The Intelligence from The Economist What it is in aid of: Syria’s earthquake response
Feb 20, 2023
Greg Karlstrom, the Middle East correspondent for The Economist, sheds light on the insufficient aid following the earthquakes in Syria's war-torn northwest and the complex issues surrounding international sanctions. Meanwhile, Mike Bird, Asia business and finance editor, discusses the perilous downturn in South Korea's property market, triggered by rising interest rates and high household debt. Their insights reveal how geopolitical dynamics and financial challenges intertwine, affecting lives and investments.
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Syria Earthquake Crisis
- The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have caused a colossal humanitarian disaster, with the official death toll exceeding 46,000.
- Syria's northwest, already ravaged by civil war, has been disproportionately affected, with almost 6,000 reported deaths, likely an underestimation.
Assad's Manipulation of Aid
- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has exacerbated the crisis by blocking aid to the northwest.
- He aims to leverage the disaster to ease sanctions on his regime.
Aid Routes and Distrust
- The rebel government in northwest Syria has refused aid from Assad and Kurdish-led regions due to distrust and past weaponization of aid.
- They prefer aid delivery via Turkey, authorized by a 2014 UN resolution.