MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

At the moment is the primary day of Ramadan, and usually it is a festive vacation. However for hundreds of thousands of individuals in southern Turkey and Syria, it is going to be bittersweet. They’re nonetheless struggling following final month’s earthquakes. Greater than 50,000 folks died. Tons of of hundreds of houses have been destroyed, hundreds of individuals scattered in tent camps or different momentary housing. We’re joined now by NPR’s Fatima Tanis, who’s in Gaziantep in southern Turkey. Hey, Fatma.

FATMA TANIS, BYLINE: Hello, Mary Louise.

KELLY: So I wish to hear a little bit extra about simply what it appears to be like like in these cities and cities that I do know so many individuals fled after the earthquake in early February. Have they began coming again, began coming dwelling?

TANIS: They’ve. It has been gradual. Yesterday, for the primary time, I noticed folks on the streets. They have been getting their Ramadan purchasing finished and their final noon espresso repair in since they will not be consuming or ingesting throughout the daytime for the following month. However many nonetheless aren’t ready to return to their houses. Even right here in Gaziantep, the place there’s been much less harm than different cities, lots of people are nonetheless in tents. At the moment we felt 4 aftershocks right here, and I used to be truly at a tent camp throughout a type of. And it was a chilling reminder of how traumatized persons are right here. You understand, kids began crying. Individuals have been flying out of their tents, you realize, asking one another, did you are feeling it? Is it over? One in every of them was Esma Tezcan, who was comforting her youthful brother. Right here she is.

ESMA TEZCAN: (Talking Turkish).

TANIS: She says they’re having a very exhausting time as a result of that earthquake again in February was so violent, they usually’re nonetheless very afraid.

KELLY: I can think about simply – you realize, to really feel an aftershock and never marvel – and marvel, is that this one other huge one, or what’s it? Once you ask folks about Ramadan and whether or not they are going to be celebrating it, observing it, what’s even the precise phrase to make use of this yr?

TANIS: Effectively, they’re observing it, however it is going to be far more subdued. And you may, you realize, inform by simply being right here. There are not one of the traditional decorations and lights. You understand, at the very least 1,400 mosques within the area have been broken or destroyed. So prayers are being held in small tents outdoors. Even eating places aren’t doing their particular Ramadan menus right here. However native officers are attempting to work to type of carry folks’s spirits on the tent camp I went to. I spoke to 1 man who was organizing toys for kids at a stall. His title is Zafer Yilmaz.

ZAFER YILMAZ: (Talking Turkish).

TANIS: He says, you realize, there will likely be cinemas and theater exhibits for teenagers in addition to sweets and music live shows to distract folks from the psychological stress and despair that they’re in proper now.

KELLY: I do know one other cease that you just made at present, Fatma, was at a group iftar. That is the place folks break their day by day quick with what normally can be a big meal. Simply take us there. Inform me what it was like.

TANIS: It was actually crowded. There have been actually lengthy traces. And, you realize, the iftar tent is a conventional occasion that occurs yearly so that folks in want can get meals as effectively. However this yr I heard from lots of people that they got here out as a result of they’re nonetheless, you realize, grieving family members who died within the earthquake or they can not cook dinner at dwelling due to harm. They usually’re searching for the consolation of being outdoors and breaking their quick with the group.

KELLY: And simply briefly, what sort of assist, what sort of help will earthquake survivors be getting?

TANIS: An enormous a part of Ramadan is, after all, about charity work. And folks say this Ramadan goes to be far more about serving to out than any of the opposite traditions. Native officers, help teams, eating places are passing out meals so folks haven’t got to fret about that. And common residents are serving to out as effectively. I spoke with one 75-year-old girl who was, you realize, carrying luggage so full she may barely carry them. She was strolling from tent to tent, passing out dates. And she or he stated she can be doing this all month. However there’s simply so many individuals who need assistance that there are – some are involved about fatigue.

KELLY: Yeah. NPR’s Fatma Tanis reporting in southern Turkey. Thanks.

TANIS: Thanks.

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