LETTER | Join forces to help quake-hit Turkiye, Syria

LETTER | Paralysed with terror, gripped with grief and anguish, a small boy frantically rummages through shards of glass, and pieces of rubble while he desperately calls for help. Powerless, his eyes irritated with thick clouds of dust, he can only hope that his cries will be heard. This was very much the story of many in Turkiye and Syria.

The desecration of homes, the demolition of cities and the disenfranchisement of our brothers and sisters in Turkiye and Syria caused by the recent earthquake require a swift call for action as they plead for crucial assistance.

The sheer magnitude of this crisis is overwhelming, placing incredible pressure on rescue forces in Turkiye and Syria -exhausting important resources needed to expedite recovery.

This inadvertently could inhibit the degree to which the situation returns to normalcy as it has, to a dangerous extent, jeopardised the welfare of millions and has momentarily destabilised these countries.

The earthquake has been described as the worst of its kind in a century. What is required is a task force, whose power equally rivals the impact of the tragedy that struck Turkiye and Syria.

We have an important role to play in alleviating the burdens of these countries. The debilitating consequences of Covid-19, the volatile international economic environment affecting global supply chains, the pre-existing issues that plagued both nations and the immense destruction of the earthquake threaten to violently push Turkiye and war-torn Syria to critical levels of national impairment.

It is therefore imperative that the combined strength of countries is mustered to directly countenance this issue and mitigate further damage to the state of these countries. These countries must be provided the support necessary to effectively solve the multiple issues that must be dealt with swiftly.

Malaysia, having recognised its moral obligations to the Turks and the Syrians, sanctioned immediate assistance via its special search and rescue team - Smart - to confer necessary aid.

Various NGOs in Malaysia have similarly followed suit in spearheading humanitarian initiatives with the goal of helping these countries to restore stability to the ever-worsening scene.

The Malaysian government’s efforts in sending rescue teams and pledging moral support demonstrate the country’s moral character - a heart that actively desires the prosperity of others - and is uncompromising in its initiatives to empower the people of other nations.

Malaysia could offer to activate certain policy measures and facilitate or broker a mission to coordinate an Asean-led humanitarian effort exclusively to benefit Turkiye and Syria in the short and long term.

This would have the benefit of establishing an international channel of assistance that centralises diverse efforts advanced by multiple parties within South East Asia to send aid.

This also ensures that the ensuing conflict that may occur as a result of the displacement of millions of people is strategically contained, and that victims of the earthquake may be accommodated in terms of medical, food and sheltering protections.

Such an initiative could also streamline the deploying of rescue teams from Japan, Switzerland, Taiwan, Russia, Malaysia and many more in a way that increases the efficiency of these humanitarian missions, by ensuring that the combined resources of these countries are strategically compartmentalised, maximising greater distribution of aid among civilians.

Subsequent importance to a mass-coordinated, diplomatic and humanitarian project is that it could serve as assistance in the long term.

The devastation that wreaked havoc in Turkiye and Syria is a geopolitical disaster and will likely require years before a comprehensive recovery may be facilitated and achieved.

Postulating the establishment of a long-term active mission for Turkiye and Syria in Asean that could liaise with other important international unions such as the European Union and the various agencies of the United Nations ensures that the situation is continually monitored and allows for a smoother execution of the reception of aid from other parties so that it may be given to Turkiye and Syria upon request.

This proposed Asean post-mortem mission may be facilitated in Turkiye and Syria, ensuring that even after the situation has achieved a manageable degree of stability.

Long-term efforts to slowly contribute towards the rebuilding and restructuring of Turkiye and Syria’s destroyed infrastructure may be implemented in a way that is both efficacious and sustainable.

This is best achieved via a multilateral effort. The preservation of Turkey and Syria is unequivocally important for the world as it is key to an ideal transition into a safer, secure and more sustainable world.

The nature of such an international enterprise will require thorough review and careful analysis as it will be a difficult initiative to undertake.

Malaysia’s already existing efforts to Turkey and Syria however in spite of its own economic constraints and limited instruments of assistance received high praise as it was one of the few countries that immediately responded to the situation.

Malaysia’s proactive approach is important as it contributes to international awareness of the moral urgency of this crisis. The international community must have the preservation of the welfare of the Turks and the Syrians as one of its top priorities. A South East Asian effort could very well ignite this sense of moral urgency across the world.

Malaysia’s call to sympathy and prayer for the people of Turkiye and Syria is a reminder to us all that our fallen brethren mustn’t simply be left to suffer alone. We are called to partake in their sorrows for their tragedy is our tragedy too.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.