Emine Tanrica, a survivor of the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria last year
Has been residing in a temporary shelter within a camp for displaced individuals. Amidst the challenging circumstances, she eagerly awaits the fulfillment of the Turkish government’s long-standing promise of new housing. “Life in this place is far from easy,” expresses the 47-year-old. Before the earthquake, her family resided in spacious rooms, but now they find themselves confined within a narrow container, which has taken a toll on her health. Tanrica shared that earlier in the day, she sought medical assistance due to difficulty breathing and an accelerated heartbeat.
Last week, Turkey observed the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake that claimed the lives of more than 53,000 individuals and left over 3 million people without homes. On Tuesday, a solemn vigil was held, where thousands gathered to mourn the tragedy that the government has labeled as the “disaster of the century.” Despite President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s commitment to reconstructing the affected cities and providing housing for the displaced, hundreds of thousands of individuals still find themselves residing in camps, patiently awaiting permanent housing.
Antakya, situated on the grounds of the ancient city of Antioch, suffered immense destruction during the earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023. A significant portion of the modern city crumbled under the force of the disaster.
Nuriye, a 19-year-old, along with her family, sought refuge in Nevsehir, a city in Turkey’s central Anatolia region, following the earthquake. Uncertain about what awaited them upon their return to Antakya, they decided to go back. However, even though their house was deemed “lightly damaged” by inspectors, Nuriye expresses her unease and lack of safety in the area.
According to her, their two-story house is at risk of collapsing if another earthquake occurs, as she doubts the stability of the columns. To mitigate this fear, they have set up a tent outside the house and evacuate there whenever the ground shakes.
Turkey’s Gaziantep province experienced a significant earthquake with its epicenter situated 26 km east of the city of Nurdagi. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 17.9 km and was followed by a Magnitude-7.5 event located around 4 km southeast of Ekinözü in the Kahramanmaraş province. The impact of this destructive earthquake has been felt in various areas, including the war-ravaged city of Aleppo in Syria. This catastrophic event has added to the already dire circumstances faced by millions of refugees residing in the affected region.
In Hatay, a province in the south, two earthquakes measuring 6.4 and 5.8 magnitudes respectively occurred on February 20. These seismic events added to the existing destruction caused by previous earthquakes that had hit the area only weeks ago.
Antakya used to be a place of enjoyment for Nuriye and her friends, but now she describes their situation as dire. She candidly admits her desire to leave the area, stating, “To be honest, I want to depart from here. I want to go.”
The estimated cost of the earthquake damage in Turkey was initially reported by the government to be over $103 billion during the spring. However, independent economists argue that the actual cost is closer to $150 billion over a span of five years. In May, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a commitment to a robust reconstruction program, promising the construction of approximately 319,000 safe new homes within the first year.
Unfortunately, the progress of the reconstruction effort has significantly lagged behind this target, raising concerns among critics regarding both the speed and quality of the reconstruction. Mustafa Ozcelik, the head of the Turkish Chamber of Engineers and Architects, highlights that the majority of the rebuilding has been concentrated on the outskirts of cities like Antakya, while the badly damaged city center is still undergoing the demolition of destroyed buildings.