The cataclysm that has befallen southern Turkey and north-west Syria does so once in a century or even centuries. But never has such an apocalyptic event taken place at a time when the planet is at its most vulnerable. Its vulnerability issues from the pandemic and post-pandemic debilitating outcomes on the one hand and the capricious weather arising out of climate change, on the other. One of the worst sufferers of such consequences, Syria has moreover been riven by its internal conflicts in which international big players are directly or indirectly involved. So, here already existed a man-made mounting crisis that has been further exacerbated by this catastrophic quake. What looks like a retributive doom in the form of the quake happens not just at a critical juncture of its socio-political and economic instability and uncertainty but also at a time when its unmitigated crises are not divorced from global economic downturn. Time is moreover most unfavourable because it is winter and snowstorm, freezing cold and rains are lashing the affected areas. Also, the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck at 0.4:17 local time when people were fast asleep. It seems even elements conspired to intensify the unfolding tragedy.
Well, Turkey has also received this tragic blow at a time when the country appears to have left behind its half-European tag to exercise determined influences in political, strategic and conflict-ridden affairs--- such as opposition to NATO membership for one or two aspiring nations and mediation in Russo-Ukraine war --- of the world. The humanitarian crisis caused by the quake on both sides of the Syria-Turkey border is so heart-rending right at this moment that the nations around the world are too eager to help but time is crucial here. Every passing minute and hour will decide survival or not of thousands of people. By Wednesday evening the number of deaths was reported to be more than 11,000. The collapse of Rana Plaza showed how daunting the task of rescuing trapped people under the debris is. When entire blocks of buildings--- some of them high-rise --- are razed to the ground and reaching sophisticated logistic support there is delayed due to snapping of roads, the gargantuan challenge can well be imagined.
If Turkey is fortunate to receive all kinds of support from all across the world, Aleppo, the worst hit Syrian city by the 7.8 magnitude quake with its epicentre near the Turkish city Gaziantep, is mostly ignored by the international community because of the sanction against Syria. Even the Syrian government is overstressed to send its scant logistic resources to the worst affected areas because the various rebel groups-held territories are not safe to access and also considered hinterlands. Survivors are helplessly lamenting that they cannot rescue the trapped victims crying for help from under mounting piles of debris.
Tragically, the majority of those trapped will perish. Even the injured taken to local hospitals cannot be given proper medical care because there is little or no power. Even the survivors cannot go back to their homes where those have not collapsed because of the fear of after-shocks which have caused further damages. Here is a natural calamity that defies forecasts or forewarnings notwithstanding the fact that science and technology have progressed to an unprecedented advanced stage. The quake thus leaves a lesson for all quake-prone nations---including, of course, Bangladesh--- around the world that building construction must follow the ultimate quake-resistance norms and parameter.
