The Power of Western Media to Marginalise the Suffering of the Global South:
The Case of the Earthquake in Turkey/Syria
Written by Amirah Iqbal, FS Steward
The recent Earthquake in Turkey and Syria has had disastrous impacts, with a shocking magnitude of 7.8 affecting Southern and Central Turkey and Northern and Western Syria. It is recorded as one of the deadliest earthquakes in the Levant felt throughout Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and Egypt. With the impacts of a harsh winter, survivors have been at risk of developing hypothermia from the cold weather, and rescuers have also been slowed down by the rain and snowfall of the bleak winter.
According to the Turkish disaster and emergency management president, rescue efforts are beginning to end in most provinces as the death toll reaches 46,000+, and over one million civilians have been displaced. The UN declared that approximately 500,000 new homes will need to be built to tackle the homelessness created as a result. Currently, 40,000 + deaths were recorded within Turkey, and another 6,000 within Syria. However, on the 20th of February, another impactful earthquake struck Turkey, Antakya, closer to the Syrian border, with casualties of 6 recorded so far.
In the wake of devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria, the international community has rallied to provide much-needed assistance. Rescue teams from around the world have been sent to the affected areas to help in the search and rescue efforts. The European Union dispatched a rescue team and allocated $3 million to each of the countries, Turkey and Syria, respectively. Also, the UK government announced new aid funding to help support the transition from rescue to recovery efforts. £25 million has been allocated to fund emergency relief efforts, such as the provision of tents and blankets for families left homeless in the harsh winter conditions. The UK is also continuing to deploy medical expertise to assist with the ongoing medical needs of those affected by the disaster.
In addition, the US Agency for International Development has also pledged $85/ £70 million in life-saving relief.The international response to these earthquakes is a testament to the solidarity and compassion of the global community, and it provides hope for those affected by the disaster that they will receive the support they need to recover and rebuild.
However, US Sanctions on Syria have made it difficult for the relief and aid equipment to reach civilians. The US in turn created a six -month sanction exemption for all relief disaster aid travelling into Syria (Al-Jazeera). Syria’s president Bashar Al- Assad, also announced two more border entry points for international relief aid to pass through, as Syrian regime were previously halting aid at the border. According to Chatham House, logistical difficulties stalled UN aid from entering Syria for three days after the tragic earthquake, which could have made a substantial difference in rescue missions.
Noticeably, whenever a conflict or disaster breaks out within the Global South there are particular patterns of reporting by mainstream Western media and even adopted now by media within Muslim majority countries. The Western media has created desensitisation of war, conflict, disaster and poverty amongst Middle Eastern, Asian and African regions. Disaster is something expected out of these parts of the world. Trauma porn is often what we find from the news reports of conflict and disaster affairs from the Global South. Trauma porn is the exploitation of someone’s pain, suffering and trauma for the sake of entertainment, mainly found within Western media reports of people of colour within third world countries.
In contrast, the outbreak of the Ukraine — Russia war was reported very differently than the outbreak of civil wars from Syria/ Yemen. The level of coverage of the Ukraine war was contrasted with the coverage of previous invasions and civil wars within the third world, which are often reported days later with biassed reporting. Western journalists and news reporters were scrutinised for using racial bias as a means to garner for sympathy from their viewers. Ukrainians were referred to as “white, blonde hair and blue eyed” repeatedly when attempting to showcase how the Ukrainian citizens were just like those within Western and European countries, explicitly differentiating them from people of colour.
The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalist Association (AMEJA) released a statement addressing the tones of racial bias and lack of objective journalism on the Ukraine conflict in Western media reporting. Comments from CBS senior foreign correspondent states “Ukraine isn’t a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan, that has seen conflict raging for decades. This is a relatively civilised…European…city, one where you wouldn’t expect that, or hope that it’s going to happen’’. These sentiments and those alike reflect a worldview that places Europe and European cities as the standard of civilization and safety, and implies that non-European countries or regions are inherently more prone to conflict and violence. This way of thinking is often rooted in a history of colonialism and imperialism, where European powers dominated and exploited other parts of the world. By perpetuating the idea that European cities are the epitome of safety and civility, while dismissing the experiences of conflict and violence in other regions. Such reporting reinforces harmful stereotypes and a sense of superiority that marginalises non-European perspectives. It’s important for our media to recognize the lack of objectivity and racial bias in their reporting and challenge these attitudes in order to build a more inclusive and equitable representation of journalism for the Global South.
Western media often relies on sensationalist and graphic coverage when reporting on conflicts and disasters in global majority countries and among people of colour. This style of reporting exploits the suffering of others and prioritises shock value over nuanced analysis. While the intention may be to raise awareness and generate empathy, it can also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and perpetuate a sense of “otherness” for those who are already marginalised. It is imperative for Western media outlets to consider their responsibility to accurately and ethically report on these issues, and to prioritise the perspectives and autonomy of those directly affected by these events. Unfortunately, the reporting of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria are not exempt from this.
In an attempt to report on the levels of devastation in Turkey and Syria, images and video recordings of children being yielded from under rubble, mothers and fathers mourning the loss of their family are showcased on news media pages, newspapers and more. Teens and adults being rescued from under rubble after days are having cameras invasively pointed towards them, with intrusive questions from every angle “how did you survive?”, “What did you drink or eat?”, “ how afraid were you?”, seconds after resurfacing. Videos of children being rescued, their faces covered in dirt and looks of confusion, relief and shock take over them. Why is the suffering of ethnic people something we have become desensitised too? Are people of colour immediately dehumanised within Western media?
In 2019, a devastating fire broke out in the prestigious 14th-century Notre Dame Church, located in the heart of Paris, France. The incident made headlines across the globe, as the infamous church was engulfed in black smoke clouds. Within days of the fire’s outbreak, donations for restoration projects began flooding in, with a staggering $1 billion contributed by wealthy and influential French business owners. The French Prime Minister, Emmanuel Macron, announced that the restoration plans would be completed by 2024.
The efforts to restore the cultural and historical building were impressive, with a billion dollars raised in a matter of days. However, the ambition of these efforts has never been matched when it comes to humanitarian or disaster relief efforts. Recently in 2022, Pakistan received a substantial amount in international relief, after being hit by a devastating monsoon season in the Balochistan and Sindh regions. International donations pledged towards Pakistan’s floods were over $9 billion/£7.4 billion, with most of the donations coming from organisations such as the Islamic Development Bank, World Bank, Saudi Arabia, UN, European Union, and several international countries (BBC). It is noteworthy that these donations were made by organisations that have dedicated funding for relief and disaster aid, and importantly, they were made over the course of months, not by fashion billionaires who rushed to the aid of a burning building within days.
While there is no denying the reality of the tragedy and suffering in the world, it is important for Western media to recognise their own biases in reporting and to strive for a more balanced coverage. By giving equal attention to tragedies and triumphs in all parts of the world the media can play a powerful role in shaping public opinion and fostering global understanding and empathy.
The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have had a devastating impact on the lives of many people, leaving them without shelter, food, and basic necessities. As Ramadan approaches, it is crucial for Muslims to remember their moral obligation to care for and show empathy towards their fellow human beings. As the Quran reminds us in Surah Al-Ma’idah, verse 2: “And do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.”
In addition, to our brothers and sisters in Turkey, Syria, and all affected areas, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has taught us through his hadiths that God tests those whom He loves, and that in times of hardship and difficulty, it is important to remain steadfast and help one another. As for the rest of us living in the comfort of our homes it is essential for us to come together and show compassion towards those who are suffering, and to donate generously to help alleviate their hardships.
Faithfully Sustainable has partnered with Tzu Chi Usa, to make your donations go even further one of their generous donors is matching funds up to $1 million until February 28th. Every dollar you give will be doubled. The goal is to raise $100,000 which if done by end of month will equal $200,000 raised. Donate here.
Sources
The UK is committing a further package of support to address urgent humanitarian needs in Turkey and Syria. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-commits-major-new-aid-package-to-turkey-syria-earthquake-response
Turkey earthquake rescue operations to end, government says. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/19/earthquake-rescue-operations-ended-in-most-turkey-provinces-afad
US exempts Syrian earthquake aid from sanctions. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/10/us-issues-sanctions-general-exemption-for-aid-to-syria
Syria earthquake: Did EU, US sanctions stop aid deliveries? https://timesofoman.com/article/127285-syria-earthquake-did-eu-us-sanctions-stop-aid-deliveries
Notre Dame may have too much money after billionaires and others rushed to pledge https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/04/25/billionaires-rushed-save-notre-dame-amid-backlash-economists-now-say-they-may-have-pledged-more-than-needed/
Pakistan floods: International donors pledge over $9bn https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64218703
Stark differences in reporting on Ukraine conflict versus other wars, Manitobans say https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/differences-coverage-ukraine-conflict-other-wars-1.6370589
Syria rescue efforts slowed by bureaucracy and regime https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/02/syrian-rescue-efforts-slowed-bureaucracy-and-regime
Turkey-Syria earthquake: Which countries have offered to help and what aid are they providing? https://news.sky.com/story/turkey-syria-earthquake-which-countries-have-offered-to-help-and-what-aid-are-they-providing-12805055
