‘Diagnosed with Covid-19, 128 Citizens of Turkey Stranded in Saudi Arabia’

Click to read the article in Turkish

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Adana MP Tülay Hatimoğulları held a press statement at the Parliament today (June 9) and raised concerns about the citizens of Turkey who have been stranded in other countries, especially in Saudi Arabia, amid novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

'Those returning from abroad not quarantined'

Some highlights from her speech were briefly as follows:

"It is known that the Arabs living in Hatay, Adana and Mersin mostly sustain their lives by working in Arab countries, primarily Saudi Arabia.

"Despite our all requests during the course of the pandemic, the information regarding the situation in provinces amid pandemic has not been shared even with MPs. According to the only statement released by the Ministry of Health, the number of cases in Adana province was 241 on April 3 and the number fatalities was 45 on May 27.

"As for Hatay province, while the number of cases was 32 on April 3, the number of fatalities announced on May 27 was 11. We don't know the current data about the provinces. 

"We know that a very few number of people can return to country under the name of 'normalization.' These citizens are not quarantined. So, we hear rumours that the outbreak is spreading, especially in Hatay.

"Even though we have asked the Health Ministry times over times, we cannot reach the number of cases or fatalities. It is unacceptable. Unfortunately, it is the case for the whole Turkey.

"In Saudi Arabia, where 746 fatalities and 105.283 cases of coronavirus have been reported so far, our citizens working there have had to live under really difficult circumstances throughout the pandemic. These citizens, with their workplaces closed and majority of whom left unemployed, wanted to return to Turkey; however, their return could not be ensured.

"We also indicated this in our Parliamentary questions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The basic needs of workers, who are citizens of Turkey and had to stay in Saudi Arabia and other countries amid pandemic, have not been met, their return to the country has not been ensured.

'Why were deceased bodies not brought back?'

"Longing for reuniting with their families as soon as possible, the citizens' return tickets dated June 10 have been cancelled. We are asking the Minister: What is the reason for this cancellation? Is it because of increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey?

"And, what about our citizens left abroad deprived of jobs and healthcare services amid pandemic conditions? Are their lives worthless? If the state is not obligated to ensure that its citizens are alive and have access to health services, then what is its obligation?

"And, we keep asking: In the face of growing sorrow of the families who lost their loved ones in such conditions, why have the deceased bodies of our citizens who lost their lives in Saudi Arabia not been brought back yet?

"These citizens of ours from Hatay are having serious economic, psychological and medical hardships. They are still waiting anxiously. What they only want is for you to ensure that they can return to the country in healthy conditions as soon as possible and to reunite with their families after a period of quarantine. It also needs to be ensured that our citizens diagnosed with COVID-19 receive the necessary treatment.

'There is no hour to lose, let alone a day

"We are, once again, reiterating our solution offer: Our all citizens who want to come back to Turkey and all patients, especially the ones not provided with treatment, need to be brought back to Turkey. The conditions for a 14-day quarantine need to be established and our citizens to be brought back from abroad need to be isolated in dormitories and aparts.

"All needs of the citizens who applied to consulates during the pandemic and those whose names have been notified to the Ministry via MPs need to be met. It is vital that the citizens who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and want to return to Turkey be brought back urgently and their treatment start as soon as possible. There is no hour to lose, let alone a day."

Workers abroad

Some information shared by Hatimoğulları is as follows:

"Stranded in Saudi Arabia, citizens are having difficulties in even living. Diagnosed with COVID-19, our 128 citizens are struggling for their lives. As far as we have been informed, the majority of these 128 citizens have not been hospitalized, they are treated at homes. Unfortunately, two citizens of ours have recently lost their lives due to coronavirus.

"The death of Umut Arpacı in Saudia Arabia while being treated for coronavirus was kept hidden from his family for four days. With the initiative of our emigrant citizens, the passing of Arpacı could be understood only after four days. Bad enough that his death was kept hidden, when his dead body would be brought back to Turkey was uncertain for a long time.

"As for Kerim İntizamoğlu, who lost his life in Arabia two days ago; when his family called, they were informed that the ambulance came, but it did not take him and he lost his life afterwards.

"Critically ill Zeynel Nehir, whose kidneys and heart function only by 25 percent, are not accepted to state hospitals and he cannot be treated because private hospitals charge 6,000 Riyal a day.

"Mithat Sürmeli had an head trauma in Xamis city of Arabia and has been paralyzed. Suffering from liver failure as well, Mithat Sürmeli cannot have a treatment. Ambulance aircraft needs to be made available upon the requests of these two critically ill citizens." (EMK/NÖ/SD)