The horror of the earthquakes that have caused so much death and destruction in Turkey and Syria defies comprehension (Turkey and Syria earthquake death toll passes 21,000 as first aid convoy enters north-west Syria, 9 February). Yet Syrians are left to wonder what they have to do to receive help. Thankfully, Turkey has received massive amounts of assistance from well over 70 countries. It needs it – and more.
But consider being on the Syrian side of the border. It is an emergency on top of an emergency. Syrians were in dire crisis before the earthquakes. As yet, no heavy equipment, international rescue experts, sniffer dogs or fuel have crossed the Turkish border into Syria. That is what is required. In Syrian regime-controlled areas, no institution has the capabilities to handle this disaster, including civil society. What can Syrians expect from a Syrian regime that has shown contempt for civilian life – even bombing hospitals? The Syrian regime has not even declared a state of emergency.
