Kahramanmaras: Two years ago, the Azerbaijani people woke up to shocking news when a powerful earthquake struck southern Trkiye, affecting cities and towns such as Kahramanmaras, Hatay, and Gaziantep. The scale of destruction and the loss of life were staggering. From the onset, both the Turkish state and its people demonstrated remarkable solidarity, working together to mitigate the devastating consequences of the earthquake. Over 35,000 rescuers tirelessly worked around the clock to save those trapped under the debris. Despite their relentless efforts, the earthquake tragically claimed the lives of 53,737 people, leaving 107,213 others injured due to the widespread destruction.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, reconstruction and restoration efforts are advancing swiftly across all 11 affected provinces to address the far-reaching consequences of the disaster, which has already disrupted the lives of over 14 million people. While many families continue to reside in container cities, housing 649,632 people across 395 container towns, the process of providing them with newly constructed apartments has gained significant momentum. By the end of 2024, 201,580 homes had been successfully handed over to their owners in the earthquake-stricken region. Furthermore, the government has allocated a substantial financial aid package amounting to 148,812,040,122 Turkish liras to support citizens impacted by the devastating earthquake.
Kahramanmaras and Hatay were among the most severely affected provinces. The earthquake left these two cities and many of the surrounding areas completely flattened. Currently, substantial construction efforts are visible throughout these provinces as they work toward recovery and rebuilding.
Since the very first days of the earthquake, the Azerbaijani state and its people have stood by their Turkish brothers and sisters affected by the disaster. In addition to offering financial assistance to those impacted, every representative of Azerbaijan’s people prayed for the loss of life to be minimal and for the consequences of the tragedy to be swiftly addressed. One of the most significant contributions to the brotherly Turkish state is the establishment of the ‘Azerbaijan’ neighborhood in Kahramanmaras, built with the financial support of the Azerbaijani government. This neighborhood goes beyond just providing residential buildings and commercial spaces; it also includes a school and a cultural center. The construction of the “Azerbaijan” neighborhood is now nearing completion, and it is expected that residents will soon be able to move in.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, the territory spanning 11 provinces in southeastern Trkiye is now regarded as the largest construction zone in the world. This vast region is undergoing an extensive rebuilding effort, not just focused on residential buildings, but also including workplaces, social and dining facilities, and virtually the entire infrastructure. With its deep historical and cultural significance, special care and attention are being given to the restoration of historical and architectural landmarks. Among the monuments affected by the earthquake are the Grand Mosque in Adiyaman, the Mor Petrus Mor Paulus Church, the Kahramanmaras Closed Bazaar, and the Habib-i Neccar Mosque in Hatay, a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage, along with many other important sites.
The swift reconstruction efforts taking place in the region have sparked a strong desire among people to return to their homeland. During the earthquake, around 3.55 million people from the affected areas were relocated to other provinces and cities. Today, 100,000 of them have chosen to return to their homes. As a result, the extensive efforts by the government to revive the region, the vital support provided to citizens, the nationwide mobilization to address the tragedy, and the assistance from friendly and brotherly nations will forever mark the disaster of the century in the hearts and minds of the Turkish people as the solidarity of the century.