Lack of clean water, toilets puts survivors at risk of disease

In the Turkish town of Malatya, tens of thousands of people lost their homes and belongings to the quake, but fears are growing that the disaster could now expose survivors, especially women, girls and newborns, to disease.

Many of the town's residents told MEE that their biggest concern was when they would have access to potable water, after amenities such as toilets and showers all but vanished when the first tremor struck.

"It's not sustainable," a man said while waiting in a queue to get food from the Turkish Red Crescent. "We have bottled water to drink but the main problem is the absence of hygiene."

With no water or a functioning sewage system, several of Malatya's residents were starting to worry about diseases potentially spreading after reports of diarrhea emerged.

"Clean water means you can have a bath; you can go to the toilet," said one resident.

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Turkey earthquake: Lack of clean water and toilets puts survivors at risk of disease