Atik, appointed as the coordinating governor to Hatay after the earthquake: ‘I forgot about my illness while I was there’

After the earthquakes that occurred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, former Denizli Governor Ali Fuat Atik, who was appointed as the coordinating governor to Hatay and undergoing cancer treatment at that time, said, ‘When I saw the environment, I thought mine was not a problem. I forgot about my illness there.’ Former Denizli Governor Ali Fuat Atik, who was appointed as the coordinating governor to Hatay in the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, was awarded the ‘Loyalty Award’ at the 7th ‘International Goodness Awards’ organized by the Turkish Religious Foundation (TDV) and the Presidency of Religious Affairs. Receiving his plaque from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Congress and Culture Center, Atik, despite undergoing cancer treatment, stated to IHA reporter that he was among the first teams to arrive in the region after the earthquakes on February 6, 2023. Describing the scene he encountered in the earthquake zone as a disaster, Atik emphasized that he could not put into words the emotions he experienced at that moment.
‘I completed the chemotherapy process in Hatay’
Atik, who stated that they immediately started working on search, rescue, and burial operations after the earthquake, said, ‘Our treatment process was ongoing as well. I had started chemotherapy and was assigned to Hatay. I couldn’t refuse to go, and I cannot. I started working in Hatay and completed the chemotherapy process under difficult conditions.’
‘I forgot about my illness there’
Atik, who mentioned being in a pessimistic mood when he learned about his illness before the earthquake, said, ‘When I saw the environment, I thought mine was not a problem. I forgot about my illness there. I have now recovered my health, thanks God. The most important reason for this was the prayers of our people. When our people learned about that illness, everyone, whether known or unknown, my family, relatives, friends, and acquaintances, called me or sent beautiful prayers via social media in such a way that I overcame this illness with that morale.’
‘We will be like children to those who lost their children’
Atik, who said he was happy to receive the award from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, added, ‘I want to dedicate this award to all the team members who worked with me at that time. They truly deserved it. Diligently, without sleeping, hungry, and thirsty, with no personal expectations, they worked tirelessly to heal the wounds of our people by following my instructions. I only led and organized them. ‘We will be like children to those who lost their children, fathers to those who lost their fathers, brothers to those who lost their brothers. We will heal the wounds together. Our duty is not just a funeral ceremony,’ I had a small meeting with them like this. After burying all the deceased citizens in accordance with religious rules, we sat with their relatives and cried together. From now on, we are your children, fathers, and brothers.’