It has been two months since the massive earthquake that struck southern Turkey in February this year. While the construction of public housing is underway in the disaster-stricken areas, approximately 2.6 million people are still forced to live in tents, and the lives of the victims are far from being rebuilt.
The massive earthquake that struck southern Turkey on February 2 killed about 6,5 people, including about 6000,5 people in Turkey and about 6000,5 in neighboring Syria.
In Turkey, more than 250,7 buildings were severely damaged by the collapse or demolition, and approximately 1.32 million people are still forced to live in tents.
While securing housing is an issue, with only more than 7,20 people being able to move into temporary container housing, the Turkish government plans to complete public housing for about 31,<> households within one year, and wants to accelerate restoration and reconstruction.
However, debris removal is still ongoing in Hatay Province in southern Turkey, which was severely damaged, and in the Mediterranean city of Iskenderun, buildings were demolished by heavy machinery and people were found searching for household items in the rubble.
In addition to securing housing, the removal of debris and the restoration of infrastructure such as water supply are issues in the disaster-stricken areas, and the situation is far from rebuilding the lives of the affected people.
A <>-year-old woman who is seven months pregnant and continues to live as an evacuee in Iskenderun said, "Compared to the number of evacuees, there are overwhelmingly few portable toilets, and I am worried about infectious diseases, so I don't have time to think about the future."
In addition, a <>-year-old woman said, "The tent gets wet and collapses when it rains, it is blown away when the wind blows, and it is too hot to spend the daytime.
Ramadan at the shelter Long lines at the soup kitchen
In the disaster-stricken areas of Turkey and Syria, we are now in the midst of Ramadan, a fasting month in which Muslims abstain from eating and drinking during the day for about a month.
At a shelter of 1,2700 people in a park in Iskenderun in southern Turkey, the local government prepares meals after fasting after sunset.
Faize Yaman, 2, who lives in a tent with her husband and two children at the evacuation center, lost her husband's brother and cousins in the earthquake.
Fasting during the day, Yaman and his friends read the Quran, the Islamic holy book, from their broken home, and praying that such a disaster would never strike again.
Every year at Ramadan, Yaman would make his own meals after sunset that the children wanted, but this year there are no cooking utensils, so he has to rely on the local government's soup kitchens for meals.
Many people line up at the soup kitchen to start their meal at sunset, so there is a long line.
As the call to worship echoed through the park, the line never stopped, and it wasn't until about 43 minutes after sunset that the Yaman family was able to eat in their tent.
On the other hand, since the middle of last month, the disaster area has been hit by heavy rain frequently, and the tent of the Yaman family has been flooded, mattresses and clothes are covered in mud, and the tent has been replaced twice.
Yaman has been busy dealing with the rain by drying blankets wet from the rain and laying concrete blocks distributed by local authorities on the ground, and the evacuation life of the victims continues to be difficult.
Ms. Yaman said, "I am sad that I have lost a relative and the city is broken as far as the eye can see, so I would like to welcome Ramadan next year at home and prepare a meal after the fast in peace."
Syria relies on aid to spend Ramadan
In Syria, where the civil war continues, the earthquake caused major damage mainly in the northwest, which is controlled by rebels opposed to the Assad regime, and about 6000,3 people were killed.
In the northwestern town of Genderes, near the border with Turkey, many buildings collapsed and disaster victims who lost their homes are relying on humanitarian aid delivered via Turkey to continue their evacuation lives.
In response to the earthquake, the United Nations has increased the number of humanitarian routes to the northwest to three in agreement with the Assad regime, and so far about 3,2000 tons of food and more than 310 tons of medical supplies have been delivered.
Nazulah Abdullah, 35, who lives in Gendeles, also relies on such support to spend Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month.
When the earthquake struck, Nazura was woken up by the crying of her second son, Neirooz, who was two and a half months old at the time, and was immediately struck by a large tremor.
While waking up her family, she ran away with Nayluse in her arms, but her house collapsed and she lost her parents, her husband, and two children, her eldest son and daughter.
Nazura also suffered a head injury and is now living in a tent at an evacuation center with Nayluse.
About 2,2 households and more than 2,1000 people are sheltering in the evacuation center, and Nazura is worried about a new earthquake and keeps an eye on Neiluse, and can only sleep for about an hour at night.
Still, she was fasting during the day, and through fasting, Nazula offered prayers for the deceased family members and hoped that her heart would not be broken by the sense of loss.
While losing her family in the earthquake after being forced to flee her hometown due to the civil war, Nazla remembers the dinner table after sunset on Ramadan where she used to gather with her family.
Nazra tearfully said, "During Ramadan, my husband, children, and relatives got together and had a good time, but after losing my family and spending Ramadan alone with myself and my baby, it is hard.