Malatya earthquake housing handed over as donors seek aid transparency

A handover ceremony in Malatya’s Battalgazi district saw the delivery of 4,359 earthquake‑reconstruction homes and 115 business premises built in the Akoğuz housing complex. Governor Seddar Yavuz said, “We promised today to deliver 4,359 homes, 115 workplaces and a mosque, and we are fulfilling that promise for the safety and peace of our citizens.” Local officials Bülent Tüfenkci and mayor Bayram Taşkın also praised the project as a sign of the region’s recovery.

At the same time, earthquake survivors in Malatya have called on the Ahbap Association, led by singer‑philanthropist Haluk Levent, to disclose how the roughly $158 million raised for post‑quake housing was spent. Victims contend that many promised houses remain unfinished or abandoned and have demanded “accountability” from the charity, saying “Depremzedeler Ahbap'a hesap sordu” (earthquake victims asked Ahbap for accounting). The scrutiny highlights lingering concerns over the transparency of aid pledged after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş quakes.