These past few days we have seen as a community the horrific impacts of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Reaching a magnitude of 7.8 which has been one of the worst earthquakes in the last two to three decades, many innocent individuals have been harmed in the process of this. Buildings and infrastructure have been completely annihilated and innocent people have been forcefully displayed. The worst hit regions include Aleppo in Syria ; one of the biggest cities within the Middle eastern region. However to mitigate this humanitarian aid has been provided to those regions to help resolve the areas in conflict. However the question arises, is this enough? Are countries doing enough to help resolve such a crisis?
The magnitude and impact of the disaster in Turkey and Syria will likely require a significant and sustained effort from humanitarian organisations and the international community to address the immediate needs of those affected. Humanitarian aid, such as food, shelter, medical assistance, and other essential supplies, can help alleviate some of the immediate suffering and provide basic necessities for survival. Currently many countries including the UK and US have proposed schemes and certain forms of aid to mitigate this crisis. This includes aid provided by the news network NW in the US who have volunteers who are on
site in South of Turkey providing medical aid and freeing survivors from rubbles.
In the aftermath of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, many people have lost their homes and communities. They will need immediate shelter and assistance to meet their basic needs, but they will also need support to help them rebuild their homes and communities over the longer term. This may include assistance with rebuilding infrastructure, such as roads and buildings, as well as support for economic recovery, such as job creation and training programs. Humanitarian aid can help with that by providing certain schemes through a third party body such as an NGO or IGO like the UN or through other state government actors or affiliated actors such as the IPA in the UK.
The Rubble left after the earthquake in Turkey
However, it is unlikely that humanitarian aid alone will be enough to fully address the needs of those affected by the earthquake. There will likely be a need for longer-term support, such as reconstruction efforts, to help rebuild homes and communities and address other, more complex needs.
In Turkey alone 75,000 buildings have been severely affected which caused many people to become displaced within the region. Though in Turkey there were strict regulations on infrastructure after the 1999 earthquake in Southern Turkey which ended up killing 17,000, seemingly not all infrastructure seemed to abide by this rule. However certain buildings claimed something known as a “construction amnesties”. A “construction amnesty” means that the landlord has a legal exemption from abiding certain legislation due to particular reasons such as lack of territory. However some claimed it to avoid wasting more money on
infrastructure than was already needed and instead “cut corners”. This unfinished housing is a large contributor as to why these housing projects don't work and why humanitarian intervention may not be enough to resolve this issue, but rather maybe looking into how to improve legislation in Turkey and Syria to prevent further catastrophes and to mitigate the current effects of the earthquake.
Children freezing in the street after losing their house
Furthermore, the earthquake has also caused widespread damage to essential services, such as hospitals and schools, which will need to be repaired or rebuilt. This will require additional resources and funding, beyond what is typically provided through humanitarian aid. However this also would mean that there would need to be a change in the style or implementation of infrastructure used within these regions. Perhaps this may be a middle ground that could be considered by the Turkey and Syrian government along with their donors.
In conclusion, the earthquake in Turkey and Syria is likely to have a significant impact on the affected communities, and a sustained and comprehensive response will be necessary to address the needs of those affected. While humanitarian aid can provide immediate relief, it is unlikely to be enough on its own to fully address the longer-term needs, such as reconstruction and recovery efforts. A coordinated and collaborative effort will be required from the international community, humanitarian organisations, and local authorities to ensure that those affected receive the assistance they need.
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