Death toll from Turkey, Syria earthquake passes 50,000
Turkey has launched its homes rebuilding drive for its 1.5 million citizens that are left homeless in the aftermath of the devastating tremors that jolted both Turkey and Syria earlier this month, leaving behind a death toll of more than 50,000.
President Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to rebuild homes within a year, as more than 160,000 buildings containing 520,000 apartments collapsed or were severely damaged by the shocks.
A Turkish official, cited by Reuters, said for several projects, tenders and contracts have been done.
"The process is moving very fast," the unnamed official said, stressing that there would be no compromise on safety.
The initial plan of the government is to build 200,000 apartments along with 70,000 village homes at a cost of at least $15 billion, Erdogan said.
The US bank JPMorgan has estimated rebuilding houses and infrastructure will cost $25 billion.
According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the destruction has left 1.5 million people homeless, with 500,000 new homes required, leaving behind 116 million to 210 million tons of rubble.
Erdogan’s administration has drawn both criticism and acclaim over its non-enforcement of construction quality control and its response to the devastation.
On Friday night, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said the death toll in Turkey had reached 44,218, while Syria's latest announcement was 5,914, crossing the 50,000 mark overall.
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