catastrophes and accidents

◄	CATASTROPHES AND ACCIDENTS

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The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. IRC teams provide health care, infrastructure, learning and economic support to people in 40 countries, with special programs designed for women and children.

The IRC was founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein.

When an emergency arises, the IRC arrives on the scene within 72 hours with urgently needed supplies and expertise that protect people caught in the midst of chaos. We commit to stay as long as we are needed, helping survivors to heal, recover and rebuild their communities to be stronger, more stable and more democratic. In the United States, the IRC has helped hundreds of thousands of refugees thrive in the country that gave them sanctuary and a new beginning.

From the first moment the IRC hits the ground we work toward lasting solutions. Building local capacity and self-sufficiency -- and promoting human rights, participation and accountability -- are at the core of all of our innovative programs.

On 6 February 2023, a Mw 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Türkiye, as well as northern and western Syria. It occurred 32.4 km (20.1 mi) west–northwest of Gaziantep at 04:17 am, with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). A Mw 7.7 earthquake occurred nine hours later, centered 95 km (59 mi) to the north–northeast in Kahramanmaraş Province.

There was widespread damage and over 40,000 fatalities

On 11 November 2009 Professor LL.M Pieter van Vollenhoven delivered the 12th Mansholt lecture arranged by the association of European Journalists:

'INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION into DISASTERS and ACCIDENTS: the EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE'.

Independent investigations are very essential in democracies. Tracing what exactly happened certainly help to find the truth, but has no monopoly on sense of truth. Criminal and civil law limits itself more to cause and there is the right to be silent. So, there are large differences between the two kinds of investigations. Risk factors are defined otherwise.

Of years, safety was set as governments task. Rule of games which investigations to select and the role as supervisor were the heart of the matter. Nowadays it has also become a task of the community.

Europe (the Commission and Parliament) has te be convinced about the necessity of independent examinations. More coorporation between member states instead of one European Safety Board.

The Dutch Safety Board performs independent, comprehensive investigations into the causes or probable causes of individual – or categories of – ‘incidents’