A good week after the earthquake disaster in the Turkish-Syrian border area, the death toll has risen to more than 40,000. In Turkey alone, the number is 35,418, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday. 5,900 deaths have recently been reported from Syria. Those buried alive are still saved, but hope is fading.
On Monday, a little girl was recovered from the rubble of a house in southeastern Turkey’s Kahramanmaras province (see video above). The dust-covered child smiled gratefully at his rescuers. After the rescue, he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Survivors rescued after 200 hours
The search for survivors in the Turkish province continued on the eighth day after the earthquake. According to media reports, four people were found alive under the rubble on Tuesday morning. Accordingly, two brothers (aged 17 and 21) who were under the rubble for 198 hours were rescued.
In addition, according to the reports in Adiyaman province, an 18-year-old who was also buried for 198 hours was rescued. In Hatay province, a 26-year-old woman was rescued alive after 201 hours under the rubble, and a 35-year-old woman after 205 hours, according to state news agency Anadolu Ajansi. Rescuers heard voices of other spills on Tuesday, according to broadcaster CNN — a small glimmer of hope that more people can be rescued alive.
One million people homeless
According to WHO estimates, one million people have lost their homes in Turkey and about 80,000 are in hospitals, according to authorities. This puts a huge strain on the health system – which itself has been seriously damaged by the disaster, Hans Kluge, director of the WHO Europe region, said on Tuesday. Kluge called on all government and civil society stakeholders to work together to ensure the cross-border delivery of humanitarian aid between Turkey and Syria and within Syria.
Assad opens border crossings
According to diplomats, President Bashar al-Assad wants to open two more border crossings into Turkey to improve humanitarian aid in Syria. Bab Al-Salam and Al Ra’ee should be open for three months, UN emergency response coordinator Martin Griffiths told the UN Security Council on Monday, several diplomats said. Griffiths is currently in Syria and met with Assad on Monday.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed Assad’s decision: “Opening these border crossings – along with facilitating access for humanitarian aid, expediting visa approvals and facilitating travel between hubs – will allow more aid to arrive more quickly. “
Long-term assistance for children required
Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF warned of the catastrophic situation for millions of children in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The total number of affected boys and girls remains unclear, but according to UNICEF, 4.6 million children live in Turkey’s ten quake-hit provinces. More than 2.5 million children have been affected in Syria.
“The children and families of Turkey and Syria are facing unimaginable hardship in the aftermath of these devastating earthquakes,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said Tuesday. “We must do everything we can to ensure that all those who have survived this disaster receive life-saving assistance, including clean water, sanitation, basic nutrition and medical care, and psychosocial support for children. Not only now, but also in the future. long-term.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
