The United Nations reported Tuesday that the damage caused by the earthquakes that jolted southeastern Türkiye last month is believed to be worth over $100 billion, Daily Sabah reports.
“Already it is clear that just the damages alone will amount to more than $100 billion,” Louisa Vinton of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said, adding that the recovery costs “will be on top of that.”
Over 45,000 people were killed and over 230,000 structures were destroyed or severely damaged as a result of the magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes that struck Türkiye on February 6.
The earthquakes, which were dubbed the worst disaster in Türkiye’s modern history and also badly affected neighboring Syria, affected a region that is home to over 15% of the nation’s population, or about 13.5 million people.
Last week, the World Bank calculated that the devastating earthquakes had caused damage totaling more than $34 billion, with the probable recovery amount being double that amount.
Vinton, however, claimed that the Turkish government had estimated much higher damage with assistance from the UNDP, the World Bank, and the European Union.
While preliminary, “it is clear from the calculations being done to date that the damage figure presented by the government and supported by the three international partners will be in excess of $100 billion,” she said.
Prior to a significant donor meeting that is scheduled for next week, Vinton made his comments.
The provisional damage estimate is being used as a starting point for the donor meeting to raise money for earthquake victims in Brussels, Belgium on March 16, according to Vinton, who claimed it only applies to Türkiye.
Recovery expenses, such as the work required to create an infrastructure that is better and more environmentally friendly, “will clearly surpass that amount,” she added.
She stated that as of right now, UNDP was “very disappointed and saddened” by the meager reaction to funding appeals.
