09.02.2026 18:16
The Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, made evaluations regarding the construction process carried out after the earthquakes on February 6 and the fight against disinformation, and he harshly criticized the CHP Chairman Özgür Özel. Kurum emphasized that the projects implemented in the disaster areas and the delivered housing are the clearest response to the allegations, criticizing Özel with the words, "You will go down in history as the chairman of a party that did not drive a single nail in 11 provinces."
The Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, used harsh words against CHP Chairman Özgür Özel. Kurum stated, "We have responded to the lies with the squares, markets, and historical artifacts we have signed in 11 of our provinces. We have responded with the smiling faces of 2 million citizens who entered their homes in peace. But we see that they are not ashamed at all. You will go down in history as the chairman of a party that has not driven a single nail in 11 provinces," he said.
SPOKE AT THE "CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTURY" PANEL IN ANKARA A panel titled "Construction of the Century: Vision for Reviving a Strong Turkey" was held by the Presidency of Communications in Ankara. In addition to Minister Murat Kurum, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran and many invited guests attended the panel.
In his opening speech, Communications Director Duran emphasized the vital importance of strong communication centered on truth during the disaster process following the earthquakes of February 6, 2023. Duran stated that they made intense efforts to establish a healthy communication environment.
"WE INTERVENED IN NEARLY 200 DECEPTIVE CONTENTS" Duran pointed out that false and distorted information can spread rapidly during crisis periods, explaining the importance of combating disinformation with the following words:
"We had to fight against misleading information that threatened the peace of society, undermined public order in the disaster area, and disrupted search and rescue activities. In this context, we intervened in nearly 200 deceptive contents and shared the truth with our nation."
CİMER EARTHQUAKE EMERGENCY APPLICATION WAS ACTIVATED Duran stated that the CİMER crisis communication strategy was immediately implemented to ensure uninterrupted communication after the earthquake. He noted that the "CİMER Earthquake Emergency" application was activated as of 08:30 on the morning of February 6, and that 1.7 million applications received through the application were followed up and resolved in coordination with the institutions. He also reported that the CİMER Call Center responded to more than 220,000 calls on a 24/7 basis in the three months following the earthquake.
"A COMPREHENSIVE URBANIZATION VISION FROM A TO Z" Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum stated that they laid the foundations of houses on the 15th day after the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, and that they delivered the first houses just 45 days after the disaster, mentioning that they established 3,481 construction sites, with 200,000 workers in 11 provinces working 24/7 to produce 23 houses per hour and 550 houses per day. Minister Kurum said, "We know that a city is not just a place built by humans. A city is also a structure that builds humans. It carries our past, shapes our present, and gives direction to our future. We build cities with this understanding, with a vision that takes its roots from Turkish-Islamic civilization and places humans at the center. In our understanding of the city, there is humanity, morality, neighborliness, and compassion. For us, a city is a living space that does not tire the soul of a person, facilitates life, and fosters solidarity. It is the name of a life centered around people, with its mosque, market, school, and square. While constructing houses in our 11 provinces, we opened living spaces. We said, 'It is the identity of cities,' and we built squares. We revived many artifacts such as Habib-i Neccar Mosque and the Historical Parliament Building without altering their original forms. We provided new sources of income for our tradesmen by building the heart of our cities, the markets, with a place-specific understanding. We acted with a comprehensive urbanization vision from A to Z," he stated.
"WE RESPONDED TO SLANDERS WITH OUR 455 THOUSAND HOUSES" Minister Kurum emphasized that they faced many difficulties during the construction process after the disaster of the century, but they were most exhausted by disinformation, stating, "On the very first day, in the first hours, while we were trying to reach our people, working on how we could save even one more life, they started spreading false news. Those who rubbed their hands together saying, 'The government will be buried under this rubble' spread fear with lies. They sabotaged our efforts by spreading false information. They tried to turn pain into chaos and mobilize society. Unfortunately, they wanted to turn a natural disaster like the disaster of the century into a 'collapsed, kneeling Turkey' catastrophe, a social disaster. While we continued our work, we also fought against these lies with our Communications Directorate. And at this point, we responded to all these lies and slanders with our 455 thousand houses standing tall. We responded to the lies with the squares, markets, and historical artifacts we have signed in 11 provinces. We responded with the smiling faces of 2 million citizens who entered their homes in peace. But we see that they are not ashamed at all. They continue to spread lies. They boast about sending trash bins, but they do not appreciate the 455 thousand houses we have worked so hard for. They know very well that there is no interest in disaster housing, yet they continue to lie to our nation while looking them in the eye. We say, 'As in all disasters, here too, the houses will be interest-free, at a fixed price,' we explain, they hear, but they continue. They will supposedly come out later and say, 'I said it, and they did it.' No one will buy that, Mr. Özgür. Do not play with the minds of the people. You will not cover up your incompetence and indifference to the nation with these. While you were waiting for us to be 'buried under the rubble,' you ended up under that rubble. With your games, you will not be able to get out from under that rubble. You will go down in history as the chairman of a party that has not driven a single nail in 11 provinces. Let them continue this disinformation," he said.
"WE DID NOT ABANDON OUR PEOPLE TO THEIR MERCY" Continuing his speech, Minister Kurum stated, "We listen to our mayors without political discrimination, and we take their requests one by one.
We are noting everything that needs to be done for our nation and bringing them to life one by one. We did not boast about sending trash cans like you. We joined hands with our nation and realized the construction of the century. We want our municipalities to fight against earthquakes everywhere. We say let’s all put our hands under the stone together. The CHP Chairman scolds the members of parliament and mayors, asking, 'Why are you thanking the Minister?' Can there be such an understanding? Can there be such a politics? If the earthquake region had been left to the mercy of the CHP, all 11 of our provinces would be at the foundation stage like the Ulu Mosque today. We did not leave our nation at their mercy," he stated.