergarten for children.

Thursday, February 9

After keeping our shifts by the fire in the cold of the evening, we start the day by sharing tasks in the morning. Dormitory will be arranged, some structures will be built and incoming materials will be transported. Many trucks are scheduled to arrive today. Many earthquake survivors are also starting to come to the area. The field is growing.

At the same time, the number of volunteers is increasing. Apart from our comrades from other provinces, doctors and cooks, volunteers from other provinces also come to the field. We are renovating the kitchen and the infirmary. A new toilet is being installed thanks to the builders. We connect heating stoves to dormitories. People won’t be cold tonight.

With the new arrivals, the area is now much more active. Everyone is working hard. Everywhere we look, new works appear. The supplies are brought in, the builders are building structures, the cooks line up the kitchen, everyone develops the space. We unload the constantly arriving trucks to the area. Since the area in the park is running out, we are turning the new areas into warehouses. Our load is too much, we have little time.

Most of the people in the field work fast without showing that they are tired. Others try to act too fast by giving themselves too much work. However, the weakest link determines the strength of the chain. Especially acting fast increases mistakes and costs. We warn our self-consuming comrades. After all, we need to keep our energy for tomorrow.

This time, we organize and distribute the parcels of clothes as such. Delivery is much faster when you know where everything is. However, since the density is still high, it is necessary to think of another solution. We are considering leaving the boxes open for the next days. At night, everyone disperses to their shifts. Some high-spirited friends sleep in the open, wrapped in blankets by the heating stove. It’s a bit dangerous, it’s too cold.

Friday, February 10

We start the day by waking up in the cold bus. Next up is breakfast. Water tanks of five to ten thousand liters came to the area at night. Today, water tanks will be installed in the area. Water will come from groundwater drawn from a well dug nearby.

Meanwhile, two people who came to take goods from the warehouse are trying to secretly take a gas canister in addition. We can’t give our canister to anyone at the moment, as it is necessary to warm everyone. We have 20 canisters in total, and for 150 people we try to warm on the tennis court (dormitory), 6-7 tubes are used every night, so even 1 tube will prevent 150 people from staying warm. Even though people come with anger, we try to calm the atmosphere and explain the situation.

In the rest of the day, a new dormitory is built, the water tank is prepared, new toilets are coming. However, we cannot connect the toilets today due to lack of equipment. Everywhere there is an intense work going on.

In addition to all these, we see that there is a lack of action and criticism, especially for the works that cannot be done or are done incorrectly. For this reason, instead of discussing the issues openly, they can turn into lamentation among friends. The shortcomings of decisions made yesterday can create resentments when they are not discussed. It is necessary to be open, to see the shortcomings, to criticize and to take action.

Later in the day, a new generator is brought to the site. We now have electricity. Also, since everyone is dirty, we set up a system where we can heat water and take a shower in order to get cleaned. Everyone can now take a shower. Cleanliness is an important element.

Today, the state is starting to make its presence felt more, sending its police and soldiers more often. It clearly shows that it will enter the area if they not intervened. Today the police slapped a child and a fight broke out. We learned the other day that TEM police threatened our comrades. We need to grow the movement. We want to spread such areas more and to establish coordination centers in the surrounding areas.

At night, another intervention comes to the area. Many vehicles passing that have flashing lights used in police cars drive by, shouting that the dam has burst and water may come at any moment. Our panicked comrades, at the same time, wake everyone up with all their might to clear the area of two hundred people, and we gather in the area. Even though everyone is in a panic, we are clearing the area quickly. Within 5 minutes, we learn that the news is unfounded, and we quickly return to the area so that there is no looting or intervention from the state. This state of panic, which is a challenging experience for everyone, is a very important lesson shows us the importance of maintaining calm and increasing security measures in the field. Therefore, we strengthen the shifts.

Saturday, February 11

We wake up after the crisis and sleepless night. Many people express their discomfort in various ways due to the effect of the event. There are also many people leaving the area. As a team, we also arrange a bus. However, the work continues, the trucks continue to arrive, and the aid continues.

On the other hand, our efforts to maintain control of the area continue. Children are playing games in the kindergarten we opened the previous day. In another part of the area, veterinarians for animals take care of the animals affected by the earthquake. There are many animals around, many of them come to the area because they are hungry. Sometimes we have to deal with male dogs, which often bother female dogs.

Since the drains of the incoming toilets are very narrow, they get clogged quickly. However, since we connected electricity to the toilets of the Defne house, they are now open for use. So now we have a slightly cleaner place.

As the day goes on, we carry a lot of supplies thanks to a trailer we attained. In fact, other solidarity zones next to our area are asking us to use the trailer. There are also various centers there, although not as big as ours. It seems that the revolutionaries are keeping the region afloat.

In the evening, one of our cooks has a seizure. Immediately after, there is an earthquake, the effect of which is felt. Although these two events, which happened in the same minute, seem to cause people to panic, our calmness prevents a new crisis. People look at our reactions a lot, so our calmness is essential.

Evening watch is tighter than yesterday. We no longer go outside from the area at night for security reasons. But since the guards are on their toes, we all feel the tenseness in the air.

Sunday, February 12

We start the day with the arrangement of the area. Warehouses are extremely chaotic because they are often mixed up. However, our work becomes easier thanks to the 45-person bus from Izmir. Our new partners and comrades are coming to the field.

Today, many of our comrades are seeing the results of their fatigue. Our unspoken problems come to light one by one. For this reason, there are many who are connected to the IV, take medicine, and bandage their wounds. At the same time, everyone’s tension is high because there are works outside the earthquake zone. We are trying to act with the necessity of throwing away the troubles and opening ourselves better. Troubles become the engine of action.

In the nursery, children forget about the earthquake while exhibiting their paintings. They are also good friends with dogs. Our daily rhythm continues despite everything. To make a dining hall, the comrades are trying to find or make a table. One comrade disassembles the electric scooter, others find bikes. Aside from transporting the trucks, the rhythm of the work continues to increase. The building is rising, rising.