Turkey Devastated by Earthquakes - happening NOW

[Aktungbby]

...all this misery on top of the civil war that had already left 90% of Syrian dependent on government assistance. It will be interesting to see Bashir al-Assad "step up to the plate." in this massive civil crisis. Even Israel, the US, and Turkey, both enemies, are sending assistance along with Russia, China and Arab states... https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/06/w...arthquake.html Syria is demanding control of all humanitarian aid...yeah right: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article...der-resolution

Throughout the protracted Syrian conflict, the Government of Syria has systematically manipulated humanitarian aid as a military tactic, a political bargaining chip, and as a means of self-financing. Consequently, since 2016 or earlier, independent analysts within the Syria crisis response have advocated to institutional donors that cross-line aid must be, at the very least, complemented by aid delivered through a cross-border modality. Although it remains a vital lifeline to opposition-held northwest Syria, the mechanism authorizing the entire UN-based cross-border aid architecture is now on the verge of collapsing in the face of a veto threat by Russia. Unless it is renewed through a UN Security Council vote by July 10, the cross-border system will be eliminated, and all UN aid will be delivered exclusively through Government of Syria areas. While aid practitioners are well-acquainted with incidents of aid manipulation by Damascus, such incidents are not common knowledge. As policymakers push for renewal of the cross-border mechanism, it is helpful to consider patterns of aid instrumentalization which demonstrate that cross-line aid delivery through Damascus — backed by Russia — cannot be effective or principled.

[Jimbuna]

Current death toll stands at a little over 5000 with some sources predicting an eventual total in excess of 20000

[Dargo]

In both Syria and Turkey, the death toll from the earthquakes has continued to rise. Altogether, the death toll is now at least 6,300. The latest information from Turkish authorities speaks of 4544 dead. That is over a thousand more than President Erdoğan had announced in the early afternoon. At least 1,800 people in Syria were killed in the disaster. That is over 100 more than in the previous update of the death toll.

[Jimbuna]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in the earthquake disaster zone in his country as criticism grows over the official response.

Families in some badly-hit areas have said the slow speed of rescue efforts means they have had no help digging through ruins to find relatives.

Erdogan acknowledged there'd been difficulties with the initial response but blamed delays on damaged roads and airports.

"We survived the earthquake, but we will die here due to hunger or cold," said a 64-year-old in Antakya, Hatay province.

More than 11,000 people in southern Turkey and northern Syria are now known to have been killed.

The White Helmets, who are leading efforts to rescue people in rebel-held areas Syria, say time is running out to save people.

Dramatic footage has emerged of rescues - one family of six were pulled alive from the rubble in the Syrian city of Idlib.

[mapuc]

Each time I see video clips from Turkey and all the demolished buildings following comes into my mind:

Sloppy construction-How many of these collapsed buildings have been sloppy constructed ??

I know the Turkish government implemented a kind of earthquake clause in the building rules-If I remember correctly they did this 20 or 30 years ago.

(the memory about this is faint..Don't hang me up on it.)

Markus

[Jimbuna]

[Skybird]

Mesut Hançer on day 1 of the quake. He holds the hand of his dead daughter.

Such is the life of a man.
Moments of joy, obliterated by unforgettable sadness.
There's no need to tell the children that.

- Marcel Pagnol: Le château de ma mère -