Imagine if you will, coming home from work and finding your home and all your possessions have been destroyed by fire.  All that you and your family have left are the clothes you are wearing.  You have nowhere to live.

Then imagine how you would feel knowing that you have no insurance, and no means to replace all the things you have lost.

If you can imagine this, you will know how Tahir Gedıkoğlu, his wife Yüksel, and two children Yücel and Tuğçe felt at around 2pm on Saturday 6th June 2009. 

It was around this time that they realised that their home in Akbel had been consumed by fire.  The source of the fire is believed to be an electricity pylon next to their home.

Tahir works on property maintenance in Kalkan, and his wife Yüksel is a cleaner.  They were married in 1989, when they moved from their home village of Islamlar to their new home in Akbel.  On the day of the fire they were both out at work, as was their 17 year old son Yücel.  Fortunately, their 10 year old daughter, Tuğçe was playing out with friends at the time and was not in the house.

The Kalkan Belediye fire engine attended, and was supported by nearby fire engines managed by the forestry department, but unfortunately they were unable to save two properties - Tahir's house and his next door neighbour's house.  Both were empty and there were no casualties, but the smoke was visible for miles as it drifted over Kalkan.

Speaking to local people, we understand that only a tiny minority of properties in Akbel (and other similar villages) are insured against fire.  Everyone should have complulsory earthquake cover (Dask), but many people cannot afford to pay for the type of home insurance that people in the UK would see as essential.

For Tahir's neighbour, the property that was destroyed was not his main residence, and we understand that he will be able to recover without any assistance.  However for Tahir, this was the family home and they are left with absolutely nothing.  They are currently staying with Tahir's brother, who lives between Akbel and Kalkan.

As bad as this is, there is hope.  In Turkey, there is a strong culture of community, and it is already evident that people are providing such assistance as they can.  Clothes have been donated by friends.  Building suppliers have agreed to donate some materials free of charge or at cost.  There are collections of money at some Mosques.  The government also provides some assistance, but it is only a fraction of what is needed.

If you are asking, why not make a claim against the Tedaş, that is a good question.  After all, the government authorities who investigated the fire suspect it was caused by cables from the electricity pylon.  However, the reality is that any claim is likely to be protracted, costly and the chances of getting a positive outcome are not great.

And so we return to the only 'insurance' they have - the support of the local community.  Already work has begun on building a replacement two bedroomed house.  A concrete base is already in place.  A few building supplies are piled up nearby.  Construction workers will have to be found, as will the money to pay them.  In the picture below you can see Tahir Gedikoğlu stood near to the foundations of what will be his new home.  He is stood next to the electricity pylon which has now been moved a few metres away from its original position. 

KTLN met up with Tahir and his family.  They are decent people, who appear to be coping remarkably well in difficult circumstances.  Fortunately, they still have each other and there is an optimism in their voices and a complete lack of self pity, which left me feeling quite humbled.  I'm not sure I would be coping quite as stoically as them.

We asked Tahir and other local people close to the family if there was anything that we could do to help.  There is.  Returning to the strong sense of community that we mentioned earlier, we would like to appeal to you to help Tahir and his family.  Perhaps you live in Kalkan, or maybe you just own a property and come out here on holiday.  Either way, we wondered whether you might feel part of the wider Kalkan community, and consider helping this family in their hour of need.

If you have anything that may help them get back on their feet, such as furniture or white goods and household appliances, please let us know.  Clearly, money would be useful to go towards the building costs, so with Tahir's permission, we provide below his bank account details, where you can send money, should you wish to do so.

Deniz Bank Kalkan
Name of account: Tahir Gedikoğlu

Account number Turkish Lira: 907780-351
TRY IBAN: TR06 0013 4000 0009 0778 0000 01

Account number GBP Sterling: 907780-352
GBP IBAN: TR76 0013 4000 0009 0778 0000 02
 
We know that Tahir is being supported by local professionals who are project managing the rebuilding of his family home, and they will ensure that funds are applied in the most effective way possible.  Let's hope they are back in their own home some time soon.  Inşallah.

Photographs of the fire reproduced by kind permission of Kalkan Haber www.kalkanhaber.com