Earthquakes as triggers for public health disasters: WHO and health systems’ response
Ahmed Al Mandhari
Abstract
The earthquakes that hit southeast Trkiye and northwest Syria in February 2023 have been the most devastating among several earthquakes witnessed globally in the past decades (1).As of 28 February 2023, it had caused the death of over 50 000 people and affected more than 18 million others (2,3).In northwest Syria alone, the earthquakes affected at least 96 communities and 35 sub-districts, damaging or destroying more than 10 000 buildings, including 48 health facilities, and leaving over 11 000 people homeless (4).More than 45 000 deaths and 85 000 injuries have been reported in Harim, Afrin and Jebel Saman districts, and at least 50 000 families displaced in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, and Latakia.Earthquakes are often catastrophic with long-term impact on lives and livelihoods.The death toll continues to increase with time and more people become exposed to the risks of homelessness, disability and disease.An earthquake in a conflict zone such as Syria exacerbates suffering among populations who have already been plagued with hunger, starvation, instability, insecurity, and other socioeconomic vices for over 10 years (3).