Forest Fires in Southern Turkey

Forest fires have been rampant across the southern region of Turkey due to extreme heat conditions over the past month. This past July has been the 3rd hottest month of July ever recorded on a global scale. The temperature was a scorching 37 degrees Celsius recently, 4 percent humidity, and 50 kilometer per hour wind speeds. Wind also helps to spread and grow the fire by providing oxygen and range. Not only are the fires affecting humans, residential living spaces, and buildings, but they are also harming livestock. Some are even catching on fire. Since the heat is so strong, there is no water or wet land to extinguish the fire. Over 2,200 farm animals, including a variety of necessary livestock for the nutrition and survival of farmers and consumers, have been burned alive.

As another consequence of the heat, the cultivated land and crops of farms have become sunbaked, which have also led to the main cause for forest fires to frequently occur. Approximately 8 people have died due to the fires already, and two firefighters have unfortunately lost their lives while combating the fire. Around 1,100 people were evacuated from a tourist resort in close proximity with Turkey. Many businesses were closed due to the forest fires in southern Turkey, which in turn upset several people due to the overall economic decline. Many of the fires generated over the past two weeks could not be extinguished because of the fast winds spreading them. Due to the rapid rate the draft was circulating at, firefighters simply did not have the useful resources or people to repel the forest fires. After further analysis, the primary cause of the fires in southern Turkey is either arson, the deliberate act of setting something on fire, or even human negligence.

However, not only has Turkey been affected by these fires. Greece, Lebanon, Syria, and other portions of southern Europe have been scorched by the scalding flames of forest fires. This growth in fires as well as natural disasters in general can be distinctly traced back to global warming. There have been deadly floods in both Europe and China that have also had devastating effects. Numerous preventative measures must be done immediately and effectively in order to repress the threat of global warming. Concurrently, governments and agencies need funds in order to mitigate the effects of climate change, and one of the best ways to encourage that is to directly donate. Whether it’s assisting victims of Turkey forest fires or contributing to large environmental protection organizations, every dollar and every person can make a difference. Here are some charities listed below.

Charities:

• https://www.tpfund.org/2021/07/30/turkey-2021-wildfire-relief-fund/

• Turkey 2021 Wildfire Relief Fund

• All donations to this fund will support wildfire relief and recovery efforts in Turkey. We monitor the impact on affected communities and work with partners at Afet Platformu to allocate funds to where they’re needed most. Initially, the fund helps first responders meet survivors’ immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, medicine, and shelter. As needs emerge, we will support longer-term recovery efforts run by local, vetted partner organizations in the impacted area(s).

• https://www.gofundme.com/f/turkey-needs-your-help?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

• Turkey Needs Your HELP

• 70+ wildfires have broken out in the past 3 days along the Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines. Our country does not have the resources to contain these wildfires. Thousands of villagers have had to evacuate their homes. 4 people have died and over 200 are hospitalized. Wildlife is dying. Many animals have severe burn injuries and need care.

• https://www.redcross.org/donate/disaster-relief.html/?cid=disaster&med=cpc&source=google&scode=RSG00000E017&gclid=CjwKCAjwjJmIBhA4EiwAQdCbxnv5KozdAqe4dFvpp0Wx5Z9jtBV0sB0KZdN93V2oCm3Zx9g-9R68lRoCeKAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

• Red Cross

Works Cited:

Damon, Arwa. “'The Animals Are on Fire,' Say Devastated Farmers as Wildfires Sweep Turkey.” CNN, Cable News Network, 2 Aug. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/07/31/world/turkey-wildfires-manavgat-six-dead-intl/index.html.

Disasterphilanthropy.org, disasterphilanthropy.org/disaster/2021-international-wildfires/.

Peltier, Elian. “Turkey Is Next as Wildfires Afflict Mediterranean Countries.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 July 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/07/30/world/middleeast/turkey-fires-mediterranean-lebanon.html.