Reconstruction in Turkey's quake region misses gov't targets due to economic crisis
Despite President Erdoğan's bold promises of rebuilding half the region affected by the disastrous Feb. 6 earthquakes within a year, a total of 319,000 homes, survivors still live in tents and containers after eight months. Officials told Reuters that rising construction costs and economic uncertainty have deterred companies from bidding for government reconstruction contracts.
Reuters
Sheltering in a converted shipping container, İsmet Kaplan waits to hear if he's eligible for one of hundreds of thousands of homes President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan promised would replace those ruined by modern Turkey's deadliest earthquake in February.
Days after the quake and with a national election looming, Erdoğan made bold promises. While survivors were still emerging from rubble, he said half the disaster zone would be rebuilt within a year - a total of 319,000 homes.
Eight months on, more than a dozen officials, builders and engineers told Reuters that rising construction costs and economic uncertainty have deterred companies from bidding for government reconstruction contracts, making that deadline look hard to reach, especially in the worst-hit areas.