Winter is on the horizon, but the housing issue for earthquake victims continues to persist. Hygiene problems, harsh weather conditions, and infrastructure gaps in tents and containers make life challenging. Meanwhile, those relocated to new housing units express concerns about the uncertainty surrounding property titles.
In this news-report Jiyan Erkılıç, a young journalist actively covering the earthquake-stricken region, speaks with earthquake victims residing in tents, containers, and new housing units.
Jiyan Jin Erkılıç
It has been nine months since the earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 6th and Hatay on February 20th. Some of the hundreds of thousands of earthquake victims have begun living in tents, while others reside in containers. In Hatay, 47,772 families are housed in container cities set up in 158 different locations. Additionally, in the Nurdağı district of Gaziantep, 6,175 container houses have been constructed at five separate points for earthquake victims. The exact number of earthquake victims living in tents remains unclear. According to the latest announcement from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, construction of over 200,000 houses and village homes in the earthquake-affected region has been ongoing without interruption.
In our interviews conducted in tents, containers, and new housing units in Hatay and Gaziantep Nurdağı, we observed that problems persist, with uncertainty being the most challenging aspect.
“We’ve managed to endure the nine months with the collective support”
Nihal Ayrancı, whose home in Hatay was demolished by the earthquake, has been residing in a tent since the initial days of the disaster. Ayrancı explains that the necessity to stay close to her home has compelled her to live in a tent. She outlines her challenges as follows:
“We barely made it through the earthquake. With the collective support of our neighbors, we’ve managed to endure the nine months. Living in the mandated container cities has proven challenging; they are overly crowded, and the living conditions are difficult. Despite these circumstances, being in proximity to our own house provides a sense of comfort. We wish to reside in a container within our own yard. Those with the means purchased a container and made this happen. Facing another winter in a tent will be exceedingly difficult. The summer was already tough; the heat was unbearable. Rain poses a dilemma because even if you drain the water, the tent remains damp. Furthermore, we don’t have access to electricity! Authorities keep promising to ‘connect’ it but repeatedly delay. A generator remains one of our most crucial needs. Although our children attend school, studying in a tent is incredibly challenging. If we had a container, it would at least resemble a home. State officials, we implore you to find a solution.”
Gökhan Ağbaht and his family, earthquake victims from Hatay, have opted to face the winter in a tent due to the moderate damage to their home. Drawing attention to issues such as pests and water scarcity, they share that, in the ninth month since the earthquake, various charities and volunteers have helped meet their needs. Ağbaht underscores the challenges of obtaining school supplies for their children in a city buried under debris. He mentions that, while dealing with securing stationery, they also stand in line for basic necessities like water. Ağbaht emphasizes that their appeals have yet to receive a response from the district governorship.
“There is no such thing as personal privacy”
Gaziantep’s Nurdağı district has experienced significant losses in proportion to its population due to the earthquake. Those whose homes were either destroyed or severely damaged have been relocated to container cities. However, predominant concerns revolve around issues of cleanliness and a shortage of containers. Songül Çelik, who, along with her children, was trapped under debris during the earthquake and rescued through the efforts of her husband and relatives, moved to a container after spending the initial days in the hospital. She shares:
“Living in a container with my husband and five children is incredibly challenging. We inevitably need a second container. Although my request for an additional container was approved due to my daughter preparing for an exam, it comes with many shortcomings. There is no drainage for the toilet and bathroom. Despite reporting the situation to the authorities multiple times, there has been no response. The most significant issue for women here is the challenge of washing clothes. With the weather turning colder, our household chores have increased. My leg and spine were crushed under the debris. I manage to wash my clothes, but the next day, I find myself needing hospital care. Fortunately, my female neighbors with washing machines do their best to help me in this regard. Solidarity with them provides me with strength. Thankfully, we are not hungry or exposed, but living in a container is exceptionally difficult. There is no such thing as personal privacy.”
Çelik underscores the need for comprehensive containers and adequate working facilities for large families. Due to health issues, she has to make frequent trips to the hospital, but the field hospital proves to be insufficient: “My daughter is unwell, and we are constantly shuffled around. Our personal resources fall short in this situation. When it rains, the containers get flooded. We have to bring our shoes inside, and everything becomes muddy. The containers are not suitable for the current weather. My children’s school is far, and transportation poses another challenge. We’re eagerly awaiting the completion of housing for earthquake victims before winter arrives. Despite all these challenges, coming together with my neighbors and supporting each other provides some solace.”
“The children of a neighbor were electrocuted”
Meral Özsün, a local grocer, has been living in a container since the 10th day after the earthquake. Emphasizing that she sustains her livelihood by running a grocery store she set up in one of the containers, Özsün says, “Everyone has established their routine, but we are also grappling with difficulties. When it rains, water leaks into the containers, and most importantly, electrical leaks causing fires are our biggest problem. We report it to the authorities, but they turn a blind eye. AFAD used to have a unit dealing with electricity, but not anymore. If checks were conducted weekly, the possibilities of fires could be prevented. There are electrical leaks in the water heaters. The children of a neighbor were electrocuted. A few days ago, a fire broke out due to an electrical leak in one of the containers. Three containers turned to ashes instantly. Thankfully, there were no casualties, but we are very anxious.”
Expressing that solidarity with neighbors makes the containers more livable, Grocer Özsün says, “Thanks to them, this place becomes more beautiful; otherwise, these hardships are not easy. We have all suffered significant losses. Even my female neighbors make bracelets and necklaces to sell. We help each other. This way, we can stand on our feet. In fact, our solidarity among us is stronger than before the earthquake. Of course, there are many problems, but having survived a disaster, we are much better off compared to those days.”
Emine Özcan, a resident of the Nurdağı container city, highlights the challenging school conditions, stating, “Our children navigate through mud to get to school on rainy days. Our school urgently needs improvements in its surroundings.” Underscoring the inadequacy of the hospital, Özcan shares that, even for essential needs, they are compelled to travel to other districts.
“There is ambiguity regarding property ownership”
The village of Belpınar, located in the Nurdağı district of Gaziantep, was entirely demolished in the earthquake. After the earthquake on February 6th, the village residents moved into the houses that were constructed in just 44 days. In addition to the residential buildings, the entrance of the devastated village now features a mosque, social facilities, and stables. When we spoke with Sultan Demir and her family, who now reside in the earthquake-resistant houses comprising three rooms and a living room, they conveyed their apprehension about the uncertainty they face.
The Demir family, after living in a tent for almost two months, swiftly transitioned to the earthquake-resistant houses. Sultan Demir expressed, “When we moved from the tent to the house, it felt like a rebirth. Although no fees were requested from us initially, we are uncertain if this will change in the future. There is ambiguity regarding property ownership. They handed us the key and said, ‘Move in and settle,’ but we lack any official documentation, such as deeds or titles, confirming our ownership of the house. We are unsure about what challenges may arise in the future.”
Moving to a new home brings significant comfort, but the journey doesn’t end there. Belpınar is a village that relies on livestock farming for its livelihood. In the past, barns were located beneath the houses, but now the animals are placed at a distance from the residential areas, surrounded only by fences, exposing them to risks and challenging conditions. The residents of Belpınar applied for barns to be constructed closer to their homes but faced disappointment. They worry about the upcoming winter, as the animals cannot endure the cold and need protection, especially during breeding season. Expressing their concerns, they emphasize, “The government must find a solution; otherwise, sustaining livestock farming will be challenging.”
Now, what about the education access for the village’s children? Sultan Demir explains that students have to travel 15 kilometers to reach the Nurdağı district center or Gedikli village. Students preparing for exams encounter difficulties as they lack internet access, causing them to fall behind their peers.
“We’ve regressed to ancient times”
Volunteers and civil society organizations continuing their efforts in the earthquake-affected region are among those who observe the challenges faced by women most closely. Nevruz Tuğçe Özçelik from the Women’s Defense Network emphasizes that, contrary to President Erdoğan’s statement that “no one remains in tents,” there are still people in Hatay living in tents: “In Hatay, we categorize those living in tents into three groups. There are those whose houses are destroyed or severely damaged, and those with moderate to minor damage who, for psychological reasons, cannot enter their homes and choose to remain in tents… The reason they opt for tents is the requirement to live in container cities. However, the conditions are not ideal. They particularly prefer living in tents near their own homes. The lighting in the container cities is insufficient, leading to people being isolated from their social environments and, consequently, experiencing loneliness. Women, in particular, face hygiene issues.”
Özçelik draws attention to the emergence of depression and an inclination towards violence among women and children who remain in tents. Reminding us of AFAD’s unfulfilled promise to provide containers months ago, Özçelik shared the following: “A family we visited applied for a container four months ago, and they are still waiting. Their tents were flooded with water as soon as the rain started. Life in the tent is harsh. Besides the threat of snakes and pests in the summer, there is now the added risk of extreme cold and rain. Their tents get flooded during rainy weather due to incomplete infrastructure. Women, facing water shortages, are forced to hand wash their laundry. This isn’t just a challenge for those in tents or containers but also for those living in houses. In fact, women humorously say among themselves, ‘We’ve regressed to ancient times.’ They try to cope with the difficulties they face in this way.”
She notes that various diseases have emerged in tent life, and there has been an increase in scabies cases due to hygiene issues. Unfortunately, the newly constructed Defne Hospital is understaffed, and earthquake victims are not receiving adequate service: “The hospital was flooded during the heavy rainfall at the beginning of October. Electric shocks occurred in AFAD’s containers because they were flooded everywhere. It’s a highly traumatic environment. There are also prolonged power and water outages.”
Transportation issues persist. Women face challenges in accessing their personal needs: “There is no public transportation, and women cannot access gynecological health services. The portrayal of life in the earthquake-stricken region as if it has returned to normal is actually a threat to the lives of all citizens in the earthquake zone.”
Moreover, the lack of resources and access to facilities opens the door to exploitation. Özçelik states, “Due to authorized individuals who could more easily access the aid that arrived in the region in the early months of the disaster, there was no equal and fair distribution. Unfortunately, we also come across cases of sexual abuse. We hear that some public officials make inappropriate proposals to women for the allocation of containers or any assistance. This arises from the lack of supervision over individuals.”
In the areas most severely impacted by the earthquake, those residing in tents, containers, and recently constructed earthquake-resistant homes share a common challenge: uncertainty. Despite finding some shelter after a disaster that upheaved their lives, citizens face significant hurdles in accessing the most fundamental needs that every individual is entitled to—such as water, electricity, insulation, transportation, livelihood, health, and education. These circumstances disproportionately affect women and children, rendering them susceptible to various forms of exploitation. As media attention diminishes in the earthquake-affected regions, it becomes crucial to strengthen civil society, and it is of utmost importance for the central government to be well-informed about the persisting challenges.