President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a video message to the "Berlin Earthquake Conference" held in Germany by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye and the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce.
Starting his speech by wishing the conference auspicious, President Erdoğan thanked the countries that have demonstrated their solidarity with Türkiye.
Reiterating that Türkiye was shaken by two major earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on February 6 and that more than 50 thousand citizens lost their lives in the earthquakes described as the "disaster of the century," President Erdoğan stated the earthquake rendered unusable 311 thousand buildings with 872 thousand individual sections in 11 provinces.
Indicating that workplaces, agricultural fields, businesses, and factories were damaged and that 14 million people personally suffered the adverse effects of the earthquake, President Erdoğan recalled to mind that all state resources had been utilised since the first day and that the nation mobilised to assist their brothers and sisters within the earthquake area.
Expressing that they have always felt the extraordinary efforts of local governments and non-governmental organisations on their side, President Erdoğan remarked that the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye was one of the most significant actors in the aid and reconstruction process.
Emphasising that they would never forget the help of friendly and brotherly countries from all over the world rushing to the quake-hit region's aid, President Erdoğan stated that they would remember with gratitude everyone who stood by Türkiye in these difficult days.
"We will overcome this heavy burden"
Expressing that the state and the nation, hand in hand and heart to heart, were trying to heal the wounds of the earthquake, President Erdoğan said:
“We are working hard to bring life back to normal in the region. We removed all the debris. We swiftly started the construction of permanent residences in areas without earthquake risk. We will gradually deliver the finished houses as of October and November. Within the first year, we will finish the construction of 319 thousand houses and hand them over to the beneficiaries. We aim to build 650 thousand residences in total. We are committed to making our cities safer and more resilient than before. The total cost of the earthquake to our country's economy is estimated to be 104 billion dollars. Inshallah, we will all overcome this heavy burden with your support, our dearest friends."
Stating that he welcomed this conference organised by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye and the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, President Erdoğan said, "I would like to thank my dear friend, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who supported the conference by sending a video message. The presence of companies from many European countries participating in the conference, in addition to Türkiye and Germany, pleased us further. I thank everyone who participated and contributed."