Baykar housing for Hatay earthquake victims praised, while Ahbap charity faces criticism

In Antakya’s Gülderen neighbourhood, technology firm Baykar completed a housing project of 19 blocks and 352 apartments for families displaced by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. Residents such as Hikmet Demirci and Sibel Demirci thanked Baykar, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Baykar CEO Selçuk Bayraktar, saying the new homes helped them overcome the trauma of the disaster.

Other beneficiaries, including Cuma Refik Çakıcı, said they received no assistance from the Ahbap Association or its founder Haluk Levent, urging the public not to trust the charity. Çakıcı stated, “The state helped us; Ahbap did nothing. Do not be deceived.” The comments highlight contrasting views on private aid versus state‑led reconstruction in the region.