The earthquake of magnitude 7.8 that hit Southern Turkey yesterday was followed by another earthquake of magnitude 7.6. Both disasters account for the lives of 5,000 plus people. Many are yet to be rescued.
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Turkey and Syria cross the death toll of 5,000 post- two earthquakes
Yesterday, two earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.6 hit the Gaziantep region in Southern Turkey. A minute-long earthquake has taken the lives of more than 5,000 people in Turkey and Syria, many people are yet to be rescued. The tremors of the earthquake were also felt in Cyprus and Lebanon. Major buildings have collapsed in both countries, alarm levels have been increased to bring international aid and a state of emergency has been proclaimed. The entire world stands in solidarity with Turkey and Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that “In every ten minutes a dead body is found.” The Turkish Vice President in a statement made in the press stated that the death toll from the earthquakes rose to 3,419, bringing the total, including those killed in Syria to more than 5,000.
The aftermath of the earthquake: Another 5.9 magnitude earthquake felt in Turkey and Iran
After the two earthquakes in Turkey, another earthquake of magnitude 5.9 hit on the border of Turkey and northwestern Iran taking the lives of 2 people and 122 are said to be injured. Iran too has sent their rescue teams to help the people and also put the hospitals on alert.
Just like yesterday in Turkey, the weather problems are hampering the rescue teams working today in Iran. In Turkey, it was becoming difficult to reach the affected areas. The wind, rain, and snow along with the earthquake resulted in cancelling flights from Istanbul and Ankara to eastern Turkey. The weather is making it difficult for people to gather outside in open areas to save themselves.
Today, it was announced by Iranian emergency officials that it has been snowing in some of the affected areas, power has been cut off and a waves of cold wind with low temperatures has made the situation strained.
UN aid was halted due to the damage done by earthquakes
The situation becomes bleak for Syria as the critical humanitarian aid that was supposed to come from the United Nations (UN) has come to a stop due to infrastructural damage that happened after the disaster. The organization is facing some logistical issues like damaged roads, and no connectivity from region to region which is making it difficult for them to send aid to Syria.
“Some roads are broken, some are inaccessible. There are logistical issues that need to be worked through,” said Madevi Sun-Suona, spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA). “We don’t have a clear picture of when it will resume,” she added.
Yesterday more than 45 countries stood in solidarity with both countries and offered help. France, the United States of America, India, Ukraine, the European Union, and Russia were some of the first countries who got in touch with the leaders and non-state actors from Turkey and Syria and offered to send aid, and rescue teams. The USA claimed that they will offer “all and any kind of help required by Turkey.”
A statement was given by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Administrator on Earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. Achim Steiner claimed that UNDP is ready to support the people affected by this tragedy for days, weeks, and months to come. He also said that UNDP will coordinate with the UN and other humanitarian partners to support the affected people.
Life of the people after the earthquake
By looking at the plight of people, the International Rescue team has called it “a crisis within multiple crises.” The photos and videos from the site show that people in Gaziantep have spent the aftermath of the earthquake inside bunkers and improvised shelters around their neighbourhoods.No one has caught any sleep. There have been electricity and water outages for the past 24 hours.
Many have emptied their apartments and are living in cars in open areas. They continuously check their phones to read about any notifications from the government or to talk to their loved ones. Some groups have gotten the chance to warm themselves with the fire. Inside bunkers, parents are doing their best to keep young children busy with toys and mobile apps, but their cries have kept people inside the shelters awake. The world is haunted by these images.
Many Syrians had also migrated to Gaziantep, they are now on the other side of the border inflicting the same tragedy and keeping in touch via phones despite the distance. People are worn down by physical and mental trauma, either they have lost their loved ones or saw someone else losing theirs. The pain can be seen in everybody’s eyes as they all struggle to fall asleep. They do not want to feel the earth-shaking and sinking again. Many are looking for the first opportunity to leave and reach somewhere safer.
Up to 23 million were affected by the earthquake claims WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has claimed that the earthquakes have affected up to 23 million people and killed 5,000 people so far.
“Event overview maps show that potentially 23 million people are exposed, including around five million vulnerable populations,” the World Health Organization’s senior emergencies officer Adelheid Marschang said.“Civilian infrastructure and potentially health infrastructure have been damaged across the affected region, mainly in Turkey and northwest Syria,” Marschang added. The WHO “considers that the main unmet needs may be in Syria in the immediate and mid-term.”
