Here, there appears to be another layer of suffering… There is sense that disasters are befalling the country on an almost weekly basis, and nothing is happening to stop them. It is as if this is the new identity of the people, removing  any positive characteristic  from their personality. This is compounded by the cost of living crisis and the anniversary of the earthquake looming and it being the winter season.

Nothing can be done about natural disasters, except learning to react to them . As for preventable disasters, finding someone to blame instantly rarely gets to the root cause. I hope an independent enquiry is commissioned with regard to Bolu. It will take longer but the outcome maybe more satisfactory in changing practices and finding organisations and people who should be held responsible.

My heart, as ever, is with my adopted country and people who I dearly love.

Thoughts are with the families  of the victims at this difficult time, may Allah have mercy on them. (DRM/VK)