The major earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023 also caused serious destruction in Diyarbakır.

According to the damage assessment studies conducted by the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, in the city:

3,252 buildings are severely damaged,

2,828 buildings are moderately damaged,

32,652 buildings are slightly damaged,

61 buildings are facing an urgent demolition decision.

This data makes the housing crisis experienced by citizens living around Sakarya Street in the Bağlar district even more visible.

Damage Status is “minor” but fear is “major”

Although many buildings around Sakarya Street are recorded as “minorly damaged,” the fact that the buildings right next door are identified as “severely damaged” has caused great concern among the local people.

For this reason, many citizens, unable to stay at home, have either moved in with their relatives in the area or started looking for temporary solutions.

“We Couldn’t Even Get a Tent from AFAD”

The biggest complaint of citizens living in the region is not getting enough support from AFAD.

Citizens state that tents are not provided as part of official aid, and even the tents they set up with their own means are not allowed in some places.

“The building next door was reported as severely damaged, ours was slightly damaged. But we live on the same street. We asked for a tent, they didn’t even give it to us. Ours is a life, not an eggplant!” These words stand out as the most striking expression of the victimization experienced.