How the earthquakes could spark progress for disaster risk reduction in Syria

The catastrophic earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye exposed the consequences of under-investing in disaster preparedness and prevention. More than 50,000 people are believed to have died in both countries, and recovery will take years and cost billions. 

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Disaster risk reduction includes a broad range of measures at all levels – from emergency responders to local and national authorities to aid donors.

For example, these can be policies that mandate safer building codes, planning that prevents the construction of camps in disaster-prone areas, or programmes that help communities build disaster warning systems or emergency evacuation plans. The overarching aim is to reduce damage and loss of life – to prevent hazards like earthquakes from spiralling into full-blown disasters.

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Integrating small-scale DRR elements into existing emergency programmes can help avoid the inevitable political and logistical hurdles of working in Syria. The focus would be on taking small steps to ensure people are better prepared for disasters – and less at risk once they happen. 

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