The devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria left tens of thousands dead and countless more trapped beneath the rubble with no way out. While southern Turkey had government agencies and heavy equipment mobilized for rescue efforts, the people of Northern Syria were left with nothing but shovels and bare hands to dig out their loved ones from the destruction.
The Forgotten Victims of Northern Syria
The president of the Syrian Forum shares heartbreaking stories from the ground, including a father who sat holding the hand of his child trapped beneath the rubble. He could reach her hand but they could not pull her out without heavy equipment. He kept hearing her voice until she passed away. In a world where billions are spent on weapons and military interventions, the people of Northern Syria could not even get a forklift to save their children.
“In Northern Syria they had no heavy equipment. People were literally using shovels and their hands to try to pull out survivors. There’s one man who was sitting holding the hand of his child — he could reach her but they couldn’t pull her out. He kept hearing her voice until she passed away.”
A Blockade Against the Most Vulnerable
Northern Syria remains effectively blockaded by the Assad regime, which considers these people terrorists who do not deserve to live. The daughter of the Syrian president publicly tweeted that those in the north do not deserve any help. Meanwhile, political pressure in Turkey meant that the only border crossing at Bab al-Hawa saw virtually no aid pass through for the first week. It took tribal leaders from eastern Syria who dared anyone to stop their convoy to finally break through with supplies.
“Those of us who are able to extend a hand and alleviate suffering — they are the ones who are passing the test. These people are tests for us, whether it’s earthquakes or wars. The question is: how are we going to react?”
How to Help and What Muslims Can Do
- The Syrian Forum and the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) have partnered together and collectively provided aid to over 100,000 people on the ground
- One young man who was evicted from his apartment the day before the earthquake woke up homeless only to watch his former building collapse — he said alhamdulillah for the eviction that saved his life
- Organizations like the Syrian Forum have established vendor relationships and infrastructure to deliver supplies immediately upon receiving donations
- As Muslims, we are reminded that these calamities are a test — not only for those who endure them but for those of us who witness them and must choose whether to act
