A year ago, a devastating earthquake struck southern Turkey and northwestern Syria, leaving behind widespread destruction and a heartbreaking loss of over 59,000 lives. As the affected regions continue to rebuild, many questions linger about the future of these devastated areas. Let's take a closer look at what exactly happened and the challenges faced during the aftermath.
On February 6, 2023, the 7.8 magnitude quake struck shortly after 4 a.m., lasting for a staggering 85 seconds. Within 24 hours, over 570 aftershocks followed, including a powerful magnitude 7.5 temblor in Turkey's Kahramanmaras province. According to the latest government figures released by Turkey's Environment and Urbanization Minister Mehmet Ozhaseki, around 680,000 homes either collapsed or were rendered uninhabitable, leaving hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need of shelter.
The earthquake triggered a massive international rescue and aid operation involving dozens of countries and organizations. However, reaching the hardest-hit areas proved to be a challenge initially. Residents, armed with whatever tools they could find, valiantly dug through the rubble while rescue efforts were hindered by limited manpower and equipment. Furthermore, damaged roads, airports, and inclement weather made it difficult for rescuers and aid to reach the affected regions promptly.
In Syria's northwestern Idlib province, the aid response faced criticism from the White Helmets rescue organization, blaming the international community for delays. Similarly, the Turkish government faced backlash for its slow response, leaving many people waiting days for help. Aid to Idlib, an opposition-held enclave, was initially restricted to one border crossing between Turkey and Syria, resulting in a three-day delay for the first aid shipment to reach survivors.
The death toll continued to climb despite the hopeful scenes of survivors being pulled from the debris. According to the Interior Ministry, the final count in Turkey reached a staggering 53,537 dead. The earthquake also displaced approximately 3 million people, leading to the declaration of 11 provinces in Turkey as emergency zones. In Syria, the United Nations reported that 6,000 people lost their lives, primarily in Idlib, though other estimates suggest the number could be higher. Adding to the devastation, the earthquake struck areas already severely damaged by a decade-long civil war, including the city of Aleppo.
The World Bank estimated the total damage caused by the earthquake at $34.2 billion in Turkey and $5.1 billion in Syria. However, the cost of rebuilding and the impact on the economy is expected to exceed those estimates, potentially surpassing $100 billion in Turkey alone.
Turkey's high susceptibility to earthquakes is well known due to its complex network of fault lines. The East Anatolian fault system, where this disaster occurred, sits near the convergence of the Anatolian, Arabian, and African tectonic plates. Notably, the 1999 magnitude 7.6 earthquake south of Istanbul, which claimed an estimated 18,000 lives, remains a tragic memory for the country. In recent years, Turkey has experienced several significant earthquakes, further highlighting the constant seismic risks faced by the nation.
Experts have pointed out that despite Turkey strengthening building codes following the 1999 Istanbul quake, their lax enforcement, poor planning, and alleged irregularities have exacerbated the impact of the 2023 disaster. Substandard construction materials and a lack of proper inspections during Turkey's construction boom in recent years have further worsened the situation.
Hatay, the worst-hit province, had many settlements constructed on precarious alluvial ground. Additionally, government amnesties for shoddy construction allowed perpetrators to pay fines instead of addressing the issue, ultimately compromising the safety of buildings. Critics argue that the delayed search and rescue operations also contributed to a higher loss of life.
Months after the earthquake, humanitarian aid started trickling into Syria, and a significant amount of financial aid was pledged through a U.N. appeal. However, as other global crises emerged, attention and resources for Syria dwindled. Humanitarian agencies now face the challenge of drawing the world's attention back to the war-ravaged country, grappling with donor fatigue and shrinking budgets. The international donor conference held in Brussels for Syria in June yielded lukewarm results, while the World Food Program announced reductions in aid to the country, eventually ending its main food assistance scheme in January.
Today, rubble still litters the affected areas, and many people continue to struggle for survival in tents and prefabricated containers, a year after the earthquake. Amid ongoing violence in northern Syria, approximately 4 million people heavily rely on humanitarian assistance.
The road to recovery for the devastated regions of Turkey and Syria remains long and arduous. However, with ongoing international support and a renewed commitment to earthquake preparedness and disaster management, there is hope that these communities can rebuild, ultimately creating a safer and more resilient future.
