KARACHI:
In the wee hours on Monday, 6th February, parts of Turkey and neighbouring Syria were jolted by a catastrophic earthquake of 7.8 magnitude. It was followed by an aftershock of about the same magnitude running havoc in central and southern Turkey and western Syria. People were caught by this dreadful catastrophe in their sleep on a cold winter morning.
The jolts were so strong that hundreds of buildings were razed to the ground leading to a massive loss of life and property. Four days have passed with more than 12,000 people dead and the number is likely to rise manifold. Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Turkey and Syria. People are forced to live in makeshift camps or under open skies in bone-chilling cold. While aid is pouring in from all over the world in Turkey, the situation in Syria is worrisome. The earthquake has ruined what was left of a ten-year-long civil war, it is very difficult to send in aid.
The world already seems to have forgotten the plight of the people in Syria who are suffering from the ongoing proxy war between the world powers. The United Nations must come up with a way to provide much need aid quickly and effectively to the earthquake-stricken people in Syria. It is unfortunate that people who were already suffering immensely have been struck by another tragedy. We must do everything in our means to help the people who not only lost their loved ones but also lost all their belongings. May Allah have mercy on everyone.
Raja Shafaatullah
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2023.
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