Emergency medical teams through the World Health Organization, WHO , have already been given the green light to offer essential care for the wounded and most vulnerable, WHO key Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a tweet . UN humanitarian matching office OCHA underscored the initial 7. 8 magnitude quake hit at the height of winter. The epicentre was in southern Türkiye, exactly where nearby Gaziantep – an important UN aid hub regarding northern Syria – was among the cities affected. The Turkish Government has released a Level 4 alarm, phoning for international assistance. Southwest Syria is home to around four. 1 million people who rely on humanitarian assistance, the majority, ladies and children. Right after an official request for international the help of Ankara, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF , confirmed that it was prepared to support the emergency response. Mr. Guterres said that the EL was relying on the international community to help the many countless numbers caught up in the disaster, inch many of whom had been already in dire require of humanitarian aid in locations where access is a challenge . inch Director-General Antonio Vitorino tweeted his solidarity “with people in Türkiye, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and all those people affected following the deadly earthquake. We will be working closely with governments in the region to support those people affected and help relieve their suffering. ” Humanitarian needs in northern Syria are already huge, as the region is home to millions of people displaced with the country’s long-running war. © UNOCHA/Ali Haj Suleiman A sufferer of the February 6 earthquake is treated in Samada, Syria.
Syria aid lifeline strike
In a situation overview published shortly after 4pm GMT, UN aid coordination office OHCHA, said that generally there had been “close to 2, 000 death reported” within the two countries impacted, with at least 78 aftershocks documented, ahead of the second earthquake. Snow and rain have hampered the work of rescue teams, whose families are also among those believed to buried under collapsed buildings.
Syrian residential areas have been hit by an on-going cholera outbreak along with harsh winter weather. So far there is a 48 per cent funding gap for the last quarter of 2022, with 1 million pledged, out of a required complete of just over 0 million.
Buildings in Idlib, Syria, have been damaged by the earthquake which struck the region.
UN-wide support
” Our heart goes out to the people of Türkiye and Syria in this hour of tragedy ” said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement. “The Un is fully committed to assisting the response. Our groups are on the ground assessing the requirements and providing assistance. inch Responsive that message of support, UN migration agency, IOM , stated that is warehouse in Gaziantep had prepared non-food items and essential relief prepared to be deployed. “ IOM teams are also performing on-the-ground assessments to inform the response”, mentioned spokesperson Safa Msehli. © UNOCHA/Ali Haj Suleiman Specialist UN surge teams from the Office of UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination ( UNDAC ) also messaged that they were “ready to deploy” , amid multiple horrifying social media posts showing huge buildings collapsing in heavily built-up areas.
