With the main focus of earthquake relief efforts turning from finding those trapped to helping the survivors, there is a huge need for one of humankind's primary needs – shelter.   

CGTN correspondent Natalie Carney has seen the extensive preparations made in Hatay, Türkiye.  

"Now that rescue efforts are moving on to recovery and humanitarian efforts, we're seeing a lot more tent areas like this being set up for those that did survive the quake but lost everything," Carney says.

Turkish factories in Kızılay in Ankara and Erzincan are working day and night to produce enough tents for the earthquake zone. The Red Crescent needs all the tents those factories can produce as 550 workers erect hundreds of tents every day for the unprecedented relief effort.

"There is a massive drive going on to erect these tents all across the country –upwards of 500 a day – in an effort to get people out of their cars, off the streets and into somewhere that at least can provide them a place to rest their head that is safe for the next little while until their lives can be rebuilt," explains Carney.

The tents are 16.5 square meters and are double-layered to withstand the winter conditions. The floor and ceiling are made of water-repellent PVC material and felt is used in the inner layer. 

Inside each tent there are two sections – a parent area and a children's area. The layout includes a kitchen which is suitable for setting up a stove at the entrance of the tents. It's a layout familiar to Carney.

"This is the exact same setup we've seen here in southern Türkiye for the exodus of Syrians that crossed the border into Türkiye during the height of the civil war in that country," she says. 

"Now, of course, this isn't being used as a permanent situation for the victims of the earthquake here in Türkiye, but at least it is some place for these people to find a space that is safe and collect themselves as they try to rebuild their lives."

Additionally, the Red Crescent is coordinating the mammoth task of feeding the survivors. Along with the nutrition group consisting of AFAD, MSB, Türkiye's Gendarmerie and other non-governmental organizations, a total of 334 mobile kitchens, 86 catering vehicles, 33 mobile ovens and 252 service vehicles have been sent to the region. 

In the disaster area, 16,208,638 hot meals, 3,648,010 soups, 13,295,356 bottles of water, 18,909,911 loaves of bread, 9,506,375 treats and 1,787,341 beverages are being distributed. Many more will follow as relief workers face a huge humanitarian disaster.