The earthquake is the deadliest in the world in over 10 years. The death toll has passed 50,000. The first quake hit south-eastern Turkey and north-western Syria at 4.17 local time on the night of 6 February. It was measured at a strength of 7.8. Since then, over 10,000 aftershocks have been recorded, including one that was measured at a magnitude of 7.5. It has now been a month since the first earthquake. The situation is still critical. The reconstruction work is overwhelming. Thousands are buried in the ruins and the rest have to make do in tents and other makeshift dwellings. Mehmet Serkan Sincan has opened his antique shop to try to get some form of everyday life. Photo: SUSANA VERA / Reuters Familiar still separated People are still working to reunite families who lost contact with each other after the earthquake. The family minister in Turkey said on Wednesday that they have reunited over 1,800 unaccompanied children with their families after the earthquake. Fevzi Anli (53) begs her grandchild while they wait in the food queue. Photo: SUSANA VERA / Reuters Several of the children who were found in the ruins have not yet been reunited with their families. Some of them have not been identified, while others have been admitted to intensive care units in various parts of Turkey. In Syria, schools have been turned into centers for families who have lost their homes. – Collective housing managers are the main focus now. Thousands have lost their homes and have nowhere to go. This is according to Church Aid’s country director in Syria, Ruba Khoury. She is in Syria when she answers questions from news. – With natural disasters such as earthquakes, all people are affected. Rich and poor have lost family members, possessions, security and hope. But it is always the poorest who are most vulnerable, she adds. Intermediate tent camps Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has promised that the reconstruction will take place within a year. If the law is true, there are still months until those who now live in temporary tent camps can move into permanent homes. Tent leaders are set up for survivors after the earthquake. Photo: SUSANA VERA / Reuters Mosques, sports arenas, tents and trains are now being used to shelter those who have lost their homes. The World Bank estimates that there has been material damage of over NOK 350 billion in Turkey, and NOK 53 billion in Syria. They estimate that it will probably cost twice as much to rebuild after the damage from the earthquake. Bozhoyuk in Turkey hangs clothes to dry outside what is left of a mosque. Photo: SUSANA VERA / Reuters – People are still terrified – One month after the deadly earthquake, people are still terrified. They are afraid to return until they damage their houses. They run into the streets every time they notice an aftershock. More than six million people have been affected in Syria, says Khoury. The UN has sent trucks with emergency aid into Syria, but it has been difficult to help because of sanctions and consequences from the long-lasting war. Leyla Ogural (52) says goodbye to two health workers. Photo: SUSANA VERA / Reuters Khoury said that there are humanitarian organizations working in the area. They try to cover basic needs; food, drink, health care, and perhaps primarily shelter. – We have to consider that people in this area have already lived with war for several years, together with inflation, forest fires and pandemics. In other words, the earthquake hit an already vulnerable group, which led to catastrophic negative consequences, she says. Will have long-term consequences – This disaster will affect both Turkey and Syria for a long time to come, Jørgen Haldorsen, head of foreign affairs at the Red Cross, told news. Jørgen Haldorsen, head of international affairs at the Red Cross. Here together with Eiad Tamer from the Syrian Red Crescent in Latakia in Syria. Photo: SALTBONES / Red Cross – In the first minutes and days it was all about looking for survivors and rescuing everyone who could be saved. Now this work is about helping those who have survived. Many have lost everything they have, family members, homes and opportunities to earn an income, he says. – I was in Syria two weeks after the earthquake and met people who had first lived through 12 years of conflict and now had this disaster on top. The Norwegian Red Cross has increased its efforts in Syria after the earthquake and this work will continue for a long time, he concludes.
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One month since the earthquake struck Syria and Turkey – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
