A visit to the earthquake zone in Kahramanmaraş was coordinated by the Directorate of Communications, which included 34 members of the national and international press.
At the Onikişubat Municipality Multi-Purpose Meeting Hall, 34 members of the press—including journalists from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus—were briefed about the events that took place in the city following the earthquake.
At the meeting, Governor Mükerrem Ünlüer recalled that the city and the region experienced an enormous disaster a year prior and said, "25 per cent of the current building stock is no longer fit for use."
Stating that every part of the city was damaged in the earthquakes centred in Pazarcık and Elbistan, Ünlüer noted that 12 thousand 700 hundred citizens lost their lives due to the earthquakes.
Noting that around 38 thousand containers have been set up in the city to date and 138 thousand disaster victims are being housed, Ünlüer said that there are no citizens living in tents.
Ünlüer declared that they had begun the settlement of permanent houses on February 6 and added, "We delivered 9 thousand 300 hundred houses to our rightful citizens. By the end of the year, 30 thousand houses will be finished. These construction projects will continue until all beneficiaries receive their residences. We have 69 thousand beneficiaries. 44 thousand are in our provincial and district centres, with 25 thousand in our rural neighbourhoods. As a state, we are providing for the urban transformation of 10 thousand independent units in the city centre."
In reference to the earthquake regulations, Governor Ünlüer stated that newly constructed residences adhered to the most recent earthquake regulations.
Noting that no structures constructed in accordance with the most recent earthquake regulations collapsed in the city, Ünlüer stated there was a limitation on the number of floors allowed in city centres.
Ünlüer indicated that earthquake victims were buried according to religious rules and regulations, and they were buried alongside their family members.
Stating that the city is an industrial city, Ünlüer concluded his words as follows:
"There is no unemployment problem here. Our industry is currently experiencing a high demand for labour. As a result, our people living in containers have no problems finding work, and they are able to work. The industry swiftly recovered from a 40 per cent decline in capacity and is presently operating at full capacity. Our state did not leave those who lost their jobs unemployed through Community Benefit Work Programmes."
The programme concluded with Governor Ünlüer receiving questions from journalists.
Members of the press then visited the TOKİ houses completed in the Ferhuş Neighbourhood of the Dulkadiroğlu district.
Journalists also visited Koç Umutkent Container City, where they toured the services provided to earthquake victims and interviewed citizens.
