Finance plea for cash-strapped Turks as virus lockdown looms

Finance plea for cash-strapped Turks as virus lockdown looms

ANKARA: Turkey is bracing itself for a full lockdown from Thursday evening until May 17 in a desperate bid to help curb skyrocketing COVID-19 cases. The number of daily reported infections in the country has surpassed 37, 000 with an average of more than 350 deaths being recorded each day. Almost all workplaces are being forced to suspend their activities during the new period of restrictions “” with certain exceptions in the logistics, food, manufacturing, and delivery sectors “” sparking outrage among cash-strapped sections of society left with no financial support mechanisms. Experts and politicians have urged the Turkish government to introduce emergency measures to provide monetary aid to struggling citizens, including small business and shop owners, and those who rely on daily wages. "The government cannot abandon people to starve after it already left them in need of onions, potatoes, and bread," said Ali Seker, a lawmaker from Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). And in a tweet, Garo Paylan, a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), said: "How are people supposed to feed themselves? How will they pay their bills, rent, and debts? This order will probably ruin their Ramadan holiday." In February, 250, 000