The Observer’s Opinion on the Inadequate Response to the Earthquake by the Turkish and Syrian Governments | Observer editorial

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A catastrophe on the terrible scale of the earthquakes that devastated large areas of Turkey and Syria has global reverberations. Just as rescuers briefly pause their work to listen in silence for the sounds of rubble, so the shockwaves of the tragedy cause ordinary citizens in faraway countries to pause in their daily lives. Old prejudices dissolve, habits of cynical indifference are shattered. Everyone may feel the agony of the victims. Their cry for help, which appeals to our common humanity, is heard universally. This cry cannot and should not be ignored – and based on the generous international response thus far, it has not been. A public fund launched by the UK Disaster Emergency Committee raised more than £30m on its first day. Soon dozens of countries, including Turkey’s longtime adversary Greece, came to the rescue. Despite the political obstacles, limited aid convoys have resumed to the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib. United Nations and World Bank officials have pledged support for a recovery effort that is expected to take years.

The UN faces criticism for not moving fast enough – a familiar complaint. The efforts of many aid agencies and NGOs, including specialist first responders from Britain, have been heroic. But the task ahead is enormous – and international displays of support and solidarity will have to continue once the dust settles. For those who have died — the current total is more than 24,000 — the struggle is over. But for the countless thousands who have been injured, and for the grieving families and relatives shattered by the crushing loss, the traumatic long-term effects may never be fully overcome.

The lack of medical facilities, clean drinking water, basic foodstuffs, safe shelter, sanitation and heating in the depths of winter is the immediate test. How to meet this increasingly urgent challenge will depend on the Turkish and Syrian governments, whose initial performance has not impressed. “More help is on the way, but more and more is needed,” warned António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General. The World Health Organization estimates that 23 million people, including 1.4 million children, may need long-term assistance.

In shattered Turkish cities such as Antakya, the ancient capital of Hatay province, it is hard to see how rebuilding can begin. Most of the historic center of the city was destroyed as if, in the words of a Western correspondent, it had been carpet bombed. The absence of government leadership and organized rescue plans, frigid conditions, no electricity and fuel, and the threat of more building collapses conspire to turn misery and desperation into understandable public anger.

In government-held areas of Syria, too, anxiety mixes with anger at the inappropriate response of Bashar al-Assad’s illegitimate regime in Damascus. The second city of Aleppo in Syria, which suffered greatly during the civil war, has been dealt another terrible blow. Likewise, in opposition-held Idlib, the impact of patchy fighting with Syrian, Russian, and Iranian forces has been exacerbated by the earthquakes. About 2.7 million people are already dependent on foreign aid. They are badly needed now. Even worse, the wounded and sick lack hospitals and clinics. Why? Because the Russians bombed them and killed their employees.

And Assad, in his proper form, tried to shift the blame, complaining that US and Western sanctions were hampering relief efforts. In fact, US sanctions excluded humanitarian aid and were eased last week. Assad has now reportedly agreed to open relief routes from government-held territory to rebel-held areas. Years of horrific experience show that this despicable dictator cannot be trusted to keep his promise or help his people.

Arguably, the failure of the democratic West to bring Assad and his collaborators war criminals to justice – and to force an end to the siege of Idlib – has indirectly exacerbated the impact of today’s state of emergency. That said, no one should be under the illusion that, as far as the legacy of the war is concerned, the main villain is the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. Putin is the one who ordered the merciless bombing of Syrian civilians. He continues to block aid agencies’ access to Idlib at the United Nations. Without Putin’s support, Assad is likely to be overthrown, in prison – or dead.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, has many questions to answer as well, about the speed and effectiveness of his government’s response and about the regulatory, planning, implementation and official “amnesty” that allowed the construction of thousands of substandard apartment and office buildings. schools and hospitals. Previous earthquakes have brought promises of improved government oversight. High-level rampant corruption ensured that these promises were not kept. A special earthquake fund has been set up, but no one will say where the money went. Erdogan portrays himself as the supreme leader of Turkey. So the responsibility stops with him.

Will he take responsibility? Speaking during a visit to Adiyaman province, Erdogan acknowledged that the authorities’ response was not moving fast enough. But he usually blames others – particularly the opposition parties, whose justified criticism he described as politically motivated. The lack of democratic accountability is the hallmark of Erdogan’s authoritarian rule. This disaster has revealed its devastating effects for all to see. The loss of public confidence in his leadership, in conjunction with his declaration of a three-month state of emergency, raised fears that the national elections in May might be delayed.

That’s a concern for another day. Now, the focus, both domestically and internationally, should be on reaching and caring for survivors and victims in both Turkey and Syria. I heard their cries for help. It resonates all over the world. Our thoughts and the thoughts of the world following them.

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