North Texas doctor spent two weeks in Syria and Turkey after historic earthquake

We are approaching one month after the devastating Earthquakes rocked Syria and Turkey. It is called the worst in modern history. The first 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed tens of thousands of people. Then another one ended up in Syria with a caliber of 7.5.

Volunteers and humanitarian organizations flock to the region to help the survivors and provide needed assistance. A North Texas doctor has just returned and shared his experience.

It has been less than 24 hours since Nora Abdullah landed again in the United States. She is already aware of the profound impact of the past two weeks.

“People have suffered so much. Just to see the buildings that have been reduced to rubble. There are probably still people under them. Even those who got out are afraid to return,” she said.

Abdullah traveled with several other doctors from the nonprofit MedGlobal. Each doctor brings their unique experience to help people in Turkey and Syria whose lives have been devastated by earthquakes.

“For me, as a Syrian American, it was surreal to go to a Syria that I had never known before, to see the destruction, but also the resilience of the people,” Abdullah said.

As a psychiatric resident at Southwestern Utah State University, Abdullah was there to share her knowledge with local mental and emotional health services; training of those who will work in the field for a long time. This is an aspect of natural disasters that cannot be overlooked.

“[I was there] just educate them on basic trauma and educate them on human trafficking,” she said. “Things they probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise if it wasn’t for the quakes.”

She says the experience will forever have an impact and she hopes to give even more throughout her career.

“You can’t help but think that I have to keep doing something to help these people. I have to keep doing this,” she said. “I’m glad I have a new sense of purpose and that I can continue to help people.”

To help earthquake victims visit our article here.