Earthquake in Turkey

Abstract

The article discusses the impact of recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, which were the strongest in the region in over a century, causing the death of over 12,000 people and impacting the lives of millions. The article highlights the need for a long-term recovery plan, which includes reconstruction efforts, coordination between national and local governments and foreign donors, and better standards. The article also emphasizes the need to incorporate refugees into the rehabilitation operations, given their dispersion throughout the affected areas, and address the requirements of at-risk groups, such as children, expectant mothers, older people, and individuals with mental health disorders. The article concludes by stressing the importance of disaster preparedness to prevent fatalities.

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Two earthquakes that occurred on consecutive days have had a devastating impact on millions of lives in Turkey and Syria, sending shockwaves hundreds of kilometres away. These earthquakes, which had magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.5 and struck nine hours apart, respectively, were the strongest to hit the area in over a century. The death toll from the earthquakes has exceeded 12,000, with many more still missing and in critical condition. The World Health Organization estimates that the tragedy has affected 23 million people. At least 6,000 structures have collapsed, many of which still had occupants inside. The top priority now is the rescue attempts, with 25,000 people deployed in Turkey and many more arriving from outside. However, the lives of survivors and those still buried beneath debris are now threatened by a severe winter storm.

Syria, which has been ravaged by a 12-year war and terrorism, is the country least equipped to handle such a catastrophe. Despite being subjected to Western sanctions, the nation's infrastructure has been severely compromised. Thousands of people have been internally displaced or have become refugees in the affected regions.

Regional commentators are concentrating on the longer-term ripple effects that the disaster could have on Turkey, a country whose military, economic, and political power has a substantial impact well beyond its borders. With an 85 million-strong population, Turkey is already facing economic challenges.

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After a catastrophe, the healing process involves a range of actions that must be taken into account. Longer-term recovery procedures will need to begin after the emergency response activities, which include rescuing people, taking care of injuries and health issues, reuniting families, putting out fires, removing rubble, and restoring essential services. Recovery may entail creating strategies, controlling funding for significant capital infrastructure investments, coordinating between national and local governments and foreign donors, rebuilding houses and public infrastructure, creating better standards, and many other actions. Recovery calls for a plethora of actions. I want to emphasize a few essential takeaways from RAND's work on these recovery measures for prior catastrophes in the United States and abroad.

First, the recovery process takes much longer than people anticipate or desire. The time it takes to complete most of the required reconstruction will depend on how severe the disaster was. For instance, the 15-year-long Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts are coming to a close. The northeast of the United States took around eight years to recover from Hurricane Sandy, in large part. Even five years after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Puerto Rico has only been able to use a small percentage of the monies allocated for disaster relief on reconstruction. Secondly, managing recovery requires a variety of capacities. National and municipal governments will probably oversee the reconstruction process, which might involve capital investments totalling several billion dollars. They will need help from the public and private sectors to acquire the necessary employees, supervisors, workers, and funding sources required to complete the reconstruction. Thirdly, authorities may attempt to model recent successful recoveries that included opportunities.

The Syrian refugees who are dispersed throughout the affected areas should be included and given the opportunity to participate in the rehabilitation efforts. Recent research conducted by RAND suggests that even during times of prosperity, refugees are willing to contribute to the local economy. Moreover, given that so many of their fellow refugees are impacted, they may be even more motivated to work during this unusual moment. However, their ability to function is hindered by various legal and regulatory restrictions. Turkey should consider lifting all restrictions on the employment opportunities available to Syrian refugees and welcome assistance from everyone in the recovery and reconstruction efforts. However, the aforementioned study also highlights that placing migrants in formal positions can be challenging since they tend to work informally.

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Certain groups, such as children, expectant mothers, older adults, and individuals with mental health disorders, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of catastrophic disasters, as has been demonstrated in previous earthquakes in Haiti, Bam, Iran, and other locations. Many people may not have access to their necessary medications, particularly those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and mental health disorders that could be exacerbated by stress. Access to care from healthcare providers such as general practitioners, nurses, OB/GYN physicians, and mental health professionals is critical during this period, as obstetric/gynecologic and mental health needs are particularly pronounced in the first few weeks following such events. Relief workers may ensure that all care is culturally competent and respectful of local religious customs in order to connect with earthquake victims wherever feasible. Failing to be prepared for disasters, rather than the event itself, is what leads to fatalities. Therefore, being prepared for emergencies is one of the most critical aspects of disaster management.

*This article is authored By Saanvi Khanna & Hrishika, Students from Symbiosis Law School, Noida and reviewed by Sparsh Narayan, Student from Symbiosis Law School, Noida.