WASHINGTON (February 13, 2023) -- The earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6 killed or injured more than 100,000 people in the first few days. The human toll is expected to keep rising due to lack of medical care, loss of housing, infectious diseases, hunger, exposure to the elements and other disaster-related problems, according to the U.N.
The George Washington University has experts that can discuss the rising death toll, emergency response and lax building codes in Turkey and Syria as well as what to expect in the coming months. To schedule an interview with an expert, please contact Kathy Fackelmann, [email protected] or GW Media, [email protected]
Ramin Asgary, associate professor of global health and Director of the Humanitarian Health MPH program at GW Milken Institute School of Public Health, can talk about how years of war, the pandemic and a recent outbreak of cholera have added to the existing crisis and destroyed or strained medical and humanitarian care. Trained as an internal medicine physician, Asgary has worked for many years in humanitarian and complex emergencies with Doctors Without Borders, International Rescue Committee and other groups.
Carlos Santos-Burgoa, a professor of global health and lead author of the GW report on the death toll in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, can discuss the mounting death toll and disaster preparedness. Santos-Burgoa can also talk about how stricter building codes and other steps can help prevent injuries and save lives when an earthquake or other disaster strikes.
Elizabeth Andrade, assistant professor of prevention and community health, was on the team to assess risk after Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico. She can talk about how damage to the built environment like loss of housing and power outages can put people at risk in the coming days and months.
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