At around 1am GMT on Friday morning last week, a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck south-eastern Turkey and north-western Syria, causing unprecedented destruction and loss of life in the region. It was followed by another 7.5 magnitude quake at around 10:30am, causing further devastation to an area already teetering on the edge of catastrophe.
The epicentres of both earthquakes were close to the Turkish border city of Gaziantep, which holds a population of 2 million people. The death count is still rising as I write this article, but the latest count has it at around 15,000. This disaster was especially deadly due to the timing of the event, with the majority of residents still asleep at home when the first quake struck.
This is one of the worst natural disasters in Turkey’s history, and one of the deadliest in recent global history. On top of the devastating death toll, more than 6,000 buildings have been partially or entirely destroyed, and has displaced hundreds of thousands of people in the region.
Syria is still in the throes of a decade-long civil war, the land still divided between government and rebel forces. The region affected by this disaster is under rebel control, and inaccessible for aid from the central government. It is almost completely reliant upon international aid from NGOs and volunteers, and with only one aid route between Turkey and Syria still open, the situation in Syria is even more dire than in Turkey.
Freezing winter temperatures are hampering rescue efforts, and making the lives of the survivors even more miserable. Survivors are having to choose between freezing outdoor temperatures or shelter in unsafe buildings at risk of collapse.
The response by the Turkish government so far has been sluggish, with some areas of Turkey affected by the earthquakes having to wait for 2 days before any government assistance arrived. 72 hours is the average window of opportunity to get survivors out of the rubble alive, and if significant effort isn’t put into the rescue effort by the authorities, scores of lives will be lost needlessly.
Blame for the slow response to this disaster is already starting to be thrown. Turkish President Recep Erdogan is receiving most of it for failing to prepare effectively in a region prone to earthquakes, but Erdogan claims that for disasters of this magnitude, “it it impossible to prepare.” Erdogan became Prime Minister in the wake of another deadly Turkish quake in 1999 that claimed 17,000 lives. His predecessor in that role was similarly blamed for a lack of preparedness, contributing to Erdogan’s victory.
Foreign aid and assistance has already started flooding into Turkey and Syria from around the world. The international community will do all it can to support both nations through this most difficult time, but with the world already in a very precarious situation with the energy and food crises from the war in Ukraine, required levels of support may not be immediately forthcoming.
The human tragedy of this disaster cannot be understated. Thousands of families have been ripped apart, or in some cases, wiped out altogether. Parents burying sons and daughters, babies pulled alive from the rubble sent straight to orphanages, homes and livelihoods destroyed in their entirety. There are still potentially thousands of people languishing underneath the ruins, and the window of opportunity to get them out alive is rapidly closing.
All across the world, hearts are breaking for the people of Turkey and Syria. Private donations and charitable work will undoubtably have a profound positive impact on the recovery effort, but without effective governmental intervention, it is unlikely that the survivors will receive the support they need. Erdogan has promised that all destroyed buildings in Turkey will be re-built to at least 3 or 4 storeys, and all displaced people will be re-homed within a year. These are vital pledges, and with election season in Turkey drawing ever nearer, he will need to make good on those promises not only for the welfare of his people, but for his own political longevity.
stay safe
/e