Erdogan hails 'largest reconstruction' as 455,000 disaster homes handed over

Türkiye has reached a significant milestone in its recovery from the February 2023 earthquakes, with the 455,000th new home delivered to survivors as part of what President Recep Tayyip Erdogan termed the "largest reconstruction mobilization of the century." The announcement was made during a key handover ceremony in Hatay, one of the provinces most severely impacted by the twin tremors that claimed over 53,000 lives and affected millions.

Surpassing Recovery Targets

President Erdogan stated that the government had surpassed its year-end delivery target, with a total of 455,357 residences and workplaces now provided to citizens. He outlined that an additional 105,179 units are slated for imminent delivery across the quake zone. The southern province of Hatay has seen the most intensive construction activity, with over 153,755 units delivered there alone. Other major allocations include tens of thousands of homes in Kahramanmaras, Malatya, and Adiyaman.

A Nationwide Mobilization of Resources

The scale of the construction effort is vast, involving approximately 200,000 architects, engineers, and laborers working across 3,481 separate sites in 174 locations. Erdogan emphasized that the project extended beyond mere housing, encompassing a complete renewal of urban infrastructure, including major wastewater, irrigation, and environmental rehabilitation projects. He highlighted efforts to clean the Asi River and create new employment opportunities through initiatives in sectors like the defense industry.

A Message of Unity and Future Resilience

Speaking to citizens in Hatay, Erdogan framed the reconstruction as opening a "brand-new chapter" for survivors and a testament to national unity. He called for continued solidarity among all communities in the region, stating that Turks, Kurds, Arabs, and all faiths are inseparable inhabitants of the land. Looking forward, he connected domestic recovery to a broader regional stability, expressing support for brothers in "Syria, Palestine, and Iraq" and envisioning a "terror-free" future for both Türkiye and its neighborhood.