AFAD Orders Evacuation of Hatay Container Cities by June 30; Survivors Voice Concerns

A directive from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) mandating the evacuation of all container cities in Hatay by June 30 has ignited anxieties among earthquake survivors who have called these temporary settlements home since the devastating February 6, 2023 earthquakes. The decision, communicated through official notices to the administrators of these temporary housing sites, marks a critical juncture for thousands still grappling with the aftermath of the disaster.

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Based on the evaluations made regarding our citizens temporarily residing in the container cities established throughout our province, a departure process from the container cities has been initiated in line with the decision of our governorship.

The official notice states that the departure process has been initiated based on evaluations concerning the citizens temporarily residing in the container cities established across the province. Residents are instructed to complete their evacuation by the end of June, following a specific timeline. The directive is firm: failure to comply will result in measures taken under relevant legislation, and individuals obstructing the process or failing to vacate will be forcibly removed by law enforcement. This strict approach underscores the government's determination to close this chapter of temporary housing.

However, the announcement has been met with significant apprehension from those directly affected. One resident, speaking to ANKA news agency, voiced deep concerns about the practicalities and timing of the evacuation. They highlighted that receiving keys for permanent housing doesn't always mean immediate relocation, with gaps of three to four months between receiving keys and actually moving in. This leaves a critical question of where displaced families will reside during these transitional periods. Furthermore, many of the newly allocated permanent residences reportedly lack basic infrastructure like roads and utilities, raising doubts about their readiness for occupancy.

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Those who do not complete their evacuation procedures within the specified period will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation. Those who do not comply with the process and cause difficulties for the personnel on duty will be evacuated by the security forces.

Compounding these issues is the stark reality that many survivors have lost all their belongings in the earthquakes. The prospect of moving into new homes without essential furniture and household items presents a daunting challenge. Adding to the stress, the evacuation coincides with the crucial period of university entrance examinations, placing immense pressure on students and families already navigating profound trauma and uncertainty. The resident lamented, "In a normal process, students, our children, don't know what to do from stress, and we will face this process with the problem of finding a home and shelter."

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Extension is out of the question. This process will be completed definitively. No one should expect a new postponement.

Governor Mustafa Masatlı has reiterated that extensions are not an option, emphasizing that the process will be completed definitively and that no one should expect further delays. This firm stance, while aimed at restoring normalcy, overlooks the complex realities faced by survivors. The urgency to vacate container cities, while perhaps administratively necessary, risks exacerbating the already precarious situation for thousands who are still rebuilding their lives from the ground up in the wake of one of Turkey's worst natural disasters.

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Some keys will be delivered in September, and receiving a key does not mean you are moving into a house. There are people who get the key and move into their homes after 3-4 months. What will the person leaving the container do during those three to four months? Should they rent a new house? Most houses do not have infrastructure, no roads. These apartments are not finished yet, how can we move in? Besides, none of us have furniture, what will we do without furniture? It's also the time of university exams. Even in normal times, students, our children, don't know what to do from stress, and we will face this process with the problem of finding a home and shelter.