Life after the Earthquake
Turkey: Marmara Earthquake Emergency Reconstruction Project

• Overview
• Results
• Counterparts
• Task Team
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On August 17, 1999 an earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale devastated the Marmara region of Turkey. Over 17,000 lives were lost, an estimated 200,000 people were made homeless in the region, and Turkey’s industrial heartland was extensively damaged. A major reconstruction effort and recovery plan was needed, including support to economic recovery, in addition to a mechanism to reduce the costs of future natural disasters.

The Marmara Earthquake Emergency Reconstruction Project was rapidly launched, with the support of an IBRD loan of US$505 million approved in November 1999, to restore the living conditions in the region of Turkey devastated by the earthquake, support economic recovery and resumption of growth, and develop an institutional framework for disaster risk management and mitigation. The project was successfully completed in 2007

"I was born and brought up in Adapazarı, and never left. After the earthquake, I couldn't recognize the neighborhood and the streets where I passed through everyday. This city has been rebuilt. We are grateful to God for still being alive, and grateful to the World Bank for building permanent houses, a school, and a health complex for us. Having a home again has been one of my most important concerns, and I consider myself to be among the lucky ones who drew a house built by the World Bank from the lottery. There are huge differences in quality. I would never want to go back into that psychology of feeling unsafe " —Ibrahim Åžor, primary school teacher

• 12,000 urban housing units and 800 rural homes were reconstructed under the project. Normal living conditions were restored in the disaster-affected areas.
• Social infrastructure, including health facilities, and off-site infrastructure were rebuilt.
• A new Emergency Management Agency was created to coordinate emergency response, as well as disaster mitigation and preparedness activities.
• The Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool (TCIP) was established. It will reduce the fiscal burden on the government budget in the case of future earthquakes. The TCIP is one of the largest government insurance programs in the world, providing coverage to 2.6 million Turkish homeowners.
• The health sector in the region is better able to respond to emergencies because of new, necessary equipment.

• Undersecretary of Treasury
• Prime Minister’s Office
• Ministry of Public Works and Settlement
• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Health
• General Directorate of Insurance/Treasury
• Ministry of Labor and Social Security
• Selected Municipalities; Housing and Development Agency

• Piotr Wilczynski/ Christoph Pusch (former TTLs)
• Wael Zakout, Task Team Leader (ECSSD)
• Jolanta Kryspin-Watson (ECSSD)
• Ibrahim Sirer (ECSPS)
• Hulya Bayramoglu (ECCU6 ACS)

• Marmara Earthquake Emergency Reconstruction Project
• Marmara Earthquake Emergency Reconstruction Project: Projects & Programs