Sunday, February 19: Final Earthquake Update
The head of the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority says search and rescue operations will likely end this evening, nearly two weeks after the tragic earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The death toll has continued to climb in the weeks since the quake, with over 46,000 currently feared dead.
“The death toll due to the earthquakes rose to 40,642, and the work of searching and rescue for people stuck under the debris has ended in most of the provinces.”
Yunis Sezar, head of AFAD
Teams of rescuers have been finding survivors all throughout the week despite them being stuck for so long under the rubble in freezing weather. But the number of rescued survivors has dropped to just a handful in the past few days. The World Health Organization estimates that about 26 million people across both Turkey and Syria need humanitarian aid, with initial estimates calling for tens of billions of dollars in support.
Since the earthquake, the US has sent a search and rescue team to Turkey, along with medical supplies, concrete-breaking machinery, and additional funding of about $85 million in humanitarian aid that is also meant to cover Syria. The US has sent billions of dollars worth of weaponry and ammunition to Ukraine, but I guess humanitarian aid is a bridge too far.
Side Items
Return of BG: Britney Griner is returning to the W.N.B.A. after spending 10 months incarcerated in Russia, signing a one-year contract with her former team, the Phoenix Mercury. The 32-year-old last played with the Mercury in 2021, helping them progress to the WNBA Finals, which they lost to the Chicago Sky
President’s day is tomorrow, don’t ask me what we’re celebrating
Liverpool Show Signs of Life: The struggling Reds traveled to St. James’ Park yesterday to take on the Saudi-owned Newcastle United Football Club. Newcastle has a rich history, but they’ve been a bottom-feeding club for as long as I can remember. The sudden influx of Saudi money has allowed them to forget their garbage roots and buy some skill players, but Liverpool were able to put away two early chances and come away with a 2-0 win this weekend to climb into eighth place in the league