Kazakhstan constructs school in Turkish region affected by earthquake

A groundbreaking ceremony marking the construction of a school financed by Kazakhstan was held in the Gaziantep province of Turkey, a region that heavily suffered from the 2023 earthquakes, as reported by Kazakhstan’s Agency for International Development (KazAID).

«On Dec. 19, 2024, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in the town of Nurdagi, in the Gaziantep province of the Republic of Turkey, marking the start of construction of a school initiated by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Preparatory work for excavation and mobilization of construction resources has also been completed,» the agency said in a statement.

The event was attended by many high-ranking officials, including Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Turkey Yerkebulan Sapiyev, Governor of Gaziantep Province Kemal Çeber and representatives from the Turkish ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education.

KazAID has been appointed as the superviser of the school’s construction, which is set to become a symbol of Turkish-Kazakh brotherhood. The agency also emphasized that Gaziantep is one of the Turkish regions most severely affected by the devastating earthquake that occurred on Feb. 6, 2023.

There are more than 56,000 unsafe buildings in disaster-affected provinces that are no longer suitable for living. The natural disaster claimed the lives of more than 41,000 people. In addition, the country suffered severe damage, which may reach 11% of Turkey’s GDP, according to some estimates.

At the time, President Tokayev instructed the cabinet to take all necessary measures to assist Turkey. For instance, a team of 101 Kazakhstani rescuers took part in rescue operations. Along with financial aid, Kazakhstan also sent tents, portable toilets, blankets and other essential items for victims of the disaster.