Letter: Quake blunders
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: To have survived the Istanbul earthquake is a blessing. The subsequent deaths of thousands attributable to ignorance and blunder however makes this natural disaster also a man-made catastrophe. Efforts to put things right are further hampered by a government which declares constructive criticism to be unpatriotic and demoralising.
In a country that has been mobilised for its civil war for over 15 years, little help reached the disaster areas for well over two days because, to quote from the Prime Minister, "roads were destroyed, telephones were down". Helicopters? Simple field phones? Did no one think to use the sea to reach the disaster areas, coastal towns about an hour from Istanbul? And while organised help was not available perhaps thousands buried alive were killed by the dozers cleaning up the rubble.
In view of the country's many previous earthquakes, to have built the nation's largest oil refinery and its major industries smack on top of the fault zone is an obvious example that nothing has been learnt from the experience.
With international law having more and more jurisdiction over human rights and commercial activities of nation states, it is high time for the UN to be empowered to declare international disaster areas and step in to lead the rescue efforts. Blundering efforts of unprepared nation states should not be the curse of world citizens.
GUNDUZ Y H VASSAF
Istanbul
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments