A series of severe earthquakes have struck southern Turkey (now known as Türkiye) and northwest Syria, killing more than 41,000 people and injuring countless others.
The strongest earthquake to impact the region in over eighty years struck southeast Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, 2023. A second quake and hundreds of aftershocks occurred shortly afterwards.
The United Nations and the World Health Organization have declared a humanitarian emergency in northeastern Syria held by rebels in the wake of the recent devastating earthquakes that have struck both Turkey and Syria.
The World Health Organization praised Syrian President Bashar's al-decision Assad for allowing humanitarian supplies to reach rebel-held areas by opening two border crossings in northwestern Syria. However, the humanitarian task of getting the five million earthquake victims remained huge.
There were more than 36,000 deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and hundreds of thousands of displaced people after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Gaziantep in southern Turkey on February 6, followed by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake centred around the town of Kahramanmaras in south Turkey on February 12. Over 285 aftershocks have caused widespread damage throughout a region spanning southern Turkey, western Syria, and areas under rebel control in both countries.
Types of assistance provided by the UK and Western nations
Here are some specific types of assistance provided by the UK and other Western nations to support Turkey and Syria during the recent earthquakes.
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The UK government's aid package of £500,000 includes funding for emergency shelter, food, water, and medical care for those affected by the earthquakes. The UK's humanitarian agency, DFID, has also sent a team of experts to support search and rescue operations, provide technical assistance, and help coordinate the international response.
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The European Union's emergency aid package of €3 million will support the provision of emergency shelter, food, water, and medical care and help with the cleanup and recovery efforts. The funding will also support the work of humanitarian organizations on the ground.
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The United States has sent a team of experts from its disaster response agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to assess the situation and provide support for the affected areas. The team includes search and rescue specialists, structural engineers, and disaster medical experts.
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Germany has sent a team of experts from its Federal Agency for Technical Relief to support search and rescue operations. The group includes engineers, dog handlers, and logistics experts who will work alongside local authorities and international aid organizations.
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France has sent a team of rescue workers and equipment, including sniffer dogs and a mobile hospital, to help search for survivors and provide medical care for those in need. The team includes firefighters and emergency medical personnel who will work alongside local authorities and international aid organizations.
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Italy has sent a team of experts from its Civil Protection Agency to support search and rescue operations. The group includes engineers, dog handlers, and logistics experts who will work alongside local authorities and international aid organizations.
The UK offers massive earthquake support to Turkey-Syria
As the situation shifts from rescue to recovery, the United Kingdom has pledged additional aid to meet the growing humanitarian crisis in Turkey and Syria.
The increased foreign aid of £25 million will pay for emergency supplies, including tents and blankets for homeless families in cold weather, and the continued deployment of world-class UK medical expertise through the joint MoD-FCDO Field Hospital set up in Turkoglu.
It will boost the recovery effort in Turkey headed by the government and the efforts of the United Nations and other aid agencies in Syria to help communities devastated by conflict and this national calamity. Assistance with birthing and midwifery and lowering the risk of gender-based violence will be prioritized to protect women and girls from further harm in displaced communities.
This follows the UK's prompt action in the aftermath of the earthquake, when we sent a UK International Search and Rescue Team to Turkey, bolstered our aid to the White Helmets in northwest Syria, and rushed shipments of essential supplies, including tents, blankets, and medical supplies to the area.
An emergency room, an operating theatre open around the clock, and a team of doctors and nurses from the combined MoD-FCDO Field Hospital are working with Turkish medical personnel to save lives.
As a result of the terrible earthquakes in northwest Syria, an estimated 4.9 million people need cross-border aid, and the United Kingdom is supporting the United Nations, international partners, and nongovernmental organizations to get that aid to them.
How can you contribute?
DEC-affiliated charities and their local partners are among the first to provide essential assistance. Urgent priorities include search and rescue, medical care for the injured, a refuge for those who have lost their houses, heating in secure locations, blankets, winter clothing, and ensuring that people have access to food and clean water.
You can aid those affected by the disaster by donating to the DEC appeal and volunteering to generate funds. This will allow DEC charities and its local partners to contact more people and scale up their response.
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£10 could buy enough blankets to keep two individuals warm.
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Ten days of emergency food for a family might be purchased for £25.
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$50 could give two families emergency shelter.
Also Read - How Businesses Can Improve Their Sustainability Performance With ESG.
Conclusion
People have also suffered a devastating impact during the past conflict in Syria and Turkey. Western nations, including the UK, have been actively providing aid and support to those affected by the conflict. As part of this aid, people receive food, shelter, medical care, and other necessities. Western nations have also been supporting local peace-building initiatives and providing stability in the region.
The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have caused extensive damage and loss of life, adding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in both countries. Western nations, including the UK, have been actively providing aid and support to those affected by the earthquakes. Assisting with emergency shelters, food, and medical care are some examples of the types of assistance that are available. Western nations have also been working to support local relief efforts and assess the needs of the affected communities. The aid provided by the UK and other western countries is crucial in helping those affected by the earthquake recover and rebuild their lives.
Amid a harsh winter, many people have been abandoned and need warm blankets, temporary housing, food, and freshwater. We should help them.
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