The earthquake survivors in Semsûr have established neighborhood commissions to support and be in solidarity with each other. The aim of the commissions is to build a communal life.
In Semsûr, where February 6 earthquakes caused destruction, people have been in solidarity with each other since the first day of the earthquakes. They have been trying to heal their wounds with the support of volunteers. They have established neighborhood commissions to support each other and grow their solidarity in order not to face more suffering.
The aim of the neighborhood commission is to build a communal life in the city. The commissions also carry out activities for women and the people of neighborhoods are decision makers.
After the earthquakes caused destruction in the city, the earthquake survivors received no help and support from the state for three days. They pulled dead bodies from the rubble with their own means. They spent three days in their own cars due to the lack of tents. Only volunteers sent them food and water. Although weeks have passed since the earthquakes, they still face serious problems, such as housing problems. The earthquake survivors, who spent a month with the solidarity and help of the volunteers, have established neighborhood commissions to grow solidarity in order not to face more suffering. People coming together under the umbrella of these commissions discuss to find solutions to their problems.
‘We decided to act together’
An earthquake survivor, Eşxan Şiyar told us they had decided to establish neighborhood commissions in order not to face more suffering due to the lack of help by the state. She also said that Semsûr was one of the cities badly affected by the earthquakes. “No one can change the reality of this destruction,” she said, “We saw how people united after the disaster. They pulled dead bodies from the rubble by helping and being in solidarity with each other. We can easily say that the state has not been here since the first day of the earthquakes. People began to unite when they saw no state would not help them. The people, who were left alone in the disaster, came together and established their neighborhood commissions to build a communal life.”
‘They have a meeting twice a week to discuss’
Indicating that they decided to establish the commissions in order to find solutions for the problems faced by them, Eşxan Şiyar said, “We have a meeting twice a week to discuss and find solutions for the problems faced by us. We discuss suggestions and criticisms. We have set up a tent for women. Women are in solidarity with each other in this tent. We screen films and hold painting courses in the tent. Women come together in the tent to find solutions to their problems by discussing them.”
‘The main reason for establishing neighborhood commissions is to unite people’
‘The main reason for establishing neighborhood commissions is to unite people,” Eşxan Şiyar said, “Since the first day, we have received no help or support from the state so we decided to establish neighborhood commissions to help and support each other. We will heal our own wounds together.”
Sadly the video below does not contain English subtitles.
