How natural disasters can shape policy

The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and their geo-political circumstances

Introduction to the event

On February 6, 2023, twin earthquakes of 7.8 and 7.5 magnitudes struck southern Turkey and northern Syria. These earthquakes have caused widespread destruction in both countries. According to The Economist (2023a), the death toll has already reached 13,000 in Turkey and over 3,000 in Syria, which is likely to rise. Both countries' governments struggled to cope with the disaster, with thousands of people still buried under the rubble. The geo-political circumstances surrounding the earthquakes further complicate the situation, with political and economic implications extending beyond the disaster's immediate aftermath.

Geographic concept

As Christopherson et al. (2020) note, natural hazards are an inevitable and recurring part of the Earth's physical processes. They have the potential to cause harm to humans, their property, or their activities. Geological, meteorological, or biological events, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or pandemics, can significantly threaten human lives and activities. The field of physical geography focuses on studying the frequency, distribution, and impact of natural hazards to develop effective policies and strategies to mitigate their impact.

Discussion of the geographic concept

Natural hazards significantly impact human lives and activities (Christopherson et al., 2020). As Christopherson et al. (2020) point out, hazards can cause physical injuries, property damage, economic losses, and disruptions to infrastructure and services. Studying natural hazards in physical geography involves examining these events' frequency, location, and magnitude and assessing their potential risks to human activities. Hazard management, mitigation, and preparedness are critical to dealing with natural hazards. Physical geographers play a crucial role in understanding and managing the impact of natural hazards on human activities and the environment.

The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria illustrate how natural hazards can be devastating (The Economist, 2023b). Despite being in a region prone to earthquakes, inadequate preparation led to the collapse of substandard buildings, resulting in many casualties. This highlights the need for physical geographers to analyze and prevent such disasters by identifying inadequate building codes and preparedness (The Economist, 2023b). Studying natural hazards in physical geography is crucial to prevent future disasters and minimizing their impact on human lives and activities.

The effects of natural hazards extend beyond immediate human losses, with political and economic implications for countries. In the case of the Turkey and Syria earthquakes, the Turkish government's response has been criticized, exposing the country's economic vulnerabilities (The Economist, 2023b). Similarly, Syria's fragile political and economic situation worsened after the disaster. The political implications of natural hazards are essential in physical geography as they inform the relationship between humans, the environment, and governance systems. Physical geographers have an important role in developing policies and strategies to minimize the impact of natural hazards on human activities and governance systems.

Reason for choosing the event

The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria are a tragic illustration of the severe impact of natural hazards, particularly in regions that are not adequately prepared (The Economist, 2023b). The event was chosen for its timeliness and the extent of its impact, highlighting the need for effective policies and building standards to reduce the loss of life and property damage caused by natural hazards. Furthermore, the event emphasizes the importance of governance systems in addressing the impact of natural hazards on human activities and infrastructure. Physical geographers play a critical role in studying the complex interactions between physical and human systems to develop effective strategies to mitigate the impact of natural hazards on society.