The "Construction of the Century International Media Programme," organised by the Directorate of Communications on the occasion of the third year of the 6 February earthquakes, offered an opportunity for 32 international press members from 11 countries, who had reported from the region during the earthquake, to examine the construction and revitalisation process on-site.
The delegation, consisting of journalists from the USA, Germany, China, South Korea, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Azerbaijan, was selected particularly from those who personally witnessed the disaster on 6 February 2023. Marking the third year of the disaster, participants gained a comparative insight into the changes in the region and the progress made.
International media capture the reconstruction of a city in Hatay and the revitalisation of its historical heritage
The first field visit of the programme was conducted in Hatay, the cradle of civilisations. After the briefing held by Hatay Governor Mustafa Masatlı at the Hatay Governor's Office, journalists visited the Habib-i Neccar Mosque, the Historical Parliament Building, and the Saint Pierre Church Memorial Museum – sites that had been damaged in the earthquake and have since been restored and reintegrated into the city. Moreover, the restoration activities on Kurtuluş Street, history's first street ever to be illuminated, and work in the Atatürk Street Reserve Development Area were examined, and steps aimed at revitalising the city's social fabric were observed on-site.
Meeting with Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, in Kahramanmaraş
As part of the Kahramanmaraş leg of the programme, international media members met with the Minister of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, to receive comprehensive information about the reconstruction activities in the region. The delegation then visited iconic structures such as the Kahramanmaraş Archaeology Museum, the Covered Bazaar, and the Duraklı Mosque. The Permanent Disaster Houses completed in the Azerbaycan Neighbourhood, in particular, were presented to the press as a concrete example of permanent housing solutions in the region.
Journalists followed President Erdoğan’s remarks
During the visit to Osmaniye, one of the programme's most important stops, members of the press attended President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's commemoration programme on the occasion of the third anniversary of the earthquake and listened to his speech.
The "Construction of the Century International Media Programme" offered international media representatives the opportunity to examine the construction and revitalisation process on-site and to receive information directly from the authorities.
Since 2024, 366 journalists from 26 countries have had the opportunity to obtain information directly in the disaster zone of the 6 February Earthquakes through organisations of the International Media Coordination Office of the Presidency's Directorate of Communications.
