The following is reposted from the blog “Notes from Underground”. Since it appeared, the death toll of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has surpassed 33.000 and it is still mounting. The suffering is immense and the aid is slow in coming, in contrast to the bombs and artillery fire that have been raining down on this region for years now. Many if not most survivors have received no help whatsoever and can rely only on their mutual solidarity, building makeshift shelters in freezing temperatures. Many children are dying from hypothermia, the New York Times reported yesterday. In Syria, many die because Russian bombs have destroyed the hospitals in the territory that was controlled by the armies opposed to the Assad government. Up to 70 percent of Syria’s health care workers have fled the country, according to a report by BioMed Central. Meanwhile, hospitals in the government controlled territory lack medicine and equipment because of Western sanctions.
I’ve watched with horror and a growing anger the death toll in the aftermath of the 7.8 earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria just a few days ago. The count stands at over 12,000 with numbers expected to rise.
Read More →