Tag: Syria

WHO: Turkey, Syria earthquakes ‘worst natural disaster’ in European region in a century

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The powerful earthquakes that struck central Turkey and northwest Syria just over a week ago are the “worst natural disaster in the WHO European Region for a century,” said Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization’s regional director for Europe.
“We are still learning about its magnitude. Its true cost is not known yet,” Kluge said during a press briefing today.
The WHO’s European Region includes 53 European and Central Asian countries, including Turkey.
More than 31,000 people are confirmed dead in Turkey, and nearly 5,000 lost their lives across the border in Syria, he said, adding that the figures are expected to rise further. He added that 26 million people across both countries are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The WHO launched a $43 million appeal to support the earthquake response, with likely more to come.
“I expect this to at least double over the coming days as we get a better assessment of the massive scale of this crisis and the needs,” Kluge said.
With water and sanitation facilities being hit, concerns are mounting over health issues, including the spread of infectious diseases. Health care facilities have also been gravely damaged.
“According to the Turkish authorities, an estimated 80,000 people are in hospital, placing a huge strain on the health system, itself badly damaged by the disaster,” Kluge said.

“We have initiated the largest deployment of Emergency Medical Teams in the WHO European Region in our 75-year history,” he added. Their goal is to support the damaged medical facilities, focusing on the high number of trauma patients and those with catastrophic injuries.

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#Turkey #Syria #earthquakes #worst #natural #disaster #European #region #century
( With inputs from : www.politico.eu )

February 15, 2023
India sends life-saving drugs, protective items to quake-hit Turkey, Syria

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New Delhi: The Centre has sent humanitarian medical assistance and Emergency Relief Material like life-saving drugs, protective items and critical care equipment valued at over Rs 7 crore to quake-hit Syria and Turkey.
Union health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the efforts of the Ministry to provide emergency relief materials to Turkey and Syria in a tweet on Tuesday. He stated in a tweet, “India is providing assistance to the two countries in the spirit of its age-old tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
“On Feb 6, when two powerful earthquakes hit Syria and Turkey, 3 truck load of relief materials were arranged at Hindon airbase consisting of life saving emergency medicines and protective items within 12 hours. The trucks started reaching by 10 a.m. next day and handing over of the relief items to the Indian Air Force (IAF) begun by 4 p.m. The last truck load reached by 9.30 p.m. and the flight departed to Syria with emergency relief material on the same day by 10 p.m. for the relief operation”, said health ministry.
The consignment consisted of 5,945-ton emergency relief material which included 27 life-saving medicines, two kinds of protective items and three categories of critical care equipments, valued at approximately Rs 2 crore.
The ministry said that on Feb 10, a bigger lot of relief materials was arranged for both Turkey and Syria. The consignment for Syria consisted of 72 critical care drugs, consumables and protective items of 7.3 tons, valued at Rs 1.4 crore. Relief materials sent for Turkey included 14 types of medical and critical care equipments, valued at Rs 4 crore.
The medical equipments dispatched to quake-hit Turkey includes Patients Monitor Cardio, Syringe pump, ECG machine, Nebulizer, Glucometer, Thermometer, ventilator among others.
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#India #sends #lifesaving #drugs #protective #items #quakehit #Turkey #Syria

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 14, 2023
Why anger is growing in Turkey a week after catastrophic earthquakes – podcast

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In the past week the death toll from the earthquakes that hit Syria and Turkey, flattening buildings and laying waste to towns and cities, has rocketed.
Journalist Ruth Michaelson has been travelling around the devastated area, meeting survivors who have been waiting for days for rescue and relief efforts to reach them. One man told her how he waited five days for his in-laws to be pulled from the rubble, another that he had to not only help extract his grandparents’ bodies from the rubble but drive them to the graveyard himself. The long wait for support is taking its toll.
There is a growing frustration in Turkey with the government of President Erdoğan – who himself came to power after dissatisfaction at how a previous administration dealt with an earthquake. Meanwhile in Syria, the US has had to make an exemption to its sanctions to allow aid through, while a rebel leader previously affiliated with al-Qaida has called for international aid. So how likely is it that the survivors will get the help they need?

Photograph: Svet Jacqueline/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock
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#anger #growing #Turkey #week #catastrophic #earthquakes #podcast
( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )

February 14, 2023
Aftermath of Syrian earthquake: in pictures

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Guardian photographer Alessio Mamo travelled to the earthquake-hit city of Idlib and captured powerful images of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria
Continue reading…

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#Aftermath #Syrian #earthquake #pictures
( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )

February 13, 2023
Syria opens 275 shelters to host earthquake victims: Ministry

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Damascus: A total of 275 shelters have been opened across Syria, hosting victims of the earthquake that hit the country on February 6, the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment said.
In a short statement, the Ministry on Sunday said that 235 shelters were opened in the northern Aleppo province, 32 in the northwestern province of Latakia, five in Hama province, and two in Tartous province.
The statement spelled no details about the situation in the rebel-held areas in Idlib province and the northern countryside of Aleppo, Xinhua news agency reported.
According to the Syrian Health ministry, the death toll has risen to 1,414 and the wounded to 2,349 as of Sunday evening. The UN said on Friday that the earthquake in Syria had displaced 5.3 million people.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the death toll could be more than 5,300 in Syria, and the number could rise to as many as 7,000 as many people are still buried under the rubble.
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#Syria #opens #shelters #host #earthquake #victims #Ministry
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 13, 2023
Germany to issue emergency visas to Turkey, Syria earthquake victims

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Berlin: Germany will grant three-month visas to Turkish and Syrian earthquake victims with family in the country, the interior minister said on Saturday.
“This is emergency aid,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the daily newspaper Bild.
“We want to allow Turkish or Syrian families in Germany to bring their close relatives from the disaster area to their homes without bureaucracy,” added Faeser.
More than 28,000 people were killed in the devastating earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday.
It reached 28,192 on Saturday (local time), with Turkey’s death toll climbing to 24,617, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said in a news conference.
In Syria, the total number of confirmed deaths stands at 3,575, including 2,167 in rebel-held areas in the northwest, according to the White Helmets civil defense group.
An additional 1,408 deaths have been recorded in government-controlled territories, according to Syrian state media, which cited the country’s health ministry.
Faeser said that those eligible can have “regular visas, issued quickly and valid for three months”.

She added that the joint initiative with the foreign ministry would allow victims to “find shelter and receive medical treatment” in Germany.
Around 2.9 million people of Turkish origin live in Germany, with more than half holding Turkish nationality.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday announced a three-month state of emergency in the 10 provinces in southeastern Turkey impacted by the tremor.
Earlier, Germany has also suspended rescue and relief work at the site of a deadly earthquake in Turkey due to security concerns, following a similar move by Austria earlier Saturday, reported CNN.
The German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) stopped its rescue operations due to a change in the security situation in the Hatay region, the organization said in a statement Saturday.
It had been operating with International Search and Rescue (ISAR) Germany, in coordination with Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).
“In the last few hours, the security situation in the Hatay region has apparently changed. There are increasing reports of clashes between different groups. The search and rescue teams of ISAR Germany and THW will therefore remain in the joint base camp for the time being. ISAR and THW will resume their work as soon as AFAD deems the situation to be safe,” read the statement.
The Austrian Army also cited security risks in suspending its operations, reported CNN.
The Austrian Army has suspended rescue operations in Turkey due to an “increasingly difficult security situation,” according to the Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit (AFDRU).
“The expected success of saving a life bears no reasonable relation to the security risk. There is increasing aggression between groups in Turkey,” Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Kugelweis of the AFDRU said in a statement Saturday.
“There was no attack on us Austrians. We’re all fine … The mood among the helpers is good, given the circumstances … We would like to help, but the circumstances are what they are,” Kugelweis continued.
“We keep our rescue and recovery forces ready. We are ready for further operations,” Kugelweis added, stating that a scheduled return to Austria for Thursday remains in place.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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#Germany #issue #emergency #visas #Turkey #Syria #earthquake #victims
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 12, 2023
Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 28,000 In Turkey And Syria

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Ankara, February 12: The death toll across Turkey and Syria following Monday’s earthquake reached 28,192 on Saturday (local time), reported CNN.
Turkey’s death toll climbed to 24,617, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said in a news conference.
In Syria, the total number of confirmed deaths stands at 3,575, including 2,167 in rebel-held areas in the northwest, according to the White Helmets civil defence group.
An additional 1,408 deaths have been recorded in government-controlled territories, according to Syrian state media, which cited the country’s health ministry.
Meanwhile, An Indian national missing since the earthquake in Turkey on February 6 was found dead under the debris of a hotel in Malatya, the Indian Embassy in Turkey informed in a tweet on Saturday. The deceased, identified as Vijay Kumar, was on a business trip to Turkey.
“We received a report yesterday that his luggage and passport were found but there wasn’t a body. We were hoping for his well-being, that he would have escaped. His father had passed away around a month back and now this has happened,” said Gaurav Kala, a relative of Vijay Kumar.
Kumar’s family members were in deep shock as they learned of the tragic news. They cried inconsolably. He is survived by his mother, wife, and six-year-old child. He had lost his father about one and a half months back.
“We received a call from Embassy in the afternoon. They wanted confirmation for identification, so we told them about a mark on the left hand. He worked in a company in Bengaluru & left from here on 22nd Jan. He was scheduled to return on 20th Feb, said Kala.

The Indian Embassy in Turkey informed on Saturday that the mortal remains of Kumar have been found.
“We inform you with sorrow that the mortal remains of Shri Vijay Kumar, an Indian national missing in Turkiye since the February 6 earthquake, have been found and identified among the debris of a hotel in Malatya, where he was on a business trip,” the Embassy said in a tweet.
“Our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. We are making arrangements for the earliest possible transportation of his mortal remains to his family,” it added.
Ministry of External Affairs had said earlier this month that ten Indians were struck in remote parts of Turkey after the country was hit by two “biggest natural disaster” earthquakes. Still, they are safe while one citizen is missing.
“There are 10 individuals who are stuck in some remote parts of the affected area but they are safe. We have one Indian national missing, on a business visit to Turkey’s Malatya. And he has not been traced for the last two days. We are in touch with his family and the company in Bengaluru,” Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) in Ministry of External Affairs, had said at a media briefing on ‘Operation Dost.’–(ANI)
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#Earthquake #Death #Toll #Surpasses #Turkey #Syria
( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

February 12, 2023
25000 Already Dead, Rescue Teams from 90 Countries Looking For Survivors in Turkey, Syria

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by Tazeem Nazir
SRINAGAR: The death toll in the Turkey-Syria earthquake has crossed 25000 people as rescuers from more than 90 countries, including India, are desperately looking for survivors in the debris. Since February 6, when the twin earthquakes flattened a vast belt straddling the border, the region has witnessed more than 650 aftershocks, reports in international media quoting AFD said.
The earth ripped apart in Hatay, Turkey.
100 ft deep and 650 ft wide…
Locals say they heard the sound of a loud explosion before the earthquake. pic.twitter.com/GI8S8sUZMI
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) February 11, 2023
“This is the worst earthquake and perhaps the world’s largest inland disaster,” a Kashmiri student in Turkey said. “Seismologists say that the width of the fault line is between 150 km to 200 km, which means the destruction caused by the earthquake would be huge because the fault line is quite wide. They say it was a shallow earthquake as its epicentre was merely 18 km deep from the crust of the earth.”
In Turkey, the death toll has crossed 22327 people as 80,104 survived injured. In Syria, the total number of deaths stands at 3,553, including 2,166 in rebel-held areas in the northwest, according to the White Helmets civil defence group. There have been 1,387 deaths in government-controlled parts of Syria, according to Syrian state media. The total number of injured people in Syria across all affected territories stands at 5,273, with 2,326 in government-controlled areas and 2,950 in rebel-held areas.
#OperationDost
We Care.#IndianArmy #Türkiye pic.twitter.com/WoV3NhOYap
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) February 9, 2023
Forecasting by rescue and relief workers suggest millions stand rendered homeless including 53 lakh in Syria alone.
Most of the people were asleep when the disaster hit the region. AFAD, Turkey’s disaster management authority, is being helped by 7800 rescue workers from more than 90 countries. Two major teams from India are part of the rescue and relief operations.
“The first three days are critical for evacuation and saving lives during a disaster. But miracles do happen, even today people are being rescued alive,” the student, referring to the reports appearing in the Turkish media said.
The student said that the major problem was managing translators who could help international teams to interact with the host population. Most of the international teams speak English but Turks prefer Turkish over every other language.

“Apart from AFAD translators, international students and international workers have joined the rescue and relief work and they are helping the international rescuers to communicate with the people.”
India launched a search and rescue operation to aid Syria and Turkey named as Operation Dost. “Our teams are working day and night as a part of ‘operation dost’. They will keep giving their best to ensure maximum lives and property are saved. In this critical time, India stands firmly with the people of Turkiye” tweeted prime minister Narendra Modi.
There was a lot of reportage about Turkey getting preference in rescue and relief, unlike the war-torn Syrian belts. This led to certain changes in the last few days.
The US has temporarily eased its sanctions on Syria in an effort to speed up aid deliveries to the country’s north-west, where almost no humanitarian assistance has arrived despite the deaths of thousands in this week’s earthquake. “I don’t think that this license will suddenly open the floodgates and allow for unhindered humanitarian access and delivery in Syria,” said Delaney Simon, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group’s US programme, was quoted as saying by the Guardian. “There are just too many other access issues. But I hope that the license will ease the concerns of financial providers, the private sector, and other actors, to show them that sanctions won’t be a risk for them to engage in Syria.” The United States will provide $85 million in humanitarian aid to Turkey and Syria.
Rescue teams from Russia have also been sent to both Syria and Turkey.

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#Dead #Rescue #Teams #Countries #Survivors #Turkey #Syria
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 11, 2023
India send seventh flight with relief material for Turkey, Syria

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New Delhi: The seventh plane from India, carrying relief material, essentials, and emergency and critical care medicines for earthquake relief efforts for Syria and Turkey, has been despatched, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday.
“On Saturday evening, earthquake relief material and equipment were sent to Syria and Turkey onboard another IAF C-17 aircraft. After offloading relief material at Damascus, the flight will head towards Adana,” said a MEA official.
“Flight is carrying 35 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, relief material, medical aid, emergency & critical care medicines, medical equipment and consumables,” said the official.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday had said that Indian teams are working day and night as a part of “Operation Dost” to help the relief and rescue operations in the earthquake-hit Turkey.
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#India #send #seventh #flight #relief #material #Turkey #Syria
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 11, 2023
Turkey, Syria earthquake: Anonymous Pakistani donates $30 million

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In a humanitarian spirit, an anonymous Pakistani businessman residing in The United States of America has donated 30 million US dollars (Rs 2,47,56,15,00) to help the victims of the terrible earthquake in Turkey and Syria that stuck on Friday leading to major loss of life and property.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has praised the businessman whose name is not revealed
“Deeply moved by the example of an anonymous Pakistani who walked into Turkish embassy in the US and donated $30 million for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria,” Shehbaz Sharif tweeted on Saturday.
“These are such glorious acts of philanthropy that enable humanity to triumph over the seemingly insurmountable odds,” he added.
Deeply moved by the example of an anonymous Pakistani who walked into Turkish embassy in the US & donated $30 million for earthquake victims in Türkiye & Syria. These are such glorious acts of philanthropy that enable humanity to triumph over the seemingly insurmountable odds.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 11, 2023
In a video clip posted on Twitter, Yousuf Erim, a journalist at TRT World, expressed his appreciation for the move and said, “Afers, a Pakistani businessman entered the Turkish Embassy in the United States and donated $30 million himself anonymously. We don’t know who he is. His identity has not been revealed.”
ایک پاکستانی خاموشی سے ترکی کی امریکہ میں موجود سفارت خانے میں داخل ہوا اور خاموشی سے 30 ملین ڈالرز دے کر چلا گیا۔ pic.twitter.com/WWHRiKL9nE
— RTEUrdu (@RTEUrdu) February 11, 2023
At dawn on February 6, an earthquake of 7.7 degrees struck southern Turkey and northern Syria, followed hours later by another with a magnitude of 7.6 and dozens of aftershocks, leaving huge losses of lives and property in both countries.
The death toll from the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 27,000, while the number of injured has reached more than 85,000, by Saturday evening.

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#Turkey #Syria #earthquake #Anonymous #Pakistani #donates #million
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 11, 2023