Here’s a link to two recent NPR pieces that both touch on topics we’ve been thinking about over the last couple weeks: how every disaster is political, and how politics can often complicate aid and recovery.
• Leila Fadel, “Initial earthquake aid is finally getting to Northwest Syria but more is needed”, February 22, 2023. Excerpt:
“In the two weeks since an earthquake claimed tens of thousands of lives in Turkey and Syria, survivors in Syria have been pleading for help. Aid was relatively quick to reach Turkey, which is a NATO ally. But rescue efforts in northwest Syria were hampered by more than a decade of war between President Assad’s regime and opposition groups.”
• Leila Fadel again, “Quake aid to Syria highlights complications of getting help to a place mired in war”, February 23, 2023. Excerpt:
“In the two weeks since an earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria, rescue workers and international aid have poured into southern Turkey. But in the quake zone in northern Syria, already ravaged by war, the humanitarian response took days. The U.N. called it a failure. Survivors pleaded for help.”
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