Upon Gül’s direction, the Hakkari Governor’s Office, the Şemdinli district governor’s office and a social aid foundation are to coordinate in meeting the needs of Korkmaz’s widow and children. The two children’s educational expenses are being paid and in additional to aid already provided to the family, work is in progress on ensuring that a regular salary be paid to the family and a home bought for them.Widow Hamide Korkmaz has tears in her eyes when she speaks of the attentiveness with which her family is now being treated, saying: “For years there was nobody to help me. I thank the president for standing up for us; may God be pleased with him. I am waiting for my husband’s killers to be dealt the necessary punishment so that the pain in our hearts can begin to ease.”
Fatma Korkmaz, who lost her father when she was 7 years old, says that she has a surprise planned for the president. Currently a fifth grader, Fatma says that for years she has cried every time report cards were sent home at school as all of her friends immediately ran to show their fathers their grades. “I would always cry. When there are parent-teacher conferences, my uncle always comes instead of my father. I would cry all night into the morning every time I got a report card. This time I’m going to take the report card to the president. He’s my godfather now,” she says in appreciation of the aid her family is receiving now. Fatma’s little brother, third-grader Yusuf, says that when he grows up and does his military service, he wants to catch the people who killed his father and bring them to justice.
According to Hakkari Governor Muammer Türker, in the first phase of aid after the president sent out a directive to help the Korkmaz family, TL 500 in cash was provided to ensure the children remain in school, and they are continuing to speak with the family to determine their needs.
