Özgür Özel Slams Claims on Earthquake Response, Says Hatay “Erupted in Anger”

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel has strongly criticized the government’s narrative about the post-earthquake response, arguing that official statements denying opposition involvement have caused deep outrage in Hatay. Speaking after visits to the disaster zone, Özel said the scale of public anger became clear only after he personally traveled to the region, where residents felt their lived experiences were being denied.

Özel reacted sharply to claims made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and senior government figures suggesting that the opposition was absent during rescue operations and played no role in reconstruction efforts. According to Özel, such statements not only disregard documented assistance but also attempt to reshape public perception by presenting a distorted picture of reality.

“The government wants everyone to believe that all problems in the earthquake zone have been solved, that no one has any concerns or anger left, and that this image should reflect positively on Erdoğan,” Özel said. “But the people of Hatay know what really happened, and that is why they are furious.”

“Saying the Opposition Was Absent Drives Hatay Crazy”

Özel emphasized that claims such as “the opposition was not at the rubble, did not take part in reconstruction, and did not put a single stone on another” are particularly offensive to the people of Hatay. “Hatay explodes in anger when this is said,” he stated, “because what they saw with their own eyes is being denied, and what they know to be true is being erased.”

According to Özel, the outrage stems not from political rivalry but from a sense of injustice. “People are reacting because lies are being told about what they witnessed,” he said. “They say, ‘This is too much.’”

CHP’s Earthquake Mobilization: “We Were There for 60 Days”

Özel detailed the CHP’s response immediately after the February 6 earthquakes, describing a large-scale mobilization coordinated from the very first hours. He said he was awakened by a phone call from Malatya early that morning and immediately canceled his television appearance to head toward Ankara and then the disaster zone.

“We instructed all our members of parliament at 09:21 that morning to reach the earthquake region by the fastest possible means,” Özel explained. “Adana Airport was open, so we directed MPs there and then distributed them across ten affected provinces in coordinated groups.”

He noted that by Monday afternoon, CHP lawmakers from outside the region had begun arriving, and by Tuesday noon, 123 MPs participated in simultaneous coordination meetings from different provinces. “For 45 days, I personally, together with our parliamentary deputy group leaders, coordinated efforts in the region,” Özel said. “We rotated across provinces and ensured continuous presence.”

Aid Figures Cited from AFAD Records

Rejecting accusations of “disaster tourism,” Özel cited detailed figures, stating they were based on AFAD coordination records. “We were in the region for 60 days with 9,600 vehicles and 28,500 personnel,” he said. “We delivered 7,200 trucks, four aircraft, and six ships carrying aid ranging from food and medical supplies to tents and stoves.”

According to Özel, the CHP’s efforts included 155 mobile kitchens, 163 food distribution vehicles, 18 mobile bakeries, nearly three million blankets, 266,000 heating stoves, 50,000 tents, and 1,810 containers.

Focusing specifically on Hatay, Özel said the numbers were equally substantial. “In Hatay alone, we deployed 4,065 vehicles, 14,063 personnel, and 3,246 trucks,” he stated. “We set up 85 mobile kitchens, six mobile bakeries, and 25 food distribution units, along with 20,000 tents, 893 containers, 1,188 generators, and 897 mobile toilets and showers.”

Local Impact Reflected in Election Results

Özel argued that the CHP’s increased electoral support in several earthquake-hit provinces was evidence of genuine engagement rather than symbolic visits. Referring to Adıyaman, he said, “Is it possible for the CHP to win over 50% of the vote in a city like Adıyaman if we were merely ‘earthquake tourists’?”

He made similar remarks about Malatya, noting that CHP deputy Veli Ağbaba’s vote share nearly doubled within ten months. “Does this happen by briefly visiting and leaving,” Özel asked, “or by personally overseeing and distributing aid coordinated from across the country?”

Call to Erdoğan: “If You Have the Courage, Let’s Walk Hatay Together”

In one of his strongest challenges, Özel invited President Erdoğan to tour Hatay together on February 6, the anniversary of the disaster. “If you have the courage, let’s walk through Hatay together on February 6,” he said. “I am ready.”

Özel proposed that Erdoğan attend official ceremonies elsewhere and then join him in Hatay to speak directly with residents. “Let’s walk the streets together,” he said. “I will show you what we did in Hatay and in the other ten provinces. Look people in the eye and try to deny it.”

“Power Is One Thing, Deceit Is Another”

Özel concluded with a broader warning about political ethics. “Being in power and being deceitful are not the same thing,” he said. “A government can be criticized for its actions, but it cannot fabricate lies against the opposition.”

He also raised questions about delayed military deployment, the sale of tents by the Turkish Red Crescent, and prolonged shortages in the weeks following the disaster. “When justice and truth are replaced by denial,” Özel said, “public trust collapses.”