Türkiye-Syria Earthquake: Human Rights Of Vulnerable Groups Need Protection
By Sumaya Daghestani
Following the catastrophic earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023, ACHRS expresses its sincerest condolences to all affected. The center would like to emphasize the utmost importance of upholding human rights during this crisis situation. The responsibilities of all parties to respect the human rights of all remains and is heightened in times of emergencies like this.
The impact of natural disasters such as this earthquake are inherently related to human rights – primarily the right to life, the right to health, the right to economic and social needs, and the right to civil and protection needs. Therefore, it is crucial that response and relief efforts take place with a human rights centered approach. Given our center’s priorities and our profound concern for the events in this area, we are committed to following any developments at the intersection of natural disaster response and relief and human rights.
Due to the different political realities in Türkiye and Syria, the two affected communities present different needs. However, there are shared imperatives including the need to carry immediate life-saving rescue missions, to provide adequate shelter to those whose homes have been destroyed, and to offer access to food, water, and sanitation. In each of these efforts, it is crucial that there is universal equal access in order to ensure that the right to life and the right to health of all victims are protected. Naturally, due to limited resources, this is an enormous task and thus requires the support and cooperation of international actors and organizations.
The center also urges actors on the ground to consider the additional measures necessary to protect the rights of vulnerable groups like women, children, refugees and internally displaced persons, and members of minority groups. Although all people in the affected areas are in peril, vulnerable groups often face higher risk of continued suffering in times of crisis mitigation and recovery. Moreover, pre-existing inequalities have the potential to be reinforced when emergency response does not implement measures to ensure these conditions are not exacerbated.
We hope to see continued international aid and support to the victims. The center also hopes that no population is abandoned by international donors and organizations as the need for aid is immense, particularly in opposition-held areas of northwest Syria that do not have the institutional support at a state-level. While we acknowledge the efforts that have been made, the staggeringly delayed response has already resulted in countless casualties who could have been saved. Moving forward, international actors, namely the United Nations, must be more efficient and effective in their mobilization of aid into all spaces equitably and equally.
Picture: MSF
