Expressing concern over the permanent depopulation of Turkey’s earthquake-stricken areas
Turkish media and political figures warn of potential demographic changes in the earthquake-affected regions amidst massive destruction and displacement of local people
The earthquake has resulted in at least 40,000 deaths and over 80,000 injuries. Press reports indicate that the wave of internal migration will affect the entire country
Faruk Aksoy, a reporter for the mainstream media outlet Haber Turk, who interviewed locals in Hatay province on the Syrian border, expressed concern in his February 13th article about the possibility of this province being permanently depopulated
He wrote that locals are worried that the depopulation could pave the way for people from other places to migrate in, thus changing the demographic fabric
Meanwhile, a Turkish user on the popular platform Ekşi Sözlük emphasized that it is estimated around 5.3 million people have been left homeless due to the earthquake in Turkey, and Turkey may witness new waves of migration across borders