Although many countries rushed to offer co-operation and aid to Turkey and Syria in the immediate aftermath of the quakes, Ilan Kelman, professor of disasters and health at University College London was not optimistic. His research on “disaster diplomacy” suggested that natural disasters did not create peace. “Aside from the logistical challenges of humanitarian aid amid places of violence, experience demonstrates that, sadly, previous enmity tends to supersede saving lives and stopping war over the long term,” Kelman said.
‘Natural’ disasters are not wholly natural and the word natural should be in inverted commas.
Disaster-related activities do and do not influence conflict and cooperation
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