Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has linked Kurds to the forest fires raging in the country. He stated that among those arrested in connection with the fires are people linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, reported Ahval.
According to him, the police and intelligence services are continuing their investigations, and “everything necessary is being done.” The Turkish president also accused opposition parties of not taking sufficient measures against the forest fires.
It is the government’s duty to “take care of all these forests, restore them, and above all extinguish the fires,” said Erdogan. “At the same time, responsibility for fires in residential areas lies with the municipalities.”
The municipalities of Antalya, Mugla, Izmir and Aydin, which are run by mayors from the main opposition Republican People’s Party, “bear first-degree responsibility,” he continued.
The government has been criticised for its delayed and insufficient response to the forest fires. Critics accuse Erdogan’s office of manipulation. Turkey’s Aeronautical Association (THK) has not received funds for the maintenance of its fleet of firefighting aircraft, and currently several aircraft remain in place as they are not ready for flight.
On social media, a campaign has begun among Turkish users calling on the international community to send aid to Turkey in the form of aircraft and helicopters to help fight the fires.
