5 siblings die in Türkiye house fire: Debate over government aid, poverty, child welfare

A devastating fire in Selcuk, Izmir, has left Türkiye grieving after five young siblings died alone in their home.

The tragedy has sparked nationwide outrage and raised questions about Türkiye’s social services, child welfare protections, and the state’s responsibility toward impoverished families.

As authorities investigate the deaths of five siblings, many are calling for reform to address the gaps in support and protection for Türkiye’s most vulnerable children.

How tragic fire unfolded, taking lives of 5 siblings left home alone

Context: This tragedy brings into focus the severe risks that impoverished families face daily and has intensified calls for a closer look at the role of state support in protecting vulnerable families.

Details of the incident:

• On the evening of Nov. 11, a fire broke out in the family home of five siblings in Cumhuriyet Mahallesi, Selcuk, reportedly caused by a tipped-over electric heater
• The siblings, Aras Bulut (1), Masal Isik (2), Aslan Mirac (3), Funda Peri (4), and Fadime Nefes (5), were alone in the house at the time

Where was their mother?

• Their mother, 27-year-old Melisa Sinem Akcan, had briefly left the home to collect scrap metal, her primary means of income.
• When she returned, she found the house filled with smoke. Despite her frantic cries for help, neighbors and emergency responders arrived too late. All 5 siblings died from smoke inhalation.

Aftermath and response:

• Authorities hospitalized Akcan for shock and later detained her for questioning.
• The children’s father, Hakan Akcan, who is currently serving a prison sentence for theft, attended the funeral with special permission. Akcan attended the funeral handcuffed and was visibly emotional as he mourned alongside grieving family members. Authorities allowed him to remove his handcuffs briefly so he could participate fully in the funeral rites.

Broader implications:

• The tragedy of the 5 siblings has brought into sharp relief the precarious conditions faced by Türkiye’s poorest families and has sparked a national debate over whether the current social support system provides adequate protection for families in need

Turkish government defends aid program amid community criticism

In response to the outcry following the fire, the Ministry of Family and Social Services stated the assistance it claims was provided to the Akcan family.

• The ministry reported that the family had received a total of $3200 (₺110,000) in financial aid since August 2024, along with regular social service visits.
• According to the ministry, social workers visited the family 18 times and had even proposed placing the children in state custody, an offer reportedly declined by the family.
• Ruling party Justice and Development Party (AK Party) representative Ozlem Zengin defended the ministry’s response to the family’s needs, explaining that the government cannot forcibly remove children from their families without consent.
• “The Ministry was attentive to this family,” Zengin stated, adding that Türkiye’s social service model aims to assist families within their own homes rather than separating children from their parents.
• Zengin also said that financial issues alone should not be the focus, implying that other social factors may have influenced the family’s circumstances.

What did Turkish community activists, opposition parties say about death of 5 children?

Residents, community activists, and rights groups have expressed sharp criticism, describing the ministry’s assistance as minimal and inadequate. Neighbors recounted the Akcan family’s extreme poverty and noted that their circumstances left them struggling to meet basic needs.

Hacer Foggo, an activist for child welfare and poverty alleviation, condemned the government’s response as insufficient.

The tragic death of these 5 siblings is actually a problem for all of Türkiye. I’m not the only one saying this. I continue working in these neighborhoods, with these children, with these mothers, and I write and report on what I observe and research about this…

While these statistics are in front of us, it’s unacceptable for Ozlem Zengin [AKP representative] to place all the blame on the family or the mother.

If we are going to solve this issue for our country, for the future of our country and our children, so that poverty is not passed down to them, we need to face these facts and take action as a social state.

Hacer Foggo

Opposition politicians have also questioned the government’s response. Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA Party) MP Elif Esen submitted an official inquiry on whether Türkiye’s social policies are protecting at-risk children adequately and called for an urgent review of the welfare system.

Main opposition party Republic and People’s Party (CHP)’s Trabzon MP Sibel Suicmez argued that the tragedy in Izmir reflects deeper systemic issues, stating, “The deaths of these five children are a direct result of the current government’s policies.”

She criticized the AK Party administration’s focus on costly state projects while neglecting poverty, pointing out that millions of children face hunger and insufficient state support.

Suicmez explained that the ministry’s “2025 Children’s Protection and Development budget” allocates only $0.15 (₺5) per day per child, based on a total budget of $1.2 billion (₺41 billion) divided among Türkiye’s 22 million children.

She argued this amount was “woefully inadequate” to provide for children’s basic needs, let alone protect their welfare.

Mother’s revelations on aid raise questions about official statements from social services

In response to the ministry’s statements about financial aid, Melisa Akcan denied the claim that her family had received $3200 (₺110,000) in several interviews after the tragedy.

• Akcan said her family initially received $230 (₺8,000) in support, which was then reduced to $115 (₺4,000) a month.
• She described this support as insufficient to meet her children’s needs and criticized the Ministry’s claims as misleading.

I never received $3200 (₺110,000). They reduced my monthly support to $115 (₺4,000). How could I feed and care for 5 children with so little?

said mother Melisa Akcan

Akcan’s account has cast doubt on the Ministry’s portrayal of aid, raising public concerns about transparency in social assistance. Local residents familiar with the family described their reliance on small donations and Akcan’s income from collecting scrap metal.

A unanimous neighbor questioned how authorities could ignore the family’s severe hardship, saying, “We’ve seen how hard they struggled just to buy food and supplies. I don’t believe this aid claim matches what they actually lived through.”

Türkiye’s child protection laws could have placed the children in state care, say legal experts

Context: The tragic deaths of the five siblings in Izmir have reignited discussions on Türkiye’s child protection laws and whether current regulations are adequate to prevent similar tragedies.

Key law in focus:

• Article 348 of Türkiye’s Civil Code grants the state authority to intervene when parents cannot meet their children’s basic needs.
• Legal experts argue this provision could have been applied in the Akcan family’s case, given their extreme poverty and the father’s imprisonment.

What experts are saying:

• Professor Devrim Gungor, Ankara University: “In situations where parents cannot meet their children’s basic needs, the state has a legal duty to intervene under Article 348 to protect children from dangerous environments.”
• Canan Gullu, head of Türkiye’s Women’s Associations Federation: “If a family cannot provide a safe environment, the government has an obligation to appoint a guardian or find alternative care for the children.” Gullu highlighted that authorities should actively monitor at-risk children and take action when necessary.
• Rezan Epozdemir, legal expert: Epozdemir pointed out that social services have the responsibility to assess and intervene in cases where a child’s safety is at risk. He explained that “a failure to act could constitute negligence on the part of social service authorities,” especially in instances where repeated visits indicate ongoing hardship and vulnerability.

Child poverty in Türkiye impacts millions, reveals need for urgent welfare reform

The tragic case of the 5 siblings reflects the broader issue of child poverty in Türkiye, where nearly 7 million children live below the poverty line.

• Reports from the Turkish Statistical Institute confirm that many families, like the Akcans, depend on limited government support that often fails to meet basic needs.

Educational and social services are out of reach for many low-income families in Türkiye.

• A recent report estimated that over 600,000 children lack access to education because of economic hardships.
• Countless children grow up without sufficient food, healthcare, and stable housing, leading to a cycle of poverty passed down through generations.

Activists like Hacer Foggo urge Türkiye’s government to take action, calling for a child-centered model that focuses on children’s welfare and family support. “This tragedy reveals the urgent need for Türkiye to create a welfare system that protects children. Without real reform, more children will suffer,” Foggo said.

Rights groups and advocates echo her call for welfare reform, demanding stronger financial support, better access to childcare, and broader educational opportunities.