In Hatay, a sense of desperation prevails as many individuals find themselves plummeting from affluence to poverty. For some, the financial struggle is so severe that even if they own land, constructing a new house is financially unattainable. Concerns arise over potential expropriation, leading to the construction of TOKİ in place of existing homes.

There's a fear that the city's skyline will be marred, sacrificing Hatay's authentic architecture for profit-driven vertical development. Despite rumors, numerous people still find themselves residing in tents, seeking refuge in citrus and olive groves, once cherished spots for weekend picnics and barbecues.

Traumatic Night

The traumatic night of the earthquake is etched in everyone's memory—a cold, rainy night that nobody wishes to recall. The prevailing sentiment is that this was not a typical earthquake; rather, suspicions arise that someone may have triggered seismic events. This skepticism stems from a lack of trust in politicians, as residents express discontent with the disorganized response from institutions. Paying for water and electricity amid chaos, residents decry a lack of coordination among authorities.

You have to live in Hatay for a while to know what the earthquake victims' complaints mean... Those who say, "We lived through days when we could hardly breathe," say that the trees in the city protected them from asbestos. They think that the trees that keep dust to some extent will also prevent asbestos. Pessimism and optimism are intertwined in Hatay...

'They told us to leave'

"For six days we listened to the cries for help coming from the rubble. No one came, we were on our own." They talk about a new epidemic and that there are corpses under the ruins. They also say that these cause high fever, nausea and diarrhea. On the other hand, drinking water and toilet problems continue in Hatay. Nevertheless, people who are afraid of the earthquake have to continue living in tents. Even those whose houses are slightly damaged spend the night in tents.

Similarly, there is neither doctor nor medicine. If serious health problems arise, there is no hospital to operate. The people of the city complained about all these and said, "They left us to our fate. They handed us bus and plane tickets and said, 'Get out of here'". They also point out that there is "sectarianism" in the distribution of aid and that even the Arab Alevis of Hatay are discriminated against.

'Mustafa Kemal's Hatay has been sacrificed'

Hatayli residents say that the city, which was a relic of Ataturk, has been "sacrificed" and underline that Reyhanlı has been turned into an unnamed Syria. Noting that there are more than 1 million Syrians in the city, they say that among them there are those who vote and even those who are elected as mukhtars. According to our sources, 240 of 260 babies born in the city were Syrian.

In Hatay, there has been a serious price increase in construction materials and labour costs have skyrocketed. People complain about opportunists. Likewise, demolition opportunists are also on the prowl. In essence, Hatay has become a broken and dilapidated city. Despite everything, the people, who are trying to survive on their own, are trying not to lose hope by saying "We have not left, we are here; those who have left will surely return as soon as possible"...