The Turkish Earthquake

On Feb. 6, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred in

southern Turkey near the northern border of Syria.

 Turkey:

Turkey, also known as Türkiye, is a unique country situated at the

crossroads of the Balkans, Caucasus, Middle East, and eastern
Mediterranean. It is among the larger countries in the region in terms of
territory and population, with its land area greater than that of any European
state.

 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake:

o On February 6, 2023, an earthquake occurred in southern Turkey near

the border of Syria with a magnitude of 7.8. An aftershock was followed
approximately 9 hours later by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, located
approximately 95 kilometers to the southwest. The earthquake has
caused the deaths of at least 56,000 people in Turkey and Syria; this
figure is likely much higher because local actors have reported that
authorities have stopped counting; aid workers were also among those
killed; nearly 130,000 were injured; and more than 45,000 were missing.
o The direct physical damages caused by the earthquakes in Turkey are
estimated to have cost ₱1.9 trillion, according to the GRADE (Global
Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation) Report from the World Bank.
According to preliminary estimates, the damage to agriculture would cost
₱73.83 billion, and the sector will lose ₱290 billion as a result of the initial
evaluations. According to a report released over the weekend by TIBA, of
the anticipated ₱4.8 trillion, ₱4 trillion will be required for the restoration of
thousands of destroyed homes, ₱590 billion for lost national income, and
₱164.7 billion for lost productivity. The healthcare system collapsed in the
earthquake zone, with over 15 hospitals out of use and at least two
hospitals causing injuries to patients and staff.
o Governments around the world were quick to respond, sending out
rescue teams, offering support to Turkey, and funding flash appeals.
Turkey has a management structure to support the responses.
An earthquake flash appeal for Turkey was announced on February 17,
2023, and covers February through April 2023. Turkey’s Flash Appeal
requested ₱56.8 billion to reach 5.2 million people. On February 8, 2023,
the President of Turkey, President Erdogan, admitted to problems with his
country’s initial response "amidst frustration with the pace of relief".
Turkey was investigating some contractors, but "the entire political and
economic system is arguably implicated".