Malatya Visit from UNDP Türkiye Resident Representative

Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality, Vahap Erdem, in his speech during the visit, said, “As it is known, our city was unfortunately affected by the devastating effect of the earthquake of 6 and 2023 magnitudes, which occurred on February 7, 7 and whose epicenter was Kahramanmaraş province. One year has passed since this disaster, known as the disaster of the century, and when we look back from the anniversary of the disaster, our wounds were quickly healed and activities to return to normal are continuing, with the support of both our central government and national and international aid. There are many international institutions and organizations with which we cooperate in the return to normality and recovery process. However, these institutions and organizations have a very different place than UN-UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). Because, in our cooperation with UNDP, we have determined a vision for the implementation of strategically future-oriented and sustainable projects. In line with this vision; Supporting the disabled vehicle repair and maintenance station, vocational training courses for women and young girls, providing cash support to small tradesmen in earthquake victims, supplying fire trucks to provide fast service at low speeds, orthosis-prosthesis production workshop for our disabled citizens who were amputated in the earthquake, which will be able to provide services in the future. It was decided to support the projects to be implemented.

Debris and rubble released from collapsed buildings after the earthquake cause environmental pollution. With the implementation of the project that we have submitted to UNDP, which includes support for the supply of recycling machinery and equipment, the excavation sites where 1.000 trucks of debris are transported per day will be improved, and the concrete and rubble waste will be brought into the economy. In this respect, supporting the project is extremely important.

I would like to express our pleasure to see you in our institution and in Malatya on the anniversary of the earthquake, and on behalf of the people of Malatya, I would like to thank you for all the projects you supported. "I would also like to point out that we are looking forward to realizing our new collaborations and projects."

"WE WANTED TO BE HERE DURING THESE DIFFICULT DAYS."

UNDP Turkey Resident Representative Louisa Vinton said, “We know that you are busy due to the anniversary. We thank you and your entire team for your time. These are difficult days, memories are coming back to life, these are troubled days. We offer our condolences once again with all our hearts, sincerity and soul. We wanted to be here during these difficult times. We are in Malatya today. We were in Kahramanmaraş in the morning. We will go to Hatay and Adıyaman. I would like to state that my team and I are with you and we will overcome these difficult days together. Our contribution is a modest contribution to our municipality and the people of Malatya. For fire truck and disabled vehicle workshop. We can contribute to the debris management issue you have just mentioned, with the funding we received from the Kuwaiti Government. That's why our work continues and we will get a result about it soon.

I am happy every time I come to Malatya, it is a city we love very much. It comes paired with apricots. I'm extremely happy to be here. We had a very good cooperation with the municipality. “We thank you,” he said.