"Turkey started to heal quake survivors' wounds immediately after earthquake"

ANKARA (A.A) - October 30, 2011 - Turkey's prime minister said on Sunday that Turkey started to heal the wounds of quake survivors immediately after a massive earthquake hit the eastern province of Van a week ago. Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said public institutions, non-governmental organizations, health institutions, local administrations, search and rescue teams, aid organizations and security forces rushed to the quake zone immediately after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Van.  "Turkey is a country situated on quake belt and therefore, it has to learn to live together with earthquakes," Erdogan told a televised address to the nation. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake jolted Van's Tabanli village on October 23, killing 596 people and injuring 4,152 others. Erdogan said executives had dispatched aid to the quake zone rapidly and started to heal the wounds immediately after the earthquake. The Turkish premier said the government had mobilized all its resources, and it would move the quake survivors into temporary tent-sites, container sites, and then to permanent dwellings. Erdogan underlined importance of being prepared for disasters and being able to take every measure in any minute, and taking action immediately.  Also referring to recent terrorist attacks in Turkey, Erdogan said broader democracy was antidote of terrorism, but also Turkish security forces were fighting against the terrorist organization. "As the government, we are taking decisive steps in fight against terrorism and at the same time we are increasing our international contacts," Erdogan said. Erdogan said the way to eradicate terrorism was to improve human rights, laws, justice, freedom and democracy, adding that the government would eliminate terrorism in the country and at the same time it would continue to improve its democracy and justice and broaden freedoms. Premier Erdogan's remarks came after a bomb attack killed five police officers in Guroymak town of the eastern province of Bitlis and terrorists attacked on several military outposts in Cukurca town of the southeastern province of Hakkari, killing 24 soldiers.