On the second anniversary of the devastating earthquakes of February 6, 2023, HÜDA PAR Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu visited the severely impacted Antakya district in Hatay.

Yapıcıoğlu began his visit at the Antakya Narlıca Earthquake Martyrs Cemetery, where he prayed for those who lost their lives in the earthquake and offered condolences to the bereaved families.

Following the cemetery visit, Yapıcıoğlu toured the Antakya Old Industrial Site and the AFAD Turkey Century Shopping Center Container area, where he engaged with furniture manufacturers and local shopkeepers. He expressed his wishes for their speedy recovery and successful businesses.

During his visit, Yapıcıoğlu met with earthquake survivors living in container homes and listened to their concerns. He acknowledged that despite two years passing since the earthquake, many challenges remain unresolved.

"The wounds of the earthquake have not yet been fully healed," Yapıcıoğlu remarked. He reminded that the earthquake resulted in the loss of over 54,000 lives and left more than 100,000 injured, with over 600,000 houses and thousands of workplaces destroyed. "May Allah never let us suffer such pain again," he said, emphasizing the scale of the disaster and the ongoing recovery efforts.

Yapıcıoğlu highlighted the need for continued support for earthquake victims, stating: "Every effort should be made to help earthquake victims get back on their feet." He observed that rubble removal and reconstruction efforts are still ongoing, and many tradesmen are struggling to resume their businesses. He called for the forgiveness of tax debts and the acceleration of the housing construction process.

Yapıcıoğlu also mentioned the difficulties faced by tradesmen in obtaining loans and licenses for rebuilding their workplaces. He stressed the importance of addressing these issues to enable earthquake survivors to rebuild their lives.

Concluding his visit, Yapıcıoğlu revealed that his team had prepared a comprehensive report on the earthquake's second anniversary, which will be shared with relevant authorities to address the identified problems. "We need to intensify our efforts to heal these wounds completely," he said, expressing his commitment to supporting earthquake victims and ensuring their return to normalcy. (ILKHA)