As the cloud of dust settles in Turkey and Syria, more details of the devastating earthquake emerge. Al Jazeera has reported nearly 44,218 deaths in Turkey alone, while 5,914 people have died in Syria. While the region continues to reel from this loss, a new quake of 5.2 magnitude hit southern Turkey late afternoon on Monday. According to the latest reports, the aftershock has killed one person, injuring 110, and causing 29 buildings to collapse. Authorities have initiated rescue efforts for several people believed to be trapped under the rubble. Emergency services and volunteers have been working tirelessly to rescue survivors and provide aid, but the
scale of the disaster is immense, and the road to recovery will be long and challenging.

Turkish President Erdogan has reiterated his commitment to a prompt reconstruction effort, saying the commencement of preliminary work for the construction of 309,000 homes will begin soon. Plans have also been set in motion for the construction of an additional 234,000 homes, along with the development of infrastructure, medical facilities, and parks, scheduled to commence in March and April. A delegation from Turkey’s High Election Board was scheduled to assess the feasibility of holding upcoming elections in the quake zone before being interrupted by the aftershocks.

President Erdogan acknowledged the shortcomings of his government’s response to the February 6 earthquakes as he spoke at a news conference in Adiyaman, one of the provinces hardest hit by the disaster. Turkish authorities have also launched a criminal investigation into individuals responsible for the lack of maintenance in the buildings leveled by the multiple earthquakes and have so far arrested early 200 people. In the neighboring country of Syria, U.S. sanctions continue to stall desperately needed international aid. As many activists around the world call for an end to economic sanctions, critics in the West argue that lifting sanctions will throw the country into lawlessness and civil war once again and that the authoritarian regime of Al-Assad continues to siphon aid initiatives into his personal wealth. Whichever side of the argument one may find themselves on, it is undisputed that Syria is in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

The death toll continues to rise, and the impact on the local communities in the quake zone is catastrophic. The earthquakes have also triggered landslides, obstructing roads and complicating rescue efforts. The psychological toll of the disaster is significant, with survivors reportedly experiencing trauma, fear, and anxiety. The long- term effects of the earthquakes on local communities are likely to be profound, with many people facing the difficult task of rebuilding their lives all over again. The quake has exposed existing vulnerabilities in the housing systems and highlighted the need for better disaster response mechanisms in the region.

Individuals who wish to support  the earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria may do so through online payments to international organizations like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies or UNICEF.