Business · Companies · 5 hrs ago
Malatya business group seeks more time for traders in earthquake containers
After the February 6 earthquakes, traders in Malatya have continued working from small temporary containers.
Notices have now been sent telling businesses to leave as new shopping areas are completed and premises begin to be handed over.
But some traders have nowhere ready to move: some have not received new premises, while others lack ownership rights because they were tenants before the earthquakes.
Some businesses that have received premises cannot open because of infrastructure problems, and some traders cannot afford to rent elsewhere.
The Malatya Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s president, Oğuzhan Ata Sadıkoğlu, has asked for container traders to stay until the end of 2026.
He says the extra time would allow problems with premises and allocation to be resolved, and calls for a solution for tenants without rights to new premises because trading must recover along with buildings.
Malatya business group head Oğuzhan Ata Sadıkoğlu called for traders in earthquake containers to be allowed to stay until the end of 2026.
Authorities have begun sending notices to vacate containers in temporary trading areas as new shops in the city centre are completed and handed over.
Sadıkoğlu said some traders have not received new premises, while others cannot operate in the premises they received because of infrastructure problems.
He said some traders cannot afford to rent new premises and could have to stop trading if they are evicted.
He called for solutions for tenants who have no entitlement to new premises and said the issue should be followed until all traders have permanent, safe workplaces.
- Who
- Malatya Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Oğuzhan Ata Sadıkoğlu is making the request on behalf of traders in earthquake containers.
- What
- He wants the traders to be allowed to remain in the containers until the end of 2026.
- When
- The requested deadline is the end of 2026.
- Where
- Temporary trading areas in Malatya, Türkiye.
- Why
- Some traders have not received new premises, cannot operate in premises they received, or cannot afford to rent elsewhere.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Traders continued their businesses in 21-square-metre containers.
Notices were sent to vacate containers in temporary trading areas.
Sadıkoğlu asked for traders in the containers to be given more time.
- Requested extension
- Until the end of 2026
- Container size
- 21 square metres
- Business group head
- Oğuzhan Ata Sadıkoğlu
- Location
- Malatya, Türkiye
- Earthquake date
- 6 February
What people are saying
No trader should be evicted without having somewhere to go