04.02.2026 12:10
The Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, shared the renewed story of retired Abdullah Çelik (65), who was rescued from the rubble during the earthquakes on February 6, and his grandson Yusuf Berk, who was 40 days old at the time.
The earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, left behind more than 50,000 casualties and thousands of unfinished lives. Abdullah Çelik from Adıyaman, who lost his wife, two daughters, and four grandchildren in the earthquake, is one of those affected. Çelik clung to life with his grandson Yusuf Berk, who was found sleeping in his crib under the rubble of the collapsed building on February 6, 2023, when he was just 40 days old. Now, he lives with his 3-year-old grandson Yusuf Berk in their new home built by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change in Adıyaman İndere.
The Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, shared the story of the grandfather and grandson who were left alone after the earthquake, along with images of their new home. Referring to Çelik's words, "If the state is strong, everything is possible," Minister Kurum stated, "Our brother Abdullah from Adıyaman has started a brand new life with his grandson in his peaceful home. It has been our privilege to wipe the sadness from their eyes, heal their wounds, and bring a smile to their faces. There is nothing more valuable than this."
"MY FAMILY IS GONE, ONLY I REMAIN" Abdullah Çelik stated that he raised his grandson on his own without any support from anyone after the earthquake. Describing what he experienced on the day of the earthquake, Çelik said, "I was on the top floor, and suddenly I saw rain falling on me. I couldn't recognize anything. There was no such thing as Adıyaman there. It was a disaster. My family is all gone, only I remain, and my 40-day-old grandson. I have suffered a lot; I wish there had been no suffering, lives were lost. If the state hadn't done anything, I would have been even more upset. The state acted like a father to us, built a house, and we established our home here. It is a consolation, a great consolation for us. Sure, the state doesn't do it out of its own pocket, but if the state is strong, everything is possible. The state is a father, and a father does not abandon his children. The state did the same for us, acted like a father, and continues to do so," he said.
"A LITTLE COMFORT WAS GIVEN" Çelik expressed that they started a new life with his grandson in their newly built home, saying, "We really went through a lot of suffering, but the state helped us recover very quickly. Honestly, we didn't expect it to end this soon. The state did what was necessary. It provided tents, containers, and prefabricated houses. It didn't make us feel it. We suddenly arrived, and our houses were finished. If we had done it ourselves, I am 65 years old, and I couldn't build a house. But the state gave us a house within 2 years and delivered it. There is nothing better than health. My family is gone. I lost 10 relatives from my family. I didn't face any financial difficulties, but spiritually, is it possible? But with what has been done, we were indeed given a little comfort," he said.
Çelik noted that he raised his grandson with peace of mind thanks to the social areas of the disaster housing, saying, "Sometimes I take my grandson to kindergarten. In the evenings, I go and bring him back. I go to the mosque, stay at home, and take care of my grandson. There are many social activities here. The children also go out. At home, the child is alone, but when he goes to the park, he plays with other children. In that respect, thank God, everything is good, no problems," he said.