Humanitarian assistance in cases of natural disasters and the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria
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Published
May 10, 2023
Maya Khater
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5892-9176
Abstract
Natural disasters represent a grave danger that threatens the countries of the world as a whole due to the enormous losses that result from them at all human, economic, social, and environmental levels, which justifies the urgent need for international cooperation in providing humanitarian and relief assistance to the victims affected by these disasters. The importance of research related to the legal scope of humanitarian aid in cases of natural disasters appears with the increase in the frequency and intensity of disasters, the growing losses resulting from them, and the insufficiency of the material or technical capabilities to rescue the victims. Hence, there is a need for a regulating and binding law for the international community that is more stringent and enjoys the spontaneity and speed of the initiative in the moment of disaster. The recent events of the massive earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria revealed a significant gap in the mechanisms of dealing with the disaster after it occurred, which doubled the human and economic losses in particular. This is especially true with transparency and objectivity in presenting the dimensions and limits of the disaster through media coverage and social media.
How to Cite
Khater, M. (2023). Humanitarian assistance in cases of natural disasters and the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Environment Conservation Journal, 24(2), 423–433. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.22842584
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Keywords
Earthquakes, Human Rights, Humanitarian Aid, International Law, International Relief, Natural Disasters, United Nations
References
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Giorgadze, T., Maisuradze, I., Japaridze, A., Utiashvili, Z., & Gg, A. (2011). Disasters and their Consequences for Public Health. Georgian Medical News, 194(194), 59–63.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deadliest-earthquakes-21st-century-turkey-syria-indonesia-haiti/
Human Rights Council (2014). Progress Report on the Research-Based Report of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on Best Practices and Main Challenges in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Post Disaster and Post-Conflict Situations. A/HRC/27/57. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/ 118/ 01/PDF/G1411801.pdf?OpenElement
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https://www.ifrc.org/who-we-are/international-red-cross-and-red-crescent-movement/fundamental-principles
International Review of the Red Cross (1993). Guiding Principles on the Right to Humanitarian Assistance. No. 297.
Khatib, L. (2023). Earthquakes Drag Syria’s Warring Sides Away from Peace. Chatham House, International Affairs Think Tank. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/02/earthquakes-drag-syrias-warring-sides-awaypeace?gclid=CjwKCAiAu5ag BhBzEiwAdiR5tLkakjGakODsQFVEo4vf5K5Bi99edJ QPj0QlSrEajckTI1pKjbmO7xoCGGMQAvD_BwE
Kousky, C. (2016). Impacts of Natural Disasters on Children. The Future of Children, 26(1), 73–92. https://doi.org/10.1353/foc.2016.0004
Manjunatha. N (2019)Descriptive Research. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research. June, 6(6): 863–867.
https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1908597.pdf
Mistou, M. (2023). Northwestern Syria Declared ‘Disaster Zone’ after Powerful Earthquake. AA News. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/northwestern-syria-declared-disaster-zone-after-powerful-earthquake/2808171
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2007). Oslo Guidelines. Guidelines on the Use of Foreign Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief. Revision 1.
Responding to the Türkiye–Syria Earthquake. What Will It Take? (2023). The Lancet. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00319-7/fulltext
Rubin, O., & Dahlberg, R. (2017). A Dictionary of Disaster Management. Oxford University Press EBooks.
https://doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780191829895.001.0001
Sphere Association (2018). The Sphere Handbook Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response. Fourth edition. Retrieved March 7, 2023.https://spherestandards.org/wp-content/uploads/Sphere-Handbook-2018-EN.pdf
Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations (1998). Tampere.
The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, 2021 Disasters in Numbers. (2022). CRED Website. Retrieved February 25, 2023. https://cred.be/sites/default/files/2021_EMDAT_report.pdf
TheOrganization for Economic Co-operation and Development (2015), Disaster Risk Financing: A global survey of practices and challenges, OECD Publishing, Paris. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264234246-en
The Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (2015). Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030. Sendai, Japan.
Turkey-Earthquake: Emergency Situation Report (21.02.2023) - Türkiye (2023). ReliefWeb. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
https://reliefweb.int/report/turkiye/turkey-earthquake-emergency-situation-report-21022023
United Nations Development Programme (2023). Millions of Tons of Earthquake Rubble Wait Removal in Türkiye. UNDP Website. Retrieved March 6, 2023.https://www.undp.org/press-releases/millions-tons-earthquake-rubble-await-removal-turkiye
United Nations General Assembly (1988). Humanitarian assistance to victims of natural disasters and similar emergencies. A/RES/43/131.
United Nations General Assembly (1990). International Decade for Natural Disaster. A_RES_46_149.
United Nations General Assembly (2008). International Strategy for Disaster Reduction A/C.2/63/L.28.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. (2022). Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022: Our World at Risk: Transforming Governance for a Resilient Future. UNDRR Website. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
https://www.undrr.org/media/79595/download
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs A (2023). Türkiye Humanitarian Needs and Response Overview. ReliefWeb. 11 April, Retrieved May 05, 2023.
https://reliefweb.int/report/turkiye/turkiye-humanitarian-needs-and-response-overview-interim-update-published-11-april-2023-entk
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs B. (2023). Syrian Arab Republic: Earthquakes - Situation Report No. 2. ReliefWeb. 2 March, Retrieved March 5, 2023.
https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syrian-arab-republic-earthquakes-situation-report-no-2-02-march-2023
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs C. (2023). Humanitarian Needs in Syria Hit 12-Year High. ReliefWeb, Retrieved March 10, 2023. https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/ humanitarian -needs-syria-hit-12-year-high
United Nations Secretary-General (2023). Secretary-General’s Opening Remarks at Press Encounter on the Humanitarian Appeal for Syria. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/speeches/2023-02-14/secretary-generals-opening-remarks-press-encounter-the-humanitarian-appeal-for-syria
United Nations Statistics Division (2011). Workshop on Environment Statistics, Session 3: Natural Disasters Statistics and Indicators. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/environment/envpdf/UNSD_Yaounde_Workshop/Session%2003-3%20Natural%20disasters%20(UNSD).pdf
WHO Foundation. The Health Emergencies Alliance Mobilizes for Türkiye and Syria (2023). WHO Foundation Website. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
https://who.foundation/latest-updates/the-health-emergencies-alliance-mobilizes-for-turkiye-and-syria/
World Conference on Disaster Reduction (2005). Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015. Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters.
World Food Programme (2023). Türkiye-Syria Earthquakes: WFP Reaches Communities with Life-Saving Assistance Amid Apocalyptic Devastation. WFP Website. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
https://www.wfp.org/stories/turkiye-syria-earthquakes-wfp-stands-ready-support-affected-communities-death-toll-rises
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Case Studies
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