Is there anything more definitive, more descriptive of total destruction, death, loss and sheer human misery than comparing some place on earth to parts of Syria?
That was the reaction of Ragip Soylu, Turkey Bureau Chief for Middle East Eye, and it’s not hard to see why. This video captures some of the devastation in Antakya, southern Turkey. Of course, Syria and Syrians don’t exist solely to provide context for other people’s tragedies, not least when this latest one has impacted their country so profoundly as well.
A first earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck near Gaziantep, a city of more than two million people, at 4.17am local time, while many were asleep in their homes. A second earthquake of 7.5 hit 60 miles to the north roughly nine hours later, according to the US Geological Survey.
At least 2,300 people have died, though that figure is expected to rise. Indeed, I have had to revise it upwards several times even in the last hour. As of now, Turkish authorities say 1,498 have been killed and at least 8,500 injured, while the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, have confirmed 380 fatalities in opposition-held areas.
The UK government for its part has sent search and rescue teams to Turkey following requests for help. At least 76 specialists, four search dogs and rescue equipment are due to arrive in the country by 9pm local time.
Assisting in Syria is more challenging but the need is no less. The earthquake destroyed opposition-held areas home to around four million people internally displaced from other parts of the country as a result of the ongoing civil war, which began in 2011.
Conditions even before the earthquake were appalling and healthcare severely limited with Russian-backed Syrian forces surrounding the region, carrying out intermittent airstrikes.
As is so often the case, this disaster has struck a part of the world already gripped by war and the mass movement of people. Today’s earthquake therefore promises only to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
If you are able to, you can donate to Islamic Relief which is raising funds for those affected.
Elsewhere in the paper, NHS chiefs have pleaded with ministers to re-open pay talks with health unions as the biggest round of strikes in the health service’s history began this morning.
In the comment pages, Philip Collins has written the definitive piece on Liz Truss’s comeback tour – and in somewhat less than 4,000 words. While chief theatre critic Nick Curtis reckons Happy Valley pulled off one of the hardest tricks in television – the perfect farewell.
And finally, this newsletter cannot save your relationship but may I point you towards our list of the 30 restaurants ideal for Valentine’s Day (and all year round.)
