The Turkish Clothing Manufacturers’ Association (TGSD), which continues its efforts for short, medium and long-term support to the earthquake region, has taken action to establish container cities and living spaces for the continuation of industry and employment in Adıyaman, where there is extensive textile production. Adıyaman OIZ Chairperson of the Board of Directors Abdulkadir Çelenk had recently drawn attention to the accommodation problem of the workers in the region and asked for support from the state and other OIZs in this regard.
TGSD called for support to realise the project
TGSD announced that its members delivered emergency supplies, primarily clothing, to the region at the first stage and shared the following statements in its official social media accounts regarding the project:
As part of our medium-term efforts, we are establishing container cities and living spaces in Adıyaman, one of the most important cities for garment production, in cooperation with Adıyaman Organised Industrial Zone Directorate. Our aim in this recovery process is to contribute to the continuation of industry and employment in Adıyaman, where production is extensive, and to bring the region back to life.
In order to solve social and economic problems, we must get our production facilities back up and running as soon as possible. We set out to create a new living space. We are waiting for your support in cash and container donations for the realisation of this project together with you.
Remember, the region needs us and we need you. Only through sharing can we alleviate the pain. Thank you in advance for your donations.
“We will lose not only the OIZ but also Adıyaman”
Adıyaman OIZ Chairperson of the Board of Directors Abdulkadir Çelenk had previously made a statement to AA, addressing the accommodation problem of the workers in the region and requested containers. Stating that Adıyaman suffered great damage in the earthquake, Çelenk said that 10 buildings in the OIZ were damaged in the earthquakes, but there was no problem in the infrastructure. Çelenk explained that they made the OIZ operational and disclosed:
“Natural gas, electricity, water services are completed. We are now in a position to start work. However, most of our workers leave the province due to the accommodation problem. We have to prevent that. It is necessary to solve the accommodation problem of the workers. We are not capable of doing this with our own means. We have to solve this problem with the help of the state or organised industrial zones. Otherwise, we will lose not only the OIZ but also Adıyaman.”
Çelenk underlined that the OIZ is Adıyaman’s ‘bread and butter’ and said: “It (the OIZ) has over 22 thousand employees. But we had a target to increase this to 28 thousand by the end of this year. Our new constructions continue. Therefore, we should not waste the available human resources. If these workers leave the province, we will never recover. They are our trained employees. We have a container demand from the state and especially from our sister OIZs. I hope we will solve this together and get over this situation as soon as possible. We are now in a position to work. We will probably start (working) at the beginning of the month.”