As small children are pulled from the rubble of the earthquakes in both Turkey and Syria remember that this tragedy as it unfolds will bring enormous sorrow into the lives of these families. It will be a continuing tragedy. The Red Cross, The Red Crescent and the White Helmets are there alongside skilled rescue parties from many countries in this world who are flying in. Infrastructure such as roads and airports have been damaged, helicopters will obviously be the best way to fly supplies to stricken areas.
One NGO from Norway, said 'we do not count the dead till the end' it is indeed a useless exercise for numbers will not help. One image I find haunting, and I will not even go when small children are pulled out alive, was the large group of people standing on a large hill of rubble surrounded by gaping buildings that had shed their interiors of furniture. Spewed the lives out of the people who had once lived there.
So what can we do? money I think is the best answer, Ukraine was one of the first countries to offer help, but as always we need the experts to tell us what is needed. And sadly more refugee camps are on the horizon.
Syrian American Medical Society
Heart-breaking and terrible. Where do you begin to address the devastation? How? When? And that newborn baby born in the rubble as all of her family died around her. What a life she must now lead. Hopefully there are aunts and uncles and maybe grandparents who can raise her. Perhaps BP and Shell can offer to cover the bill.
ReplyDeleteWell in all conscience BP and Shell did not make the earthquake, and I am sure some sort of money donation will be forthcoming from them. The misery of it all though is terrible for the people involved. Too wander the streets in cold weather with their children wrapped in blankets because it is warmer is so, so sad.
DeleteBP and Shell may have not caused the earthquakes but they have plenty of ill-gotten profits to spare as I am sure nearly all oil and petroleum companies have right now. That money would make a big difference to how the vast Turkey/Syria tragedy is addressed from this point in time.
DeleteThe obscenity of the profits these two companies have made is terrible, yet it is part of the world order, sanctioned by politicians and those who invest. So yes it would be very, very good to see them use these vast profits to help those in dire need Nial. There is a movement of billionaires/millionaires to use their money differently. Perhaps we could start with taxing them and then putting the money to good use, before Truss rises from the dead to start with ruining this country again?
DeleteShould have said - Windfall taxes on Shell and BP.
DeleteThe images that struck me hardest were three. A baby lying in a crib. Buried in the rubble, her mother had given birth and then died. A father on a pile of rubble, refusing to let go of the hand of his teenaged daughter. A father clutching his dead newborn baby, collapsing in the street weeping loudly as people gathered to comfort him. There are so many awful things happening right now. As awful as it is, however, I keep thinking, here is an opportunity to reach out and do good.
ReplyDeleteSadly it is going to get worse, as the rescue people have difficulty with even getting to the areas of disaster. Turkey should be able to cope but I'm not sure Northern Syria will Debby. My money goes to the White Helmets.
Delete