Quake horror calls for worldwide response
- As the death toll in southern Turkey and northern Syria climbs, now is the time for local and global mercy efforts to get under way
Shocking images and casualty figures have emerged from southern Turkey and Syria since powerful earthquakes struck the region on Monday. The unfolding horror demands a rapid and focused global response to help the tens of millions of people caught up in the disaster.
The first magnitude 7.8 earthquake rattled at least six countries and was followed hours later by a second quake almost as powerful. Nearly 80 aftershocks have also been recorded.
The death toll is climbing and the World Health Organization fears it may eventually surpass 20,000. Tens of thousands more are injured or missing.
Many of those who survived are sleeping outside in freezing temperatures. Thousands of buildings, including homes, schools and hospitals, collapsed in Turkey and northern Syria, which was already suffering a humanitarian crisis after nearly 12 years of civil war.
Earthquakes are not uncommon along the East Anatolian fault zone, but the scale of this disaster is worse because of the intensity of the quakes, their shallow epicentres and they hit where many live.
Search and rescue teams from around the world are joining the race against time and harsh winter conditions to dig survivors out of the rubble. More than 80 rescuers sent by the Chinese government arrived in Turkey early on Wednesday carrying 20 tonnes of medical and other supplies and equipment, as well as specialist dogs.
Another team of more than 100 rescuers from Wuhan will join them and Beijing is also sending financial aid.
Following reports that many buildings collapsed because of bad construction, China may be able to eventually offer hard-won expertise from its efforts to rebuild after similar damage was caused in its own quake zones, such as Sichuan.
Hong Kong’s government sent a 59-strong rescue team with two rescue dogs and eight tonnes of equipment, including listening devices, to Turkey on Wednesday. Fundraising efforts have also started. The city’s Red Cross chapter aims to raise more than US$215 million for relief efforts.
The charity has already started receiving donations and it is hoped that the city’s reputation for stepping up to help others will come into play again. Some Hongkongers have family members caught up in the disaster.
Our thoughts are with them at this terrible time. Meanwhile, we encourage everyone in the community to open their hearts and wallets to support those so desperately in need.
