Money for Women and Children not for NATO

According to Professor Doctor Oguz Polat, there are no enough playing grounds for children in Istanbul. Prof. Polat also advocates that there is an urgent need for rehabilitation centers for children with disabilities, abused children, and children who work and live on the streets of Istanbul.

He said it was the responsibility of the municipality to eliminate these shortcomings.

Serap Gure from the Solidarity Foundation for Women (KADAV) said shelters have to be set up for women who are faced with harassment, violence and abuse. She added that the municipality is not doing anything to set up shelters.

An official from the Social Services and Child Protection Institution (SHCEK) said, on condition of anonymity, that the lives of hundreds of needy people would have changed with the money spend on the NATO summit. The summit is to be held in Istanbul on June 28-29.

"Money for women, children, the elderly; not for asphalt"

The official from SHCEK said that there is a particular inadequacy of ateliers and dormitories for children with disabilities, or those who work.

950 children and 1,350 adults are taking shelter in 48 centers of SHCEK in Istanbul. The Institution also provides rehabilitation services to 556 children who work on the streets.

The official said the monthly expense of a single SHCEK center varies according to its capacity, but is around 500 billion Turkish lira USD 335,000). With the money spent for the two-day NATO summit, five or six new centers could have been opened or the 2-year expense of a center could have been met, according to the official.

The SHCEK official said new shelters could have been built, small ateliers could have been opened, or scholarships could have been offered to children with the 25 trillion Turkish liras (USD 17 million). "The lives of hundreds of needy people could have changed with this money," he said.

Shelters are an urgent need

Gure from KADAV said there were a total of 11 shelters in Turkey, which has a population of almost 70 million. She said that according to United Nations (UN) agreements, there should be one shelter for every 7,500 people.

"If we were to comply with these standards, there would have to be hundreds of shelters only in Istanbul," said Gure. She said the municipality was not taking any steps and added that the regulations are inadequate.

Gure said the annual cost of a shelter with 20 beds and which provides for the needs of the women is around 120 billion Turkish lira (USD 80,000). She said tens of shelters could have been set up with 25 trillion Turkish lira.

Playing grounds and rehabilitation centers

Prof. Polat emphasized that the playing grounds for children and traffic signs in Istanbul were inadequate.

He also underlined that there are no enough rehabilitation centers for children with disadvantages, disabled children, and children who live on the streets of Istanbul.

"For example, there is no center for abused children," said Polat, adding that it was the municipality's responsibility to eliminate these shortcomings.

Polat, who is the founder of the Windmill Center for Children and Youth, with a 40-bed capacity, said the monthly expense of the center was around 10 billion Turkish lira (USD 6,600).

He also said that the money spent for the NATO summit could have been used

to set up tens of such centers.

25 trillion for asphalt and bushes

Istanbul mayor Kadir Topbas announced that the municipality spent 25 trillion Turkish lira for the NATO summit.

38,767 tons of asphalt was laid, an area of 35,000 square meters was painted, and 13,000 meters of pavement was laid with this money. The Parks and Gardens Directorship planted 8,800 trees, 72,000 bushes, 49,000 roses, and planted lawns to an area of 500,000 square meters.

A team of 200 people was set up to clean the area where the summit will be held. 1, 360 barriers were produced.

Topbas said the metro, Besiktas dock, Yenikapi ferries, and the coast road running from the airport to the "NATO Valley" would be closed off for the summit. "There will be some disruption of the daily life," said Topbas. "But we expect the people of Istanbul to be tolerant." (EU/BB)