Following the massive earthquakes on February 6, Türkiye is working to heal the nation's wounds, with the government unveiling major relief and stimulus packages one after the other.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that three million people were evacuated from earthquake-stricken provinces, 433,000 tents were set up in the region, and 3.7 million hot meals were distributed on a daily basis.
In the earthquake-stricken provinces, 1.5 million people are now accommodated in tent camps, 53,000 in temporary containers, 123,000 in public facilities, and 137,000 in hotels.
To date, more than one million earthquake victims have received TRY 10,000 in emergency aid packages per household. Citizens whose houses have become unusable continue to receive relocation fees of TRY 15,000 and rental assistance of TRY 3,000-5,000.
With regard to the post-disaster housing and settlement recovery program, the groundbreaking ceremony for the houses in Kahramanmaraş and Adıyaman was held with the participation of President Erdoğan.
President Erdoğan emphasized in his remarks on the program that new houses will be constructed in safe areas with a maximum of three or four floors above ground, adding, “While we revive the residential and commercial areas in the city center in an earthquake-resistant way, we are preparing our new residences as tranquil settlements with social amenities." Türkiye plans to build 319,000 houses in the earthquake-hit region in one year, totaling 650,000 houses.
Additionally, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance announced a series of regulations to ease financial conditions in the region and mitigate the disaster's negative effects.
Accordingly, the limits considered by banks when determining card limits will be increased. In the first year, the total card limit will be four times the person's monthly average net income, rising to eight times in the second and subsequent years.
Earthquake-affected citizens will receive a short-term working allowance based on employer applications. Meanwhile, financial assistance is available to those who do not meet the criteria for short-term working allowances.
Tradespeople and craftspeople in the earthquake zone will be eligible for a loan of up to TRY 250,000 with a 12-month grace period and a 60-month maturity period, with the Treasury covering half of the loan. Furthermore, 6,000 temporary business outlets will be provided for tradespeople to carry out their businesses.
With regard to the Ministry of Industry and Technology, investment incentives certificates were issued within the scope of general incentives schemes for investments in earthquake-stricken provinces. Those projects whose investment period expires on February 6 and for which no completion visa has been issued will be deemed completed without a request.
Sources: hmb.gov.tr, afad.gov.tr, aa.com.tr