Turkey decided this Sunday to suspend search and rescue operations 14 days after the massive earthquake, except in the hardest-hit provinces of Kahramanmaras and Hatay, the government’s aid agency (Afad) announced.
“Searches have ended in many provinces. They will continue in Kahramanmaras and Hatay provinces, in about 40 buildings,” said Yunus Sezer, head of AFAD.
According to a balance sheet from this organization last Sunday, the earthquake that shook southern Turkey and northern Syria has claimed 40,689 deaths in Turkey, while the number of victims in Syria is around 4,000.
The head of the government’s aid agency also indicated that 105,000 buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged and would be demolished.
The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, measuring 7.7 and 7.6 respectively on the Richter scale, occurred on February 6, followed by several aftershocks but of much lower intensity.
On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) increased the international request for financial aid for the victims of these earthquakes to 84.5 million dollars (79 million euros).
This Sunday, the United Nations (UN) reported that at least 8.8 million people have been affected in Syria alone, noting that the majority will require humanitarian assistance.
“At least 8.8 million people in Syria were affected by the earthquake and most will require some form of humanitarian assistance. The UN is absolutely committed to helping all Syrians,” said UN Special Representative for Syria, Najat Rochi, in a message to your Twitter account. .
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) also called for an “urgent increase” in humanitarian aid in northern Syria, where 14 trucks arrived this Sunday with help from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for earthquake victims.
Source: DN
