In a video message he sent to the World Government Summit 2023, President Erdoğan, on the earthquakes that hit Kahramanmaraş and its 9 neighboring provinces, said: “We will soon begin reconstructing and recovering our shattered cities. As the Turkish state, together with our nation, we will quickly heal the wounds caused by this disaster.”

Erdoğan said: “I had planned to be there in person with you. However, due to the earthquakes that occurred in our country on February 6, I was unable to attend. On Monday, February 6, Türkiye was shaken by two earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 respectively. The earthquakes, which affected a 500-kilometer-wide region in 10 provinces inhabited by 13.5 million people, unfortunately, caused extensive destruction.

“We are witnessing one of the biggest natural disasters of humankind”

Together with the adjacent cities where the tremors were felt, the disaster has affected up to 20 million people. According to scientists, the energy released by these earthquakes is as powerful as 500 atomic bombs. We are witnessing not just one of the biggest natural disasters in our country’s history but also all of thmankind. As we clear the debris of thousands of collapsed buildings, the number of our losses is regrettably increasing in the earthquake, which is described as the ‘disaster of the century’. Majority of the over 81,000 injured quake survivors have been discharged from hospitals, while some continue to be treated. Our search and rescue teams have rescued more than 8,000 people from the rubble.

In the wake of the earthquake, we mobilized all of our state’s and nation’s resources to the disaster zone. We declared a level 4 alarm, calling for international assistance, and announced a state of emergency in the earthquake-hit region. In addition to the relevant state institutions, our non-governmental organizations and volunteers are exerting significant efforts to help our disaster survivors. On the one hand, we are performing search and rescue and rubble removal operations, while on the other we are accelerating the installation of tents, containers and prefabricated houses. Inshallah, we will soon begin reconstructing and recovering our shattered cities. As the Turkish state, together with our nation, we will quickly heal the wounds caused by this disaster.

“We will never forget the friendship you extended to us”

During his process, we have received support and condolence messages from more than 100 countries, including particularly the United Arab Emirates, the host of our Summit. Countries have demonstrated their solidarity with Türkiye by calling personally, dispatching rescue teams and organizing aid campaigns. I would like to thank once again in your presence all the friendly and brotherly countries who have been collecting aid for our nation day and night, supporting our search and rescue efforts with their teams, and keeping us in their prayers. We will never forget the friendship you extended to us during this difficult time.

The disaster once again demonstrated the importance of international solidarity. During the coronavirus pandemic, we adopted Mevlana Rumi’s saying, ‘There is hope after despair and many suns after darkness!’ as our guiding principle for the global relief we provided. And today, hundreds of millions of friends and brothers from Africa to Asia, the United States to the Balkans, and Europe to the Gulf region are extending their helping hands to us. I would like to say ‘May Allah bless you’ to all my brothers and sisters who, despite their meagre resources, have sent everything they have to our country.

“We believe that a fairer world is possible”

Our world is facing a multitude of challenges, including natural disasters, climate change, migration and warfare. Disruptions in the supply chain, natural disasters induced by climate change, the Russia-Ukraine war, the food and energy crises and rising global inflation, all pose challenges to the global economy and development initiatives.

The achievements in the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the least developed countries, are eroding, and thus the probability of fulfilling the 2030 Agenda is waning. In the face of all of these challenges, global governance and close cooperation will determine the future of our world. As our Republic approaches its centennial in 2023, Türkiye has been exerting significant efforts to establish a sphere of prosperity and security in our region and beyond. We believe that a fairer world is possible. I have emphasized this in all of my addresses, particularly at the United Nations General Assembly.

“Our own stability and security are inextricably linked to that of the Gulf Region”

Currently, as the global system is besieged by crises, the significance of both bilateral and multilateral platforms has become apparent. In this equation, Türkiye and the Gulf countries form the central axis for our region’s security, stability, prosperity, and economic integration. As Türkiye we always say that our own stability and security are inextricably linked to the stability and security of the Gulf region. Aside from cutting-edge technology, space programs and renewable energy, we place a premium on the development of land and rail transportation infrastructure that will connect the Gulf region to Europe and Asia via Türkiye. In light of these sentiments, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who shared our suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake disaster and strengthened us with their support and prayers.” (ILKHA)