From Containers to Exams: Has Life in Hatay Really Returned to Normal?

End of Emergency Support in Hatay More than three years after the devastating February 2023 earthquake, Hatay province is on the brink of a major and controversial transformation. According to local reports, including "Hatay Asi Gazetesi," the Turkish government has accelerated the phased removal of financial and logistical support provided to survivors after the disaster [1]. Based on official statements, all container cities must be evacuated by the end of June 2026 to make way for settlement in permanent TOKİ units [2]. However, many residents believe that urban infrastructure and their economic capacity are not yet ready for this transition.

Student Challenges: Exams in the Shadow of Ruins One of the most critical aspects of the current situation is the condition of students who took the 2026 Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS). Unlike previous years, the special quota for candidates from earthquake zones in state universities has been cancelled [1]. This comes as thousands of Hatay's youth were forced to fight for their future in the confined environments of containers and amidst the noise of endless construction projects. Educational critics warn that removing these privileges while educational equality has not yet been established is a great injustice to the province's younger generation.

Cut in Rental Subsidies and Economic Pressure In addition to educational challenges, livelihood pressures have reached their peak. Since March 2026, AFAD has completely stopped paying rental subsidies to earthquake victims [3]. This decision, along with the cancellation of bank and credit exemptions for local businesses that took effect in April 2026, has faced Hatay's fragile economy with a serious threat [4]. Local representatives and civil activists ask: "Has life really normalized, or has support simply been withdrawn to make the statistics look normal?"

The Difficult Path Ahead Although housing projects have shown physical progress, social realities in June 2026 indicate that Hatay is still far from "normalization." The forced evacuation of containers without ensuring the completion of water and electricity infrastructure in new areas has caused deep concern for families [1]. While the government's official calendar moves toward closing the earthquake file, the people of Hatay continue to struggle to find a balance for survival between the ruins of the past and the promises of the future.