Friday, Turkey issued rebuilding regulations for a region devastated by earthquakes this month, allowing businesses and nonprofits to assist in the urgent task of constructing new homes for the millions of people in need of rehousing.
During the earthquakes, more than 160,000 buildings containing 520,000 apartments collapsed or were severely damaged in Turkey.
The death toll from the earthquakes in Turkey now exceeds 43,500, while the death toll in neighbouring Syria, a country already devastated by war, is close to 6,000.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to rebuild homes within a year, despite the advice of experts that the government should prioritise safety. Some structures designed to withstand earthquakes fell during the recent tremors.
Numerous survivors have left the affected region of southern Turkey or have been relocated to tents, container homes, and other government-sponsored housing.
According to a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette, individuals, institutions, and organisations will be able to construct homes and workplaces that they can then donate to the urbanisation ministry; these properties will then be distributed to those in need.
Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag told CNNTurk that 171 people had been arrested and 77 more faced detention as part of an investigation into building code violations that led to the collapse of structures in the earthquake zone.
“All parties involved will be held accountable in court. Everyone will be punished in accordance with their degree of responsibility, Bozdag stated.
Authorities should discuss harsher punishments and deterrents for violating zoning regulations, which dictate where buildings can be constructed in a more secure manner.
In Antakya, Saeed Sleiman Ertoglu, 56, loaded the remaining stock from his waterpipe shop that had not been damaged by the two massive earthquakes that occurred on February 6 and a second strong earthquake that occurred two weeks later.
“The glassware was exceptionally beautiful, even more so than usual, but then we had this (earthquake), and it was all destroyed,” he said, after his home and shop survived the initial tremors but were destroyed by the subsequent quakes. He estimated that 5% of his inventory had survived.
“What options exist? This is a divine act, and God always gives gifts,” he said.
