Saithan
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22 October 2012 / TODAY'S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
Today is the first anniversary of the destructive earthquake that hit the province of Van, killing nearly 600 people, in combination with a less powerful aftershock, and destroying many of the buildings in the area.
Hundreds were rescued from under the rubble of collapsed buildings after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Oct. 23, 2011, which killed 535 people. It was followed by a magnitude 4.7 earthquake on Nov. 9, which killed nearly 30 others.
The disaster left the province devastated. About half the city's population migrated to nearby provinces, while hundreds of thousands who stayed were placed in temporary prefabricated housing. Visitors who traveled to Van shortly after the quake described it as a ghost city. Much has changed in the past year, however, with many commentators saying that Turkey should give itself a pat on the back for passing the earthquake test. People from all across the country hosted quake victims in their homes for months, while civil society groups continuously sent donations of supplies, including clothing and food items.
It was not only the people of Turkey but also its government that contributed to what many say is a miracle in Van. In less than 11 months, 17,471 new housing units were built in the city and given to their rightful owners. Banks and the government gave a total of TL 270 million in loans to local businesses to revive the region's shattered economy. Schools damaged during the earthquake were rebuilt, with the province receiving 2,600 new classrooms. As the urban renewal continued, green areas in the province were also cared for. According to official statistics, 16,650 trees were planted during the post-earthquake efforts.
Today, on Oct. 23, the province of Van will commemorate the victims of the quake, but the day is also one of celebration. Van Governor Münir Karaloğlu says the province's rebuilding has been akin to a miracle, thanking Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government for their determination in rebuilding the city. The earthquake was very powerful and it took a big toll. It affected an area with a diameter of 130 kilometers. As winter arrived, the conditions became even tougher. It was already snowing when the second earthquake struck. And last year was the hardest winter in 50 years.
Karaloğlu said that starting with relief efforts, both the government and civil society organizations had worked fast and were well-coordinated. He said many international rescue groups have praised the post-quake efforts in Van, with some saying it was one of the best-coordinated and fastest response efforts of any earthquake. It was very important that the prime minister, with two-thirds of the Cabinet, was in Van four or five hours after the quake, chairing the first crisis meeting and giving the necessary instructions here.
He also said work to rebuild the province did not stop for a second during Van's punishing winter. Winter lasts at least five months here. We have winter here until the middle of April. It was snowing on April 13, but we were able to deliver the newly built houses to their owners in the 11th month after the earthquake. This is fast, this is a great success. As of today, the construction of 15,341 residential units has been completed. Some people have already moved in.
He said Erdoğan and six ministers were to attend the ceremonies in Van, to remember the victims and celebrate the successful rise of the city after the earthquake.
35 container cities
According to figures provided by the governor, 175,000 people were sheltered in 35 container cities in Van after the earthquake. Most of the containers are empty now. About 600,000 people left the province, but about 180,000 came back after leaving their children in other cities and they didn't really leave. We can tell this by comparing active GSM phones in October and January. About 55,000 were funded by the government to relocate temporarily to other places. Now, about 90 percent of the people who left have come back.
He said local businesses suffered greatly after the earthquake, especially after supplies started arriving. Most of the food supply donations were enough for the victims, so they didn't need to shop. The government intervened and started offering loans through KOSGEB [Small and Medium Industry Development Organization]. About 4,000 businesses were given TL 225 million in loans, in addition to TL 20 million in loans by the Craftsmen's Cooperative to its members. The economy was also seriously supported through indirect means. We donated about TL 250,000 to citizens with damaged houses. We donated TL 40 million to enhancing 32,000 housing units. Currently, the amount in bank deposits is nearly double the amount available on the day of the earthquake.
According to figures provided by the government, the province's 1,015 classrooms were replaced by 2,600 new ones. We have built about two-and-a-half times the number of classrooms that were rendered unusable by the earthquake. He said individuals have also helped through charities.
Damage assessment was conducted in Van shortly after the earthquake. Representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning, the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD), local municipalities and the Turkish Union of Engineers and Architects' Chambers (TMMOB) worked together to map out the state of the province's buildings. They classified 30,242 buildings in the city of Van, the district of Erciş and villages as severely damaged, while 19,206 were listed as having medium damage, 90,819 were listed as having minor damage, while only 65,085 buildings were listed as undamaged. So far, about 8,500 buildings have been demolished.
The new housing project has been a success. Şemsihan Alan, a Van resident who recently moved to a house assigned to his family by the authorities, said: Our houses are nicely done. There are small problems, but they are being taken care of. We had to stay in a tent after the earthquake because our house was damaged. Thinking back on what we went through after the earthquake, we are now really thankful.
sourcE: Van rebuilt from the ashes after earthquake
That's pretty impressive, and they seem to be 4-5 store high.
Today is the first anniversary of the destructive earthquake that hit the province of Van, killing nearly 600 people, in combination with a less powerful aftershock, and destroying many of the buildings in the area.
Hundreds were rescued from under the rubble of collapsed buildings after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Oct. 23, 2011, which killed 535 people. It was followed by a magnitude 4.7 earthquake on Nov. 9, which killed nearly 30 others.
The disaster left the province devastated. About half the city's population migrated to nearby provinces, while hundreds of thousands who stayed were placed in temporary prefabricated housing. Visitors who traveled to Van shortly after the quake described it as a ghost city. Much has changed in the past year, however, with many commentators saying that Turkey should give itself a pat on the back for passing the earthquake test. People from all across the country hosted quake victims in their homes for months, while civil society groups continuously sent donations of supplies, including clothing and food items.
It was not only the people of Turkey but also its government that contributed to what many say is a miracle in Van. In less than 11 months, 17,471 new housing units were built in the city and given to their rightful owners. Banks and the government gave a total of TL 270 million in loans to local businesses to revive the region's shattered economy. Schools damaged during the earthquake were rebuilt, with the province receiving 2,600 new classrooms. As the urban renewal continued, green areas in the province were also cared for. According to official statistics, 16,650 trees were planted during the post-earthquake efforts.
Today, on Oct. 23, the province of Van will commemorate the victims of the quake, but the day is also one of celebration. Van Governor Münir Karaloğlu says the province's rebuilding has been akin to a miracle, thanking Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government for their determination in rebuilding the city. The earthquake was very powerful and it took a big toll. It affected an area with a diameter of 130 kilometers. As winter arrived, the conditions became even tougher. It was already snowing when the second earthquake struck. And last year was the hardest winter in 50 years.
Karaloğlu said that starting with relief efforts, both the government and civil society organizations had worked fast and were well-coordinated. He said many international rescue groups have praised the post-quake efforts in Van, with some saying it was one of the best-coordinated and fastest response efforts of any earthquake. It was very important that the prime minister, with two-thirds of the Cabinet, was in Van four or five hours after the quake, chairing the first crisis meeting and giving the necessary instructions here.
He also said work to rebuild the province did not stop for a second during Van's punishing winter. Winter lasts at least five months here. We have winter here until the middle of April. It was snowing on April 13, but we were able to deliver the newly built houses to their owners in the 11th month after the earthquake. This is fast, this is a great success. As of today, the construction of 15,341 residential units has been completed. Some people have already moved in.
He said Erdoğan and six ministers were to attend the ceremonies in Van, to remember the victims and celebrate the successful rise of the city after the earthquake.
35 container cities
According to figures provided by the governor, 175,000 people were sheltered in 35 container cities in Van after the earthquake. Most of the containers are empty now. About 600,000 people left the province, but about 180,000 came back after leaving their children in other cities and they didn't really leave. We can tell this by comparing active GSM phones in October and January. About 55,000 were funded by the government to relocate temporarily to other places. Now, about 90 percent of the people who left have come back.
He said local businesses suffered greatly after the earthquake, especially after supplies started arriving. Most of the food supply donations were enough for the victims, so they didn't need to shop. The government intervened and started offering loans through KOSGEB [Small and Medium Industry Development Organization]. About 4,000 businesses were given TL 225 million in loans, in addition to TL 20 million in loans by the Craftsmen's Cooperative to its members. The economy was also seriously supported through indirect means. We donated about TL 250,000 to citizens with damaged houses. We donated TL 40 million to enhancing 32,000 housing units. Currently, the amount in bank deposits is nearly double the amount available on the day of the earthquake.
According to figures provided by the government, the province's 1,015 classrooms were replaced by 2,600 new ones. We have built about two-and-a-half times the number of classrooms that were rendered unusable by the earthquake. He said individuals have also helped through charities.
Damage assessment was conducted in Van shortly after the earthquake. Representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning, the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD), local municipalities and the Turkish Union of Engineers and Architects' Chambers (TMMOB) worked together to map out the state of the province's buildings. They classified 30,242 buildings in the city of Van, the district of Erciş and villages as severely damaged, while 19,206 were listed as having medium damage, 90,819 were listed as having minor damage, while only 65,085 buildings were listed as undamaged. So far, about 8,500 buildings have been demolished.
The new housing project has been a success. Şemsihan Alan, a Van resident who recently moved to a house assigned to his family by the authorities, said: Our houses are nicely done. There are small problems, but they are being taken care of. We had to stay in a tent after the earthquake because our house was damaged. Thinking back on what we went through after the earthquake, we are now really thankful.
sourcE: Van rebuilt from the ashes after earthquake
That's pretty impressive, and they seem to be 4-5 store high.
