KAHRAMANMARAS, Türkiye, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A year after twin earthquakes devastated southern Türkiye, which left more than 53,000 dead and millions homeless, the struggle for normalcy continues.
In the rubble-strewn city of Kahramanmaras, one of the worst-hit areas, residents cling to hope as reconstruction efforts inch forward.
For Ahmet Albayrak, a 47-year-old butcher who lives in Kahramanmaras, the trauma of that day remained raw. He recounted the loss of life, the collapsed buildings, and the months spent struggling to rebuild his business.
Despite the hardships, Albayrak underscored the importance of maintaining hope and summoning the strength to move forward.
"We need a little patience and gratitude," said Albayrak, adding, "These are difficult times, but we will get through them."
Albayrak acknowledged the plight of others worse off, particularly the hundreds of thousands languishing in temporary container camps. The government's ambitious reconstruction efforts, fueled by billions of dollars, have yet to translate into concrete timelines for their return home.
The twin quakes, measuring 7.7 and 7.6 on the Richter scale, struck Türkiye on Feb. 6, 2023, marking the deadliest disaster in its modern history. The vast scale of destruction and the estimated 100 billion U.S. dollar reconstruction bill further strained the country's already fragile economy.
However, despite the difficulties in Kahramanmaras, Albayrak refused to leave his hometown. He said he learned to appreciate life and the things he used to take for granted, such as electricity and water, when everything collapsed.
"After the quake, we realized how valuable these things are, how valuable even a pair of socks and hot water are," he said.
Similar unwavering hope inspires Cuma Kayan, a 51-year-old appliance dealer. "We cannot abandon our city... We must revive Kahramanmaras," he declared.
He said he is satisfied with the pace of rebuilding and the rescue and relief efforts by the Turkish government.
"The government supported us with food after the earthquake and forgave taxes on us," he said, adding the government has also been providing financial aid.
However, he also expressed hope for more coordinated demolition work to plan for the future of his neighborhood and town.
Thousands of government-backed housing units are under construction in Kahramanmaras and neighboring cities, with a commitment from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to deliver 319,000 new homes by February 2024.
On Saturday, some evacuees were given the keys to over 7,000 newly completed houses in Hatay, another province hard hit by last year's quakes.
"Just as our ancestors built these places, we will too. We will raise it," he added. ■
