International

Death toll surpasses 11,000 after Turkey, Syria earthquake

Published

2 years ago

February 8, 2023

Editor

Volunteers conduct searches in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquake

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AP) — With the hope of finding survivors fading, stretched rescue teams in Turkey and Syria searched Wednesday for signs of life in the rubble of thousands of buildings toppled by a catastrophic earthquake. The confirmed death toll from the world’s deadliest quake in more than a decade passed 11,000.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan toured a “tent city” in hard-hit Kahramanmaras where people forced from their homes were living. Amid calls for his government to send more help to the disaster zone, Erdogan conceded initial shortfalls in the response to Monday’s 7.8 magnitude quake but vowed that no one would “be left in the streets.”

Search teams from more than two dozen countries have joined tens of thousands of local emergency personnel on the ground in Syria and Turkey, and aid pledges have poured in from around the world. But the scale of destruction from the earthquake and its powerful aftershocks was so immense and spread over such a wide area, including places isolated by Syria’s ongoing civil war, that many people were still waiting for help.

Experts said the survival window for those trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings or unable to access water, food, protection from the elements or medical attention was closing rapidly almost three days after the quake.

Rescuers at times used excavators in their searches and picked gingerly through debris at other points to locate survivors or the dead. With thousands of buildings toppled, it was not clear how many people might still be caught in the rubble.

Turkey’s disaster management agency said Wednesday that people who died in the earthquake but cannot be identified would be buried within five days even if they remained unnamed.

The agency, known as AFAD, said unidentified victims would be buried following DNA tests, finger printing and after being photographed for future identification.

The move is in line with Islamic funeral rites which require a burial to take place as quickly as possible after a person’s death.

In the Turkish city of Malatya, bodies were placed side by side on the ground, covered in blankets, while rescuers waited for funeral vehicles to pick them up, according to former journalist Ozel Pikal, who said he saw eight bodies pulled from the ruins of a building.

Pikal, who took part in the rescue efforts, said he thinks at least some of the victims froze to death as temperatures dipped to minus 6 degrees Celsius (21 Fahrenheit).

“As of today there is no hope left in Malatya,” Pikal said by telephone. “No one is coming out alive from the rubble.”

Road closures and damage in the region made it hard to access all the areas that need help, he said, and there was a shortage of rescuers where he was. Meanwhile, cold hampered the efforts of those who were there, including volunteers.

“Our hands cannot pick up anything because of the cold,” said Pikal. “Work machines are needed.”

The region was already beset by more than a decade of civil war in Syria that has displaced millions in that country and left them reliant on humanitarian aid and sent millions more to seek refuge in Turkey.

Turkey’s president said the country’s death toll passed 8,500. The Syrian Health Ministry, meanwhile, said the death toll in government-held areas has climbed past 1,200, while at least 1,400 people have died in the rebel-held northwest, according to volunteer first responders known as the White Helmets.

That brought the overall total to 11,000 since Monday’s earthquake and multiple strong aftershocks. Tens of thousands more are injured.

A 2011 earthquake near Japan that triggered a tsunami left nearly 20,000 people dead.

Syrian officials said the bodies of more than 100 Syrians who died during the earthquake in Turkey were brought back home for burial. Mazen Alloush, an official on the Syrian side of the border, said 20 more bodies were on their way, adding that all of them were Syrian refugees who fled civil war.

Stories of rescues continued to provide hope that some people still trapped might be found alive. A crying newborn still connected by the umbilical cord to her deceased mother was rescued in Syria on Monday. In Turkey’s Kahramanmaras, rescuers pulled a 3-year-old boy, Arif Kaan, from the rubble.

“For now, the name of hope in Kahramanmaras is Arif Kaan,” a Turkish television reporter proclaimed as the dramatic rescue was broadcast to the country.

Polish rescuers told TVN24 that low temperatures were working against them, though two firefighters said the fact that the predawn quake struck as many people were in bed under warm covers could help buy the search teams more time.

But David Alexander, a professor of emergency planning and management at University College London, said data from past earthquakes suggested the likelihood of survival was now slim, particularly for individuals who suffered serious injuries or significant blood loss.

“Statistically, today is the day when we’re going to stop finding people,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we should stop searching.”

Alexander cautioned that the final death toll may not be known for weeks because of the sheer amount of rubble that needs to be sifted.

The last time an earthquake killed so many people was 2015, when 8,800 died in a magnitude 7.8 quake in Nepal. A 2011 earthquake in Japan triggered a tsunami, killing nearly 20,000 people.

Cold weather added to the misery of residents who lost their homes. Many survivors in Turkey slept in cars, government shelters or outdoors.

“We don’t have a tent, we don’t have a heating stove, we don’t have anything. Our children are in bad shape. We are all getting wet under the rain and our kids are out in the cold,” Aysan Kurt, 27, said. “We did not die from hunger or the earthquake, but we will die freezing from the cold.”

Erdogan, on this tour of quake-hit areas, acknowledged that there were problems early on in the response but said it had improved.

He said the government would distribute 10,000 Turkish lira ($532) to affected families.

The quake comes at a sensitive time for Erdogan, who faces presidential and parliamentary elections in May amid an economic downturn and high inflation. Perceptions that his government mismanaged the crisis could severely hurt his standings.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, blamed the devastation on Erdogan’s two-decade rule, saying he had not prepared the country for a disaster and accusing him of misspending funds.

In Syria, aid efforts have been hampered by the ongoing war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border, which is surrounded by Russia-backed government forces. Syria itself is an international pariah under Western sanctions linked to the war.

The European Union said Wednesday that Syria had asked for humanitarian assistance to deal with the victims of the devastating earthquake. An EU representative insisted the bloc’s sanctions against the Syrian government had no impact on its potential to help.

On Wednesday, Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous visited neighborhoods in the northern city of Aleppo where buildings collapsed because of the earthquake.

“Our priority now is to rescue the people who are still under the rubble,” he said.

In rebel-held parts of northwest Syria, rescuers pulled a man, a woman and four children from the rubble in the towns of Salqeen, Harem and Jinderis, according to the White Helmets group.

The region sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes. Some 18,000 were killed in similarly powerful earthquakes that hit northwest Turkey in 1999.

The last time an earthquake killed so many people was 2015, when 8,800 died in a magnitude 7.8 quake in Nepal. A 2011 earthquake in Japan triggered a tsunami, killing nearly 20,000 people.

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Health

Global HIV Crisis Looms: U.S. Aid Freeze Could Trigger Millions of Deaths

Published

2 weeks ago

February 11, 2025

Editor

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima warns that the recent U.S. decision to halt foreign aid could lead to a sixfold increase in new HIV infections by 2029, potentially resulting in millions of deaths and the emergence of more resistant strains of the virus.

The U.S. administration’s 90-day suspension of foreign assistance, initiated by President Donald Trump as part of an “America First” policy, has disrupted numerous global health initiatives. This pause affects programs funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a cornerstone in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

Byanyima stressed the gravity of the situation, stating that without U.S. support, projections indicate a significant surge in HIV cases and related fatalities. She urged the U.S. government to reconsider its stance, highlighting the potential global health crisis that could ensue.

The aid freeze has already led to the closure of several organisations reliant on PEPFAR funding, particularly in Africa. The United Nations AIDS program reported that many such entities have ceased operations due to the funding halt and a lack of clarity regarding exemptions.

In response to the suspension, advocacy groups have taken legal action against the administration. Public Citizen, a liberal-leaning organization, filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the aid freeze, arguing that it endangers lives worldwide. The lawsuit represents organisations severely impacted by the funding halt, including those providing healthcare and humanitarian assistance.

The U.S. State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has defended the pause, asserting that it is necessary to review foreign aid spending in alignment with the administration’s policies. However, critics warn that this move could damage the U.S.’s reliability as a global partner and potentially push aid-receiving countries towards rivals like China.

The situation remains fluid, with global health experts and humanitarian organisations closely monitoring the developments. The potential resurgence of HIV/AIDS underscores the critical importance of sustained international support and the far-reaching consequences of policy decisions on global health initiatives.

International

Cuba Joins BRICS: A Power Shift That Could Reshape Global Alliances

Published

2 weeks ago

February 11, 2025

Editor

Cuba has taken a bold step onto the global stage by joining BRICS as a partner country, a move that could shift economic and political dynamics in Latin America and beyond. This status, granted following the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, allows Cuba to engage with the group’s initiatives and benefit from its economic influence without holding full membership. The decision underscores BRICS’ expanding reach as it seeks to counterbalance Western financial institutions and foster stronger ties among developing nations.

Cuba was among 13 nations invited to become BRICS partner countries, signalling the bloc’s continued efforts to reshape global economic structures. While not yet a full member, Cuba’s closer alignment with BRICS could bring significant financial relief by opening avenues for investment and trade. The group’s economic powerhouses—China, India, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa—could provide much-needed capital to revitalise Cuba’s struggling economy, potentially helping the island navigate long-standing US sanctions.

One of the most immediate benefits for Cuba would be increased trade opportunities. With major BRICS economies looking to expand their influence, Cuba stands to gain from enhanced cooperation in key sectors such as energy, technology, and agriculture. China and Russia, already close allies of Havana, are expected to deepen their economic engagement, potentially reducing Cuba’s dependence on traditional trading partners. Additionally, BRICS’ efforts to develop alternative financial systems independent of the US dollar could provide Cuba with new mechanisms to bypass US-imposed restrictions.

For BRICS, Cuba’s inclusion strengthens its foothold in Latin America. With Brazil already a member, bringing Cuba into the fold reinforces the bloc’s presence in the region and challenges the influence of Western institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Cuba’s longstanding role in promoting South-South cooperation aligns with BRICS’ mission to offer developing nations an alternative to Western-led economic structures.

However, Cuba’s partnership with BRICS is not without risks. Increased economic ties with the bloc could escalate tensions with the United States, which has maintained a decades-long embargo against Cuba. Washington may view this development as a strategic challenge, potentially leading to stricter sanctions or diplomatic countermeasures. Such actions could complicate Cuba’s economic recovery, particularly if the anticipated benefits of BRICS integration take time to materialise.

Domestically, BRICS engagement could push Cuba towards economic reforms. While Havana is unlikely to abandon its socialist model, the need to attract foreign investment may prompt shifts towards market-friendly policies, similar to those adopted by China and Vietnam. BRICS-backed projects could modernise Cuba’s infrastructure, boost its tourism industry, and unlock the potential of its key mineral exports, including nickel and cobalt. The country also possesses offshore oil reserves, though exploration has so far been limited.

Despite the opportunities, challenges remain. Unlike resource-rich nations such as Saudi Arabia or the UAE, which were among those invited to join BRICS as full members, Cuba’s economic contributions to the bloc may be limited. The island continues to grapple with inflation, supply shortages, and structural inefficiencies, raising questions about how effectively it can integrate into BRICS initiatives.

Ultimately, Cuba’s engagement with BRICS represents a strategic gamble—one that could provide economic relief and bolster the bloc’s influence in Latin America but also provoke resistance from the US and its allies. Success will depend on Cuba’s ability to leverage its new partnerships while navigating the geopolitical complexities that come with them.

International

CDC Investigates Outbreak on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas

Published

2 weeks ago

February 9, 2025

Editor

More than 90 passengers and crew members aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas reported cases of gastrointestinal illness during a weeklong cruise that departed from Tampa, Florida, on February 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The outbreak resulted in symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. The ship, which carried 2,164 passengers and 910 crew members, returned to port on Saturday after visiting Cozumel, Roatan Islands, Belize City, and Costa Maya, according to CruiseMapper. The CDC reported that 89 passengers and two crew members fell ill during the voyage.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program was notified of the outbreak on Tuesday, midway through the cruise. The cause of the illness has not been determined. Royal Caribbean has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident.

Affected individuals were instructed to isolate, and crew members collected stool samples for testing. In response to the outbreak, the ship’s crew increased cleaning and disinfection measures to prevent further spread of the illness.

Janet Kruse, a 57-year-old passenger from the Chicago area, traveled with a dance group called Dance with Janet. She stated that approximately 10% of her group of 120 people, aged 50 to 80, experienced symptoms. Kruse said that the first reported illness within her group occurred on Sunday, within 24 hours of boarding, followed by another case later that evening.

A shipwide announcement on Sunday afternoon indicated that an unusually high number of passengers had reported feeling unwell. As a result, the crew implemented additional sanitation measures to mitigate further spread.

The CDC continues to monitor the situation as samples are analyzed to determine the source of the outbreak.