One Year On, Turkish Quake Survivors Endure Uncertainty in Makeshift Homes
A year after a devastating earthquake ripped through Turkey and Syria, the wounds remain raw.
Hundreds of thousands of survivors still cling to temporary shelter - tents, barracks, and containers - their futures clouded by uncertainty. Harsh conditions and the constant fear of aftershocks cast a long shadow, while authorities promise new homes built to stricter standards.
Antakya, once a vibrant city, bears the deepest scars. Ninety percent of its structures lie in ruins, 14 centuries of history erased in a mere two minutes. The legendary cityscape is a wasteland, its oldest mosque reduced to rubble. Survivors like Kamil Ezer, who spent 36 agonising hours trapped with his deceased wife, wait for the promised government aid. "This is the first time we've reunited since the quake," he says, clutching the hands of rescuers who became his lifeline. "They saved me, they're my family now."
The lack of permanent housing adds another layer of despair. Homes demolished, futures shattered, survivors like Ezer navigate an uncertain future. "They gave no explanation, just destroyed what remained," he recounts, bitterness creeping into his voice. "We were promised an apartment, but when? No answer."
Many huddle in tents, enduring freezing temperatures. Others find refuge in cramped containers. "Nights are brutal, but mornings offer a fleeting reprieve," whispers a resident. Three children huddle on a threadbare rug, while siblings share beds and couches. "We applied for a container, but nothing yet," they lament.
Authorities pledge a different approach to reconstruction, prioritising seismic standards and aiming for lower-rise buildings. However, rebuilding lives and a city takes time. In Adiyaman, another devastated city, the clock tower remains frozen at the moment of disaster - 4:17 AM. Over 53,000 lives were lost, over 700,000 displaced, marking the worst earthquake in modern Turkish history. The path to healing is long and arduous, with over 100,000 buildings reduced to rubble.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
