Kurdish Mayor of Bird Flu Town Complains of Lack of Support from Turkish Government

Press Release – 6 January 2006

Mukkades Kubilay, the Kurdish woman mayor of Dogubayazit, the town that is at the centre of the bird flu crisis in Turkey, has complained to the Turkish media that the Turkish authorities are not doing enough to combat the bird flu crisis and are leaving the local Kurdish council to struggle with limited resources. She is concerned that the virus could spread.
 
In a phone conversation to a member of the Kurdish community in London, Mukkades complained that the Turkish authorities are leaving the local council to slaughter birds and doctors are demanding money before coming to the area. The council do not have the finances to deal with the bird flu and are concerned that not enough is being done. The Mayor has also complained that continued lack of resources to the Kurdish area have left the town in poverty and with no proper medical facilities. She said that if proper medical facilities had been in Dogubayazit the lives of those who died perhaps could have been saved.
 
The Halkevi condemns this discrimination of the Kurdish people in Turkey and is concerned that if proper resources are not made available to the local council this could threaten a further spread of the virus. We demand that further resources are made available to the local council immediately.
 
If you wish to speak to Mukkades Kubilay her telephone number is 0090 472 312 6396, 0090 5338140930 (You will need a Turkish/Kurdish interpreter).

For further information please contact:
Ibrahim Dogus: 020 7249 6980
Mark Campbell: 07865 079 415