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One year ago, a series of some of the most devastating earthquakes struck an area of 120,000 square kilometers across southern Turkey and northern Syria, with magnitudes of up to 7.8, killing nearly 60,000 people, including thousands of refugees. However, the number is likely much higher. At least 107,000 people were injured, and in total, 14 million people were and continue to be affected by the earthquake disaster, and three million people have been displaced. In Turkey, it took over a week for the government to react, while foreign aid provided by humanitarian organizations was reportedly blocked from entering the affected area. When government aid finally arrived, government agencies such as the Disaster And Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) allegedly put tents on sale instead of distributing them; thousands weren’t given tents, being left to rely on friends or relatives as the country continues to grapple with a major economic crisis. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pledged to rebuild the homes that were destroyed within a year. However, work has since slowed, leaving many people on ice as hundreds of thousands remain in container houses or tents in harrowing conditions. However, while governments worldwide were quick to respond to Turkey’s requests for international aid, Syria, already devastated by years of war, was largely denied international aid as sanctions by the EU and US, among others, persisted. Syria’s ongoing humanitarian crisis is among the largest in the world, and the earthquake has only further exacerbated the situation. #source Источник: Slavyangrad
