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Differences in Initial Healthcare Responses Between Turkey and the Conflict-Ridden Area in Syria Following February 2023 Earthquakes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2024

Abeer Santarisi
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Attila J. Hertelendy
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
Fadi Issa
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Christina Woodward
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Dana Mathew
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Jacob Noel
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Jeffery M. Franc
Affiliation:
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Università del Piemonte Orientale, Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy
Amalia Voskanyan
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Gregory R. Ciottone
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Abstract

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Objective

This study analyzes disparities in initial healthcare responses in Turkey and Syria following 2023 earthquakes.

Methods

Using Humanitarian Data Exchange, Crude Mortality Rates (CMR) and injury rates in both countries were calculated, and temporal trends of death tolls and injuries in the first month post- catastrophe were compared. WHO Flash Appeal estimated funding requirements, and ratios of humanitarian aid personnel in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams per population from ReliefWeb and MAPACTION data were used to gauge disparities.

Results

56,051,096 individuals were exposed, with Turkey having 44 million vs 12 in Syria. Turkey had higher CMR in affected areas (10.5 vs 5.0/10,000), while Syria had higher CMR in intensely seismic regions (9.2 vs 7.7/1,000). Turkey had higher injury rates (24.6 vs 9.9/10,000). Death and injury rates plateaued in Syria after three days, but steadily rose in Turkey. Syria allocated more funding for all priorities per population except healthcare facilities’ rehabilitation. Turkey had 219 USAR teams compared to Syria’s six, with significantly more humanitarian aid personnel (23 vs 2/100,000).

Conclusions

Significant disparities in initial healthcare response were observed between Turkey and Syria, highlighting need for policymakers to enhance responses in conflict-affected events to reduce impact on affected populations.

Type
Abstract
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.
Supplementary material: File

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