Within the scope of a programme organised by the International Media Coordination Office of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, 32 members of the press from 11 countries reviewed the efforts undertaken in Hatay after the 6 February 2023 earthquakes.
As part of the third anniversary of the 6 February earthquakes, the International Media Coordination Office of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications organised a media programme to enable the international press to see on-the-ground efforts in the earthquake-affected region.
During the programme, 32 members of the press from the United States, Germany, China, South Korea, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Azerbaijan first attended a briefing at the Hatay Governor’s Office.
Governor Mustafa Masatlı briefed members of the press at the meeting on the latest status of the ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts in the city.
Following the meeting, members of the press visited the historic Assembly building and the Adalı Mansion, both of which have been restored and reopened for use. Members of the press later visited the Habib al-Najjar Mosque, regarded as the first mosque in Anatolia, which was rebuilt in line with its original design after being destroyed in the 6 February 2023 earthquakes.
Ramin Abdullayev, a journalist from Azerbaijan, stated that he was impressed by the work carried out, saying, ''I was in this area a year ago as well. ‘I have seen tremendous progress made in one year. As a brotherly country, we are proud. Undertaking such major efforts in as short a period as one year is truly not something every country can achieve. We are also very proud of Türkiye.''
Mohammed Tharwat, a journalist from Egypt, noted that they observed first-hand the significant efforts undertaken by the state in Hatay.
Members of the press later conducted site visits along Kurtuluş Street, known as the world’s first illuminated street, and subsequently visited St. Pierre Church, regarded as a pilgrimage site for Christians and distinguished by its cave-church feature.
