Turkey To Rebuild Homes For People Affected By Quakes

For 1.5 million Homeless…

A Government official said on Friday that Turkey has begun work to rebuild homes after the devastating earthquakes as the combined death count in Turkey and Syria reached 50,000.

More than 160,000 buildings containing 520,000 apartments collapsed and were severely damaged on February 6.

Earthquakes that killed thousands in Turkey and Syria all together.

On Friday night, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) announced the death count in Turkey due to earthquakes rose to 44,218.

With Syria's latest announced death count of 5,914, the combined death count in the two countries rose to above 50,000.

Facing an election within months, President Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to rebuild homes within a year, although experts have said the authorities should put safety before speed.

Some buildings that were meant to withstand tremors crumbled in the latest earthquakes.

"For several projects, tenders and contracts have been done. The process is moving very fast," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding there would be no compromise on safety.

Authorities say tents have been dispatched for all who are homeless, but people have reported trouble accessing them.