TURKEY AND SYRIA, THE WORLD IS WITH YOU

In a time of disaster and despair, we can always come together to help one another as a global community. On the 6th of February 2023, Syria and Turkey were plunged into crisis as a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Gaziantep As of the evening of the 6th, over 1000 have died in Turkey, with an additional 500 in Syria Thousands across both nations have been left injured, their homes collapsed, and stripped of their lives overnight. With hundreds of aftershocks running along the East Anatolian fault line, the distress has spread across western Turkey and northern Syria. One woman in Turkey, speaking in an ambulance outside her destroyed apartment explained "We were shaken like a cradle. There were nine of us at home. Two sons of mine are still in the rubble, I'm waiting for them"

The disaster brings with it the obstacles of saving lives, providing safety and stability to those in need, rebuilding homes, and reconstructing livelihoods But to undertake such a colossal challenge, the global community must come together. In Northern Syria, an area not currently under government control, a member of the White Helmet aid group pleaded “We need help We need the international community to do something, to help us, to support us North-western Syria is now a disaster area. We need help from everyone to save our people” and the world has responded.

The EU has mobilised over 10 search and rescue teams, with major nations such as the US, UK and Russia stepping in to help alongside them in Turkey. The Prime Minister released a statement explaining that over 45 countries have offered support, with the likes of Bulgaria, Croatia, The Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Malta, The Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and Romania amongst the first responders The international blue crescent foundation is one of the hundreds of NGOs offering aid and calling for blood donations, medical supplies, blankets, heaters, food and tents. The UAE has set up field hospitals, Japan has sent their international cooperation team, and European nations are working to send rescue dogs, vehicles, doctors and engineers to aid the humanitarian mission.

In Syria, the situation is heightened by the already dire humanitarian crisis. With this year's crisis response underfunded by 50%, the need for humanitarian aid worsens. Medical infrastructure in the region is already beyond capacity, and in the rebel controlled areas of the west, it is hard for international organisations to reach those impacted With only one border corridor currently open, the international community has called for a relaxing of political restrictions and refrain from military activity to allow for the movement of aid. Syria is in desperate need of a major international mobilisation of resources and medical care, however, in light of the earthquake and its catalyzation of humanitarianism, there are hopes that the world will bury its differences and work towards a future for those in Syria

Sienna Rietmuller