Qatar Donates World Cup Cabins To Survivors Of Turkey Earthquake
Mobile homes like the ones at the 2022 FIFA World Cup are designed to be set up in practically no time, then taken down at the end of the event. Many a time, they’re envisioned to be handed down and reused elsewhere. With magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes striking southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, Qatar’s temporary places of accommodation have reached that aim faster than expected.
The disaster on February 6 ravaged the homes of millions and killed at least 35,000 people, with the death toll expected to rise when rescue teams recover more bodies. Many families have been forced to sleep without a roof in the winter.
Qatar has announced that it will deliver 10,000 portable cabins and mobile homes from its stint at the World Cup to provide refuge for survivors in the earthquake zones of Turkey and Syria, the Associated Press reports.
The colorful containers previously served as lodging at the World Cup’s Fan Village, offering spectators a place to stay in the empty desert surrounding the capital of Doha for about US$200 a night. Each structure housed two twin beds, air conditioning, and a refrigerator, as well as provided Wi-Fi connectivity.
شاهد|| إرسال الدÙعة الأولى من البيوت المتنقلة لإيواء المتضررين من زلزال تركيا Ùˆ سوريا Ùˆ دعم سبل عيشهم
— Qatar Fund For Development صندوق قطر للتنمية (@qatar_fund) February 13, 2023
Watch || The first batch of mobile homes is being deployed as shelters for people affected by Türkiye and Syria earthquake, to support their livelihood#زلزال_سوريا_وتركيا pic.twitter.com/jYUM20pmed
The Fan Village “cabins” were heavily criticized for being more of a container park. However, they will now be deployed for a more meaningful cause.
The country, which says it has always intended to donate the mobile homes, shipped out 350 of the containers on Sunday, according to the Qatar Fund for Development.
Qatar joins other Gulf nations in delivering aid to victims of the deadly earthquake, including the United Arab Emirates, which has promised to donate US$100 million for emergency relief.
[via Associated Press, Reuters, New York Times, video and screenshots via Qatar Fund for Development]
