Syria and Turkey have faced a devasting earthquake. The death toll has been estimated as being 47,000. Buildings have been reduced to rubble from the first earthquake on February 6th. The earthquake was at least 6.4 magnitude. The aftermath will be very extensive. Homelessness and crowed hospitals are a common sight. The cost of reconstruction will be high. The need for international aid will become more important. Syria is still under sanctions and there is no plan to lift them. The civil war continues fueled by Western military assistance to various armed groups. More sympathy is given to Turkey and little to Syria in both American and European press. The greater concern for Turkey is because it is a NATO ally. The US, UK, France, and other NATO countries want the removal of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Turkey could be blackmailed into accepting Finland and Sweden as NATO members. The refusal to provide assistance to Turley could be used as leverage. A double standard exists in natural disaster relief. President Recep Erdogan's public image has already been effected from the earthquakes. The response has been criticized as ineffective. This will have an impact on the next election. His government prioritized construction and infrastructure projects. Which makes the earthquakes a bigger setback for Turkey's long term modernization. Arab states have provided aid. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Bahrain provided aid to Syria. Aid coming from Gulf monarchies seems odd, considering they are actively trying to overthrow the government. Turkey's recovery will take time, but Syria has the challenge of civil war and attempted regime change operations.
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