As of: 02/20/2023 6:09 p.m
After the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, the clean-up work is progressing. According to the Turkish government, the drinking water supply should be restored as far as possible – but the fear of infectious diseases is increasing.
Two weeks after the devastating earthquake in the Turkish-Syrian border area, the priorities of local aid are shifting. Many international rescue and salvage teams have left – now the assistance goes to those affected who have to get by without shelter and functioning infrastructure. According to the Christian aid organization Shelter Now, many of the survivors are traumatized, and there is growing concern about outbreaks of infectious diseases.
EU authority warns of infectious diseases
The EU health authority ECDC warned that infectious diseases could spread in the affected regions in the coming weeks. Poor hygiene conditions due to the destroyed infrastructure are the cause of the outbreak of diseases. Several German companies and associations have already pledged support, including the delivery of urgently needed medicines and medical equipment.
The diseases could be transmitted primarily through contaminated food and contaminated water. Respiratory infections are also a possible problem, they say. They have the potential to cause outbreaks, especially when survivors are huddled in makeshift shelters. However, some diseases could be prevented by vaccination, provided that the appropriate medicines reached the disaster area.
The number of people killed by the earthquake has now risen to more than 47,000, including around 41,000 in Turkey alone, according to the Turkish Civil Protection Agency Afad.
Work on infrastructure continues
As the Turkish government announced, they are working flat out to restore the infrastructure needed for drinking water in the affected regions. According to the Turkish Ministry of Urban Planning, 79 drinking water infrastructure systems have now been repaired. These include reservoirs, pumping stations and water pipes. A total of more than 800 damage to the corresponding systems were found.
The drinking water supply in all eleven affected provinces of the country has already been restored to 98 percent. Exceptions are regions that have been hit particularly hard, such as the area around the city of Kahramanmaras, where the clean-up work is making little progress.
In Syria, everything is worrying about the weather. According to “Shelter Now”, the need for tents, blankets and warm clothing is very high due to the winter cold. The relief goods could be purchased in the region, so monetary donations are currently the most efficient help, said the director of the relief organization, Udo Stolte.