Director of Communications Altun said: "The reality of disinformation has made times of disaster turbulent; therefore, we must combat it resolutely on a global scale."
Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun sent a video message to the "Disaster Diplomacy: Recoding International Solidarity for a Resilient World" panel held in Washington, USA.
Commencing his speech by extending President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's regards, Director of Communications Altun recalled that Türkiye suffered a devastating disaster on February 6.
Remarking that the occurrence of two very destructive earthquakes in a short period of time, as well as the aftershocks, affected more than 14 million citizens living in a very large area, Director of Communications Altun said that as a result of these earthquakes, which had a wide impact area, heavy destruction and loss of life was experienced in 62 districts of 11 provinces.
Director of Communications Altun stated that more than 50 thousand people lost their lives in the earthquakes, wished Allah's mercy on all the people who lost their lives, and extended his condolences to the bereaved citizens.
Stating that the intensity of these devastating earthquakes, the extent of their impact, the loss of life and destruction were so severe in many respects that this disaster was described as the "disaster of the century," Director of Communications Altun said:
"Unprecedented state-nation solidarity was demonstrated in the face of this massive disaster, for which no country could easily be prepared and no state could respond alone. From the earliest moments of the disaster, all our public institutions and organisations, including the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), Armed Forces, health personnel, non-governmental organisations, as well as the entire nation, have been fully mobilised. Türkiye’s Disaster Response Plan (TAMP) was implemented by AFAD from the earliest moments of the disaster, and an international assistance call for search and rescue was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).
More than 35 thousand specialist search and rescue personnel were quickly deployed in the region, and thanks to their heroic efforts, more than 100 thousand of our people were rescued alive from the rubble. Approximately 300,000 personnel were quickly dispatched to the region to provide essential services such as nutrition, shelter, damage assessment, health care, and psychosocial support. From AFAD to the Turkish Red Crescent, from governors assigned to the region to non-governmental organisations and their volunteers, our state and nation have united and demonstrated the "solidarity of the century" in the face of the "disaster of the century."
Pointing out that Türkiye's call for international assistance in this process drew an immense response, Altun said that more than a hundred countries around the world offered assistance, and over ten thousand personnel from nearly 90 countries assisted in the search and rescue efforts in the earthquake zone.
Emphasis on "cooperation and solidarity"
Noting that the political conflicts and the pursuit of military solutions after these conflicts are not the only elements threatening global security, Director of Communications Altun said, "Economic crises, pandemics, famine, climate change, and natural disasters all pose threats to global security and prosperity in our age. Even though these problems initially rise at the regional level, they have the potential to evolve into global problems as their sphere of influence expands over time."
Underlining that there are no longer any issues that are confined to a specific location, Director of Communications Altun said:
"Therefore, international solidarity and cooperation must be our primary goal in resolving these issues. With this awareness, we reiterate the significance of international solidarity on this tragic occasion and declare our willingness to take on any responsibility. Türkiye has clearly noted the assistance provided by other states and nations in its struggle against the disaster of the century, just as it has offered and continues to offer humanitarian efforts in the past and today. As a country that extends a helping hand to every corner of the globe, Türkiye responds to requests for assistance with gratitude and appreciation. While the wounds of the century are still healing, we wanted to reiterate the significance of aid and solidarity in the event of potential natural disasters or humanitarian crises in any part of the world by organising this event as the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye."
Director of Communications Altun thanked all the citizens assisting in the region, particularly the search and rescue personnel, who have been struggling since the beginning of the disaster, as well as the leaders and people of the countries that provided support during this trying period.
"Evil groups are not deterred by any means"
Director of Communications Altun stated that "disinformation and its destructive effects" was an issue just as significant as international solidarity and said, "The recent disaster has demonstrated once again that the evil groups that disseminate fake news are not deterred by any means." Director of Communications Altun went on to say:
"While we were working to save lives and heal wounds, we also had to fight against the dissemination of fake news and misinformation. On the one hand, we had to deal with disinformation campaigns that had been going on since the beginning of the disaster; on the other hand, we had to make sure that the public was correctly informed. From where we stand now, it has become abundantly clear that disinformation poses a threat not only to national security but also to the safety of citizens' lives and property. As the country that is most exposed to disinformation, Türkiye expresses resolutely the damage it causes. It should be understood that this issue affects not only Türkiye but also all countries and the international community. We invite all countries to take responsibility in their efforts to combat the production and spread of fake and false information. The reality of disinformation has made times of disaster turbulent; therefore, we must combat it resolutely on a global scale."
Emphasising that they work hard to ensure that local and foreign press members are able to report accurately and effectively from the region in order to provide accurate information to the public, Director of Communications Altun said that in this regard, they provide journalists with the necessary technical facilities, employ field personnel and conduct accreditation activities for international journalists.
"We mobilised to heal all wounds"
Director of Communications Altun noted that they added an "Earthquake Emergency" section to the Presidency Communication Centre’s (CIMER) system, which is used to ensure state-nation communication, so that the citizens affected by the disaster of the century can communicate their requests much more quickly.
Emphasising that Türkiye would never forget the helping hand extended during this difficult time Director of Communications Altun said:
"Many international organisations, like the UN, NATO, and others, have been among the first to extend a helping hand. The support of our allies, especially the United States, has been crucial as well. In addition, all NATO member states sent emergency response personnel and supplies to our country through the NATO-Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre and the air bridge that NATO built. We once again witnessed the significance of alliance on this occasion. I would like to state that nothing we do can bring back or replace the loved ones we have lost. However, as the Republic of Türkiye, we mobilised to heal all wounds. Without pausing, giving up, or taking a break, the state and the nation will continue to work side by side until all wounds have healed; all homes and buildings in the region have been rebuilt with their former vibrant spirit; we stand back stronger than ever."