TEMPO.CO, Antakya - Turkey has begun work to rebuild homes following this month's devastating earthquakes, a government official said on Friday, Feb. 24, as the combined death toll in Turkey and Syria surpassed 50,000.

More than 160,000 buildings containing 520,000 apartments collapsed or were severely damaged in the Feb. 6 earthquakes that killed tens of thousands in Turkey and neighboring Syria.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) announced the death toll in Turkey caused by earthquakes rose to 44,218 on Friday night.

With Syria's latest announced a death toll of 5,914, the combined death toll in the two countries rose to above 50,000.

President Tayyip Erdogan pledged to rebuild homes within a year, although experts have said the authorities should put safety before speed. Some buildings that were meant to withstand tremors crumbled in the latest earthquakes.

"For several projects, tenders and contracts have been done. The process is moving very fast," the official said, adding there would be no compromise on safety.

Authorities say tents have been dispatched for the many who are homeless, but people have reported trouble accessing them.

The Turkish government's initial plan now is to build 200,000 apartments and 70,000 village houses at the cost of at least $15 billion, he said. U.S. bank JPMorgan had estimated rebuilding houses and infrastructure would cost $25 billion.

The UNDP said it estimated that the destruction has left 1.5 million people homeless, with 500,000 new homes needed.

It said it had requested $113.5 million from the $1 billion in funds appealed for by the United Nations last week, adding that it would focus this money on clearing away mountains of rubble.

The UNDP estimates that the disaster had produced between 116 million and 210 million tons of rubble, compared with 13 million tons of rubble after the earthquake in northwest Turkey in 1999.

Turkey also issued new regulations under which companies and charities can build homes and workplaces to donate to the urbanization ministry for people in need.

Many survivors have left the region of southern Turkey that was hit by the quake or have been settled in tents, container homes, and other government-sponsored accommodations.

REUTERS

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