ANKARA, Turkey — Two years have gone by since a catastrophic earthquake ravaged the southern region of Turkey, but for survivors like Omer Aydin, the pain and memories remain vivid. Aydin, a single father of three, faces his third winter living in a temporary housing unit resembling a shipping container, all while contending with an escalating cost-of-living crisis that is impacting the entire nation. He is also trying to find a path to healing from the trauma caused by the disaster.
The earthquake, registering a magnitude of 7.8 on February 6, 2023, followed by another significant tremor just hours later, resulted in widespread destruction across 11 provinces in southern and southeastern Turkey. This disaster left over 53,000 individuals dead, and an additional 6,000 fatalities were reported in northern Syria, marking it as one of the most devastating events in Turkey’s history.
Aydin, who is 51 years old and works as an electrician, recalls the horrifying sounds of destruction that night, stating, “The noises of homes collapsing and the cries for help continue to haunt me.” He shared his experiences in a phone interview, expressing the deep emotional scars they have inflicted. His family’s home in Iskenderun, located in the most severely affected Hatay province, was split apart during the quake. Thankfully, Aydin and his children, along with his elderly mother, escaped unharmed. However, they had to endure four chilly nights in a makeshift tent made from plastic sheets and wooden scraps.
Currently residing in a container home within a temporary settlement referred to as a “container city” in Iskenderun, Aydin struggles to provide for his family on a meager state pension, which he claims is insufficient for their needs. While he is able to take on occasional work as an electrician, job opportunities in the area are limited. As the primary breadwinner, Aydin faces additional challenges, especially as his eldest son, aged 26, is undergoing cancer treatment that necessitates frequent travel to a hospital in Adana, approximately 135 kilometers away. His middle child is waiting to begin military service, and his youngest daughter attends school.
Life in the container settlement presents daily hurdles, with inadequate sanitary conditions being one of them. The government is constructing new housing, and Aydin’s family qualifies for one of these homes. However, he fears he won’t be able to furnish it or pay the necessary expenses once they move in, lamenting, “I don’t even own a pin; what will I do once I relocate?”
On a somber note, on the anniversary of the earthquake, prayers honoring the deceased echoed through mosques, as survivors gathered at cemeteries to remember their loved ones. They left flowers on graves and shared their condolences with others, while a moment of silence was observed at 04:17 a.m., the exact time of the quake. The chilling echoes of yesteryear’s screams for help resounded during these ceremonies.
Disruptions occurred as clashes unfolded between mourners and police in Antakya, the capital of Hatay province, when authorities attempted to block access to a main square. Eventually, restrictions were lifted, allowing people to lay flowers on the banks of the Orontes River.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a progress update stating that, by the end of 2024, 45% of the housing intended for earthquake victims is expected to be completed. The government aims to deliver close to 453,000 homes and businesses by the conclusion of 2025.
According to Jessie Thomson, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Turkey, nearly half a million individuals are still living in temporary container cities two years post-disaster. He expressed growing concerns, noting that many are still wrestling with finding sustainable livelihoods, alongside rising feelings of despair and depression. “A long and arduous recovery path lies ahead, demanding consistent support and solidarity,” Thomson stated.
In a heartfelt testimony, Aydin confided that when he rests at night, he often prays not to rise again the next morning. “Every single night as I lay down, I pray to God for a restful sleep,” he admitted.
Songul Erol, 29, a mother of two young daughters aged 7 and 3, is slowly putting her life back together in Samandag, also situated in Hatay province. After enduring months in both tents and container homes, she managed to secure funding from the Turkish Red Crescent, which allowed her to rent a shop to resume her business selling fishing and hunting gear. She has converted a back room of her shop into a living space, providing her daughters relief from their worsened allergies caused by their previous living conditions. Erol, still haunted by the memory of crumbling buildings, conveyed her singular wish: “I dream of moving into a one-story house that isn’t surrounded by towering apartment buildings.”
