Two years after devastating quake, Türkiye's recovery remains slow and painful

Two years after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastated southeastern Türkiye, killing over 55,000 people, rebuilding efforts remain incomplete, with hundreds of thousands still living in temporary housing.

On the anniversary of the disaster, residents of Antakya gathered early Wednesday to honor the victims, holding torches and chanting, "No forgetting, no forgiving, no reconciliation." The quake, which struck on February 6, 2023, destroyed entire towns across 11 Turkish provinces and parts of northern Syria.

Despite government pledges to construct 650,000 homes, opposition leaders and aid groups say progress has been slow. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently stated that 201,431 housing units had been delivered, falling short of the 319,000 he initially promised within a year.

Critics, including opposition leader Özgür Özel, argue that only 30% of the pledged reconstruction has been completed, with some areas, like Hatay, seeing just an 18% completion rate. Many survivors remain in container homes, facing poor sanitation, limited healthcare, and economic uncertainty.

Aid organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, warn that reconstruction delays threaten long-term stability, with some areas at risk of depopulation.

The Turkish government insists that recovery efforts remain on track, with Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum announcing plans to deliver 423,000 more homes and workplaces by the end of 2025. Türkiye has allocated $19 billion for ongoing reconstruction.

For many survivors, however, the pain of loss and displacement continues. In Antakya, activist Özgür Tıraş vowed, "We will rebuild this city with our own hands."

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