BEIRUT/ISTANBUL

Türkiye has announced that it is ready to set up 100 prefabricated housing units in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli to support families affected by a recent disaster.

On Feb. 8, at least 14 people were killed and eight others were rescued after a residential building collapsed in Tripoli.

A meeting was held at the governorate headquarters with the participation of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Lebanon Murat Lutem, Acting Governor of Tripoli and North Lebanon Iman Al-Rafai, Tripoli Mayor Abdul Hamid Karimeh and Wael Zmerly, president of the Union of Al-Fayhaa Municipalities.

Following the incident, Karimeh said many buildings in the city face the risk of collapse due to negligence, describing Tripoli as effectively a “disaster zone.”

Speaking to an Anadolu, Lutem said the Lebanese government has been working around the clock to provide necessary support to neighborhoods affected by the disaster in Tripoli.

“We aim to contribute to these efforts with our support. Türkiye will continue to stand by Lebanon,” he said, reiterating that Ankara is ready to provide all necessary assistance to help heal the wounds caused by the disaster.

Discussions focused on damaged structures following the recent building collapse in Tripoli, the evacuation of high-risk buildings, and the rapid provision of logistical support to affected families.

Lutem said Türkiye is ready to set up 100 prefabricated housing units for families whose homes were destroyed or heavily damaged, adding that Ankara will continue supporting the Lebanese people through its humanitarian institutions.

He said the assistance will also include training for civil defense and search-and-rescue teams along with equipment support.

Lebanese authorities said that over the past week, a total of 229 families have been evacuated from 21 buildings at risk of cracking or collapse in the city.

Officials from Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and the Turkish Red Crescent also attended the meeting.

Lutem and his delegation later met with Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed and the Secretary-General of the Higher Relief Commission, Bassam Nabulsi.

In a statement posted on the US social media company X’s platform, Sayed said the Turkish delegation held talks in Beirut to address the latest developments in Tripoli and described the offer to provide 100 prefabricated homes as a significant contribution to urgent shelter needs.