Turkey has commenced efforts to rebuild the homes damaged or destroyed by the devastating earthquakes that occurred earlier this month. These earthquakes killed tens of thousands of people in Turkey and Syria and left more than 160,000 buildings containing 520,000 apartments severely damaged or collapsed. The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) announced that the death toll in Turkey had risen to 44,218 on Friday night, with Syria’s latest announced death toll standing at 5,914, bringing the combined death toll in the two countries to above 50,000.
As President Tayyip Erdogan prepares for an election within months, he has pledged to rebuild the homes within a year. However, experts have warned that safety must be prioritized before speed, as some buildings that were meant to withstand tremors crumbled in the latest earthquakes. Despite the urgency, the rebuilding process is moving at a quick pace. Tenders and contracts for several projects have already been issued, and safety will not be compromised.
The authorities have dispatched tents for the many who are homeless, but people have reported difficulty accessing them. Many are living in damp tents with water on top, while waiting for more tents. The UNDP estimated that the disaster has left 1.5 million people homeless, with 500,000 new homes needed. Turkey’s government plans to build 200,000 apartments and 70,000 village houses at a cost of at least $15 billion, while JPMorgan estimates that rebuilding houses and infrastructure will cost $25 billion.
The UNDP has requested $113.5 million of the $1 billion in funds appealed for by the United Nations last week, which it plans to focus on clearing away mountains of rubble. The organization also estimates that the disaster has produced between 116 million and 210 million tons of rubble, compared with 13 million tons of rubble after the earthquake in northwest Turkey in 1999.
Turkey has issued new regulations allowing companies and charities to build homes and workplaces to donate to the urbanization ministry for people in need. While many survivors have left the region of southern Turkey hit by the quake, others have been settled in tents, container homes, and other government-sponsored accommodations. Despite the devastation, some like Saeed Sleiman Ertoglu, a 56-year-old waterpipe shop owner, have found hope, saying that, “This is an act of God, and God’s will always bears gifts.”
»Turkey begins work to rebuild homes for 1.5 million left homeless by earthquakes«
↯↯↯Read More On The Topic On TDPel Media ↯↯↯