Turkey's Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi details earthquake aid use and unveils Erzurum projects

Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi told a parliamentary meeting that about 147 billion Turkish lira were raised after the 6 February 2023 earthquakes, of which 137 billion lira have been spent on reconstruction in the quake zone. He said the remaining roughly 10 billion lira will be allocated to road connections and other urgent works for damaged houses. Çiftçi also noted that the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has transferred a total of 1.885 trillion lira to relevant public bodies and that Turkey has delivered humanitarian aid to 85 countries across five continents.

In the same period the minister attended a collective inauguration in Aziziye, Erzurum, where a "Vali Mustafa Çiftçi Millet Bahçesi", the Alaca Şehitliği, an animal‑care and rehabilitation centre and a thermal boutique hotel with VIP family pools were opened. He praised Erzurum’s historic and cultural legacy, saying, "Erzurum this city deserves to be remembered for its beauty; I love it and will keep loving it." Çiftçi also used the occasion to criticize the "Ahbap‑çavuş" scandal, stating that its exposure "once again demonstrated the reliability of our official institutions."

Quotes from the minister included: "147 billion lira of donations, 137 billion lira used" and "Ahbap‑çavuş matters' disgrace has shown the trustworthiness of our public bodies once more."