Container houses seen as business opportunity in earthquake zone

Container houses seen as business opportunity in earthquake zone
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Overpriced container houses are reportedly being sold to earthquake survivors in Hatay as shortcomings in government response to shelter needs continue.

Earthquake survivors who are in desperate need for shelter are now seen as a business opportunity in Turkey, and container houses have been put up for sale in Hatay's devastated border district of Samandag, T24's Sibel Yukler reported on Friday.

Single room container houses are sold for 85,000 TL (approx. $4,475), and double rooms for 95,000 TL (approx. $5,000), Yukler said, adding that both are on display near a tent campsite where survivors are accommodated.

Turkish interior minister indirectly admitted today to shortcomings in providing shelter for survivors, as he said that while 411,000 tents have been delivered so far a further 300,000 are yet to be delivered, and a mere 15,800 container houses have been built while the objective is to deliver as many as 108,000.

The prices for container houses in Samandag are apparently above market values. A single room container house is sold for 70,000 TL ($3,685) on Turkey's leading online shopping platform sahibinden.com, while a double room container house is sold for 72,000-75,000 TL ($3,790-$3,950).