Quake Survivors' Desperate Hunt for Shelter: Caves, Tents, and Shipping Containers Become Home

The earthquake that hit Turkey earlier this month has left over one million people homeless, with thousands currently living in temporary shelters such as gyms, hotels, dormitories and tents. Those who cannot access these are relying on caves, shipping containers, or makeshift shelters for survival. The earthquake has destroyed or damaged around 47,000 buildings, and over 40,000 people have died as a result. Millions remain in need of food, shelter, electricity, water, and toilets. Many have spent almost two weeks in the open air, braving freezing weather.

The Turkish government, along with relief workers from agencies like the Red Crescent and the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), is doing everything possible to provide housing for the affected population. However, the conditions of the temporary shelters are far from adequate. A park in the city of Adiyaman, which is now a distribution point for survivors, is full of tents set up by the Turkish national emergency management agency, AFAD. However, not everyone can access these tents, and some are forced to live in makeshift shelters, such as those built from plastic sheeting and wood beams.

For Syrian refugees in the quake zone in Turkey, the conditions are even worse. Many of them have settled in overcrowded areas with poor living conditions, such as tree nurseries or makeshift shelters in parks. In the town of Besni, scores of women and children were packed into a tree nursery’s three-room building. They received no aid from the government.

In response to growing public frustration over the government’s relief efforts, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to construct enough “high-quality and safe buildings within one year” to meet the housing needs across the entire earthquake zone. In the meantime, the government is relying on short-term solutions such as repurposed shipping containers and a cruise ship that is set to arrive in the port city of Iskenderun to accommodate thousands of people.

Many charities and aid groups are also providing help to the affected population. Across the ruined landscape, in parks and other open areas, tents and makeshift shelters displaying lettering from aid groups jut out from the rubble. However, the situation remains dire for many people, and there is a need for more resources and aid to help the affected population.