The Day the Earth Shook: Surviving the Turkey-Syria Earthquake
Finding Hope and Resilience Amidst Devastation
In the early hours of February 6, 2023, the lives of millions of people in Turkey and Syria changed forever. A devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck, leaving a trail of destruction and tragedy in its wake. Over 55,000 lives were lost, and countless others were left homeless. Among the survivors was Hussein, a 21-year old man from Aleppo, Syria, whose story serves as a testament to human resilience and hope in the face of unimaginable challenges.
Hussein vividly recalls that fateful day. It began like any other night, with him and his family asleep in their home. Suddenly, the ground started shaking violently. Hussein describes the disorienting feeling of being woken up abruptly and the panic that ensued. As he rushed to gather his family and belongings, he realised the severity of the situation.
“I would be lying if I told you that I didn’t get scared. I got scared, but not because of the shaking. It was the sound of people, you know, people screaming so crazy.”
I first met Hussein two years ago when I interviewed him for a short documentary titled “The War at My Front Door”. The documentary explored the concept of home and what it meant to individuals living in conflict zones. Hussein’s story is a heart-wrenching narrative of growing up in the midst of war, facing threats from bombs, snipers, and rockets, and even surviving a kidnapping as a child. Little did we know that two years later, he would find himself confronting yet another catastrophic event — a devastating earthquake.
As Hussein and his family rushed to leave their home, they were met with heavy rain and stormy weather, adding to the chaos and confusion. After instructing people from his building to run to the closest roundabout, away from the potential dangers of collapsing buildings, he decided to go back to pick up some shoes and clothes for his family. When the second earthquake hit as he was in the staircase, he made a split-second decision to continue moving upward to retrieve essential belongings for his family, demonstrating his instinct to protect and provide for loved ones, even in the direst of circumstances.
But the challenges didn’t end there. Upon returning home a few hours later, Hussein discovered that not only did the floor above had collapsed, but that their apartment had also been ransacked by thieves. The earthquakes had not only shattered buildings, but also the sense of security and normalcy for countless families.
“I was so sick, it was freezing cold at night and it kept raining. I didn’t think I would survive.”
Hussein’s account of the subsequent hours and days paints a grim picture of the aftermath. Earthquakes just kept coming, making it unsafe to stay there, and Hussein and his family spent almost a month living in the streets. He described the rain that poured relentlessly, the lack of resources, and the dearth of humanitarian aid. People were left to fend for themselves, and the distribution of aid was unequal and insufficient. His home town, which is in an area controlled by rebels, didn’t receive any help at all, and 13 of his relatives died.
Today, Hussein and his family are back home, trying to move on with their lives. Over six months after the earthquakes, Turkey and Syria are slowly rebuilding. However, the process is arduous and will likely take years to complete. For Hussein and countless others, the scars of the earthquakes and the traumas of war still linger.
Despite the unimaginable hardships Hussein has endured, he remains remarkably hopeful. In the midst of uncertainty, chaos, and loss, stories like Hussein’s remind us of the incredible strength that resides within each of us. It’s a testament to the enduring power of hope, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of humanity.
“When something bad happens, if you survive it, there is a reason. I think that something good is going to happen to me sooner or later. I’m sure about it.”
