According to UN estimates, the death toll from the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria could reach more than 50,000. UN emergency coordinator Martin Griffiths told Sky News on Saturday during a visit to Turkey’s earthquake zone that an accurate estimate is still difficult, but the number of casualties is certain to “double or more”.
The confirmed death toll had risen to more than 28,000 shortly after Griffith’s arrival. According to the authorities, 24,617 fatalities were recovered in Turkey on Saturday. On the other side of the border in Syria, according to official figures, at least 3,574 people have died.
26 million people affected by earthquakes
The World Health Organization (WHO) now estimates that 26 million people in Turkey and Syria could be affected by the disaster, including about five million people who are already considered particularly vulnerable. According to the UN, at least 870,000 people in both countries need to be provided with hot meals and up to 5.3 million people could be left homeless in Syria alone.
More than 32,000 people from Turkey are involved in search and rescue operations, according to the Turkish Disaster Agency. There are also more than 8,200 international helpers, including Austria.
“Soon, search and rescue personnel will give way to the humanitarian organizations that will have to deal with the extraordinary number of casualties in the coming months,” Griffiths said in a video on Twitter.
Source: Krone
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