Türkiye’s quake zone sees $91.5 billion in public reconstruction funds

Türkiye has mobilized a substantial $91.5 billion in public expenditures over the last three years for the reconstruction and recovery of its southern earthquake zone, according to a report from the nation's Strategy and Budget Office (SBB). The funds have targeted comprehensive rebuilding in the hardest-hit provinces like Kahramanmaras and Hatay, addressing damage from one of the century's most severe seismic disasters.

Housing and Infrastructure Focus

The primary focus of the post-quake spending was addressing the urgent housing needs of survivors. The government has completed the construction of permanent housing, allocating a total of 433,667 residences and 21,690 workplaces through lotteries. Beyond shelter, billions were invested in critical infrastructure, including repairs to energy networks, roads, highways, and railway lines to restore and improve connectivity across the affected region.

Rebuilding Education and the Economy

Significant resources were dedicated to ensuring educational continuity, with over $1.6 billion earmarked for constructing and reinforcing thousands of classrooms. The effort is expected to increase classroom capacity by 15% compared to pre-disaster levels. To revitalize the local economy, a key national production hub, development agencies provided over $400 million in support for the industrial sector and SMEs. Vocational training programs also aided tens of thousands of citizens across 11 provinces.

Ongoing Recovery and Future Plans

The SBB report indicates that recovery efforts are largely complete following intensive, long-term work. The 2026 Investment Program continues to allocate millions for university campus repairs and other ongoing projects. The agency stated that inclusive and complementary investments have been realized, with significant progress made in delivering permanent housing and the necessary public service infrastructure to improve social and economic life in the earthquake-stricken zone.