This week the world has watched as the story has unfolded of the terrible loss of life in both Turkey and Syria because of the earthquakes that brought so much devastation.
Sadly, those who were lost in Turkey and Syria are still there. Caught up in rubble and the fallen buildings. The bodies of many will never be found, or found in a condition unrecognisable to their loved ones left behind to try to pick up the pieces of a truly broken life. It is unimaginably sad that this has happened across both regions. But I feel even more for the people of Syria. Many have been fleeing the war torn regions of a civil war that has been ravaging the country for almost 12yrs. Now they have this too.
The international rescue effort is nothing short of miraculous. The pooling together of resource of fire and rescue teams from around the globe who have gone to give their time, their expertise and their all. I have followed the news closely, watching in awe as they are still managing to pull survivors from the carnage. The elation of seeing children being brought out of fallen buildings, but the ultimate sadness knowing their parents and siblings have been lost like so many others.
Alas, with the freezing conditions, dehydration, the 680 aftershocks (so far) and many other factors, it is slipping from waiting to be rescued, to waiting to be recovered.
At the time of writing there were 21,051 reported deaths. A number that is rising by the hour.
The town of Alton, Hampshire where I now live has a recorded a population of 19,970. I simply cannot begin to imagine that many people suddenly not being there.
For those of us fortunate enough to live in countries that are not war torn, and not affected by the threat of mass devastation of earthquakes, be thankful. But more importantly be empathetic to those who are.
This is more than fallen buildings, this is broken lives for generations to come…
Happy Damn Friday! x
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happydamnfriday@outlook.com
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