According to a report, nearly 52,000 people lost their lives due to the earthquakes in an area bordering Syria and Turkey. Reportedly, the quakes on February 6 hit a region already battered by the Syrian war, including part of a semi autonomous region known as Kurdistan. According to a report, some families were already living in tents due to the Syrian conflict, which may have saved many lives. Reportedly, the quakes which demolished buildings and left others too dangerous to occupy has resulted in many more living in tents.
Kurdistan is unrecognised by Turkey who feel that kurds should integrate. According to a report, allegations that a wildfire in Turkey in 2021, destroying hundreds of square kilometres was started by a kurdish group has been denied by kurds. Political differences, particularly regarding Iraq and Syria may be due to a pro western approach and philosophy. The region that is homeland to kurds also encompasses Iraq, where mass graves containing the bodies of kurdish people who wanted to cross over the mountains from Iraq to Syria were found.
The region is built on a fault line, the site of many quakes but not of this magnitude. According to a report, the conflict has resulted in instances of the taking of clothes, blankets and food by militant groups. Reportedly, for some years Syria has been relying on unsafe water due to water contamination during the Syrian war. This may have been a Saudi tactic. According to a report, an added problem currently is water contaminated by cholera.