Three Children Die in Istanbul Fire, Sparking Call for Welfare Reform

A poverty relief group has demanded urgent changes to Turkey's social aid system after a deadly house fire in Istanbul. The blaze in the Pendik district killed three children and left another seriously injured. Hacer Foggo, founder of the Deep Poverty Network, said the tragedy must lead to action. "We need to discuss the public duties that must be performed, rather than placing the burden on the family," Foggo stated. She called for a new "rights-based social assistance system." The statement implies that current support for vulnerable families is insufficient to prevent such disasters. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.