First of all,we really feel for the people of Kahramanmaras and send our deepest condolences to them.
Four days ago,Syria and Turkey were hit by a massive earthquake that recorded a 7.6 and 7.8 on the Richter Scale,quite high considering the most devastating earthquake recorded 9.2. and is referred to as ‘megaquake’.It happened in Japan back in the 80’s.\
Turkey has not suffered such an earthquake since 1939 when an earthquake claimed 33,000 lives and there came as a complete surprise to the Turks and Syrians.Over 21,000 people have been confirmed dead but lucky more have been pulled from the rubbles.In the wake of the earthquake, aftershocks caused more damage and rippled across the region in about 4 waves.
The US,UK,Spain,Italy,Russia,France and European Union have already deployed troops and rescue teams to work with Turkish and Syrian authorities in search and rescue efforts.This was after the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a cry for help in the ensuing aftermath in the wake of the earthquake.Search dogs,field hospitals,vaccines and funds have all been delivered to Syria and Turkey so far albeit insufficient.
Shockingly,the European Union did not offer help at first claiming Turkey had not made a formal request for help.However, it is largely assumed that regional geopolitics are in play considering Erdogan is a close ally of Putin yet the EU backs Ukraine.Erdogan has also blocked the entrance of Finland to the NATO block, another thorn in the flesh.
For Erdogan, how he handles this crisis might determine whether he wins the elections that were initially scheduled for 18th June 2023 or not.Erdogan has since moved the presidential and parliamentary elections to May 14th 2023.
Syria is hardest hit in all this considering even before the earthquake, about 70% of the Syrian population was already starving. Thousands of children and families are at risk after two devastating earthquakes and dozens of aftershocks hit south-east Türkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023.
Metropolitan 