The Turkish painter Omer Akcil “coincidentally” took on the role of translator for the Portuguese mission in Turkey, but he was the “guide” of the Portuguese through the devastated inner city of Antakia where, beyond translated words, he sought empathy.
In the ruins of the center of Antakya, where it seems that no building was left unscathed by the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6, Omer Akcil draws so much attention to the Portuguese mission after talking to a local, as he is mentioned by the operators, when addressed by a resident, who still hopes to find his kin alive in the broken streets of that city of half a million.
Omer translates from Turkish into Spanish, which he speaks easily, and when he hears back, he hears the Portuguese from the operators, which he understands perfectly. “We have built a relationship of friendship and loyalty with him. Omer’s work was absolutely fundamental, because without a guide our work would have been much more difficult”told the Lusa news agency, the commander of the Portuguese mission in Turkey, José Guilherme, and stressed that few Turks speak English.
The painter stayed with the team at the base and “became one of the family,” the commander stressed. “He will be sorely missed,” said José Guilherme, referring to a National Civil Protection Authority commemorative medal given to the painter-turned-translator.
The meeting between team and painter was a work of “destiny”, says Omer Akcil, a painter who lives in Cappadocia, Turkey, but sometimes travels to Spain, Italy or other countries – “depends on the direction of the wind”.
“I had a request from the Turkish embassy in Mexico to join the Mexican team at Adana airport. Due to traffic I didn’t arrive on time and they followed. At the airport I met the Portuguese team and went with them along”says Lusa, the Turkish resident of Bursa, in western Turkey.
According to Omer, he found comrades in the Portuguese team. “We don’t speak the same language, but we have the same feelings. We are united by the same goal. And their attitude is incredible. I saw them go around the streets, always looking for a life, always looking for , never giving up”emphasizes.
He believes that the time spent with the Portuguese mission in Antakya will be “the most impressive moment” of his life. “Seeing that people like this exist gives me hope for the future”he admitted to Lusa.
When Omer works with the Portuguese, he doesn’t just translate what people tell him. He is always ready to give a hug to anyone who approaches him in Antakya, looking for relatives in the rubble. “I just try to give hope to the people I meet. The situation is terrible and I wish that by giving hope people are moved in the right direction”explains.
On the face of those who approached him for more than a week or who had to explain that perhaps their relative was no longer alive, he always found “the same expression”. “Deep sadness on their faces. The pain is too much”says Omer, who is said to be called the “soul painter”. “I will never forget the smell of death. It will remain in my memory forever”he says, continuing with the Portuguese team in the center of Antakya.
It is already night in the city, more than a week has passed since the earthquake, there are no living people left to search for the rubble, the silence is almost absolute and the smell of the dead overpowers every other in the street.
“Imagine, on this street, a month ago, people were dancing, eating, drinking, chatting with friends or neighbours, living their lives. And the earthquake wiped all that out. It completely destroyed the street. A remnant of that, of those moments. It’s hard to accept that reality.”air Omer.
Source: DN
