On February 6, devastating earthquakes hit Turkey and neighboring Syria, leaving over 50,000 people dead and more than 1.5 million homeless. As a result, two million people are currently living in temporary shelters. In response to this crisis, Qatar has sent 400 portable homes to help those affected by the earthquakes. These homes were previously used to house fans during the 2022 World Cup.
The portable homes arrived in the city of Iskenderun via two ships, and Qatar’s ambassador to Turkey has stated that more are on the way. Sheikh Mohammad bin Nasser Al Thani expressed hope that the homes would be suitable for the earthquake survivors. Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo reported from Iskenderun that families are currently living in tents, container cities, and even trains. The trains have been turned into temporary shelters for victims of the earthquake.
Sabriye Karan, 57, and her daughter Nehir Karan, 13, are among those living in a train carriage at Iskenderun train station. Emine Ates and her three children have also been living on a train for nearly a month. Ates stated that if they are forced to leave the train, they will have to go to the tents. Suzan Kocak and her husband chose to move to the train because their house was damaged and her husband works for a railway company.
The earthquakes have caused immense damage and suffering, with many people losing their homes and loved ones. Last week, another earthquake of magnitude 5.6 hit the town of Yesilyurt in Malatya province, killing at least one person and injuring dozens. The tremor caused some buildings to collapse, and Turkish authorities announced a three-month state of emergency in affected provinces.
The situation is dire for those affected by the earthquakes, and the arrival of portable homes from Qatar is a much-needed relief. However, more support is needed to help those who have lost everything in this disaster. The world must come together to provide aid and support to those affected by this tragedy.