What is Happening?

Turkey is battling its worst forest fires in years. These fires were started by severe heat waves and months of dry weather. Over the past seven days, it has been reported that more than 130 wildfires spread across 30 Turkish provinces. The European Forest Fire Information Service reported that more than 525 square miles have been burned in Turkey this year so far. The fires are exacerbated by strong winds, temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), and low humidity.

Casualties

As of August 4th, at least eight people have died in the fires and dozens have been hospitalized due to burns and smoke inhalation. Among those who have died in the tragic fire were a couple waiting for their son to arrive, two firefighters whose truck overturned in a fire, and a young volunteer who was transporting water to firefighters by motorbike. In addition to the casualties, many inhabitants of the area- villagers and wildlife alike- have lost their homes.

Response from Turkish Citizens

In recent months, the Turkish government spent money on construction projects that are harmful to the environment. Now, Turkish citizens are accusing the government of failing to properly fight the forest fires. Residents of the village of Bozalan spoke out about this, saying, “Our fire-extinguishing helicopters were insufficient,” said 58-year-old Mahmut Sanli. “If there was a firefighting crew in our neighborhood, this wouldn’t have happened.” Nevzat Yildirim said he had called authorities in Mugla pleading for help but “nothing came.” “We tried to protect our own homes through our own means, by filling up buckets. We organized ourselves with neighbors, youths and saved our homes,” said Yildirim. Many Turkish residents state that the country has to prepare for new climate crises immediately, as the country is in the midst of a climate and water crisis.

How is the Turkish Government Responding?

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has come under fire for not properly handling the blazes. There is tension within the Turkish government; it has been accused of corruption, mismanagement, economic instability, and improper handling of the disastrous effects of the coronavirus. The disaster mostly affected the southern coastal districts that are held by the Republican People’s Party, and the party officials stated that they were not receiving the help they needed from the central government. Mayor Muhammet Tokat and many Turkish citizens reported that “air support came infrequently and only focused on the closer flames around the [power] plant rather than addressing the wider fires in the area.” At night, air support is not possible, and the flames continue to spread. On the contrary, pro-government news channel, A HBR, stated that “firefighters were working inside the compound cooling equipment and dousing sparks in an effort to keep the fire away.”

President Erdogan’s opposing party members criticized Turkey’s lack of adequate firefighting capabilities and inadequate preparedness for large-scale wildfires. While critics claimed that President Erdogan failed to fight the forest fires, Mr. Erdogan promised aid for fire victims and pledged to rebuild homes and barns within a month. Government officials deflected blame for the forest fires on saboteurs who plotted against the government. Devlet Bahceli, leader of the right-wing Nationalist Movement and a political ally of President Erdogan stated that the opposition was “opportunists using the forest fires for political profit” and seeking “for an environment to exploit [Turkey’s] fragile and delicate environment.”

Human Rights violations

As the situation in Turkey worsens, we must also look at the human rights violations in Turkey through the years. The security in Turkey is presented to come across as strong and powerful. However, the border and city security cannot be trusted. There have been many cases where the police and national security have caused the killings and assaults of multiple innocent people. Due to this violation, millions of citizens, security guards, and military personnel have been arrested for terrorism. Arbitrary killings for no appropriate reason are rampant in Turkey; the suspected murderers rarely face consequences or penalties for their actions. Moreover, families are commonly separated, and citizens are arrested for no given or stated reason. Turkey has seen thousands of suspicious disappearances leading to deaths and mysterious disappearances of family members. Some of these disappearances and killings have been related to politics and the issues going on between organizations, governments, and terrorists. However, these issues should not be allowed to ruin the lives of young children, families, and innocent civilians.

*Fire fighters attempt to control a large wildfire.*

How Can I help?

A social media campaign called #HelpTurkey reached 2.5 million tweets, and celebrities joined the call for international assistance in fighting the forest fires in Turkey.

Places to donate: