The death toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has exceeded 41,000.
Nine survivors were rescued from the rubble in Turkey yesterday, a week after a powerful earthquake struck. Currently the focus is on helping people who are struggling in the extreme cold without shelter or adequate food. The disaster has claimed more than 41,000 deaths in Turkey and neighboring Syria. The extent of damage in both countries is at an all-time high. Even if they survive the extreme cold, there is no place for them to stay.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the situation following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6 is now under control. “We are facing one of the biggest natural disasters not only in our country, but in the history of mankind,” Erdogan said in a televised interview.
Two brothers, aged 17 and 21, were rescued from an apartment in Kahramanmaras province on Tuesday. And a Syrian man and a young woman in leopard print were rescued from the rubble after 200 hours. A rescue worker said many others may still be alive. But U.N. officials say rescue efforts are nearing completion with the focus now on shelter, food and schooling.
“We asked for a place to stay, but so far we haven’t received anything,” said refugee Hasan Saimova, who was staying with his family at a playground in Turkey’s southeastern city of Gaziantep. Saimova and other Syrians sought refuge in Gaziantep from the war there, but were left homeless by the earthquake.
About 26 million people in both countries are in need of humanitarian assistance. There is an increasing climate with cold weather, sanitation and the spread of infectious diseases.
At the Turkish field hospital in the southern city of Iskenderun, Indian Army Major Bina Tiwari said people first came with injuries. But now they are coming to get treatment for mental distress and not being able to recover from the damage caused by the earthquake.
Nearly 9 million people were affected by the earthquake in Syria. The United Nations has provided $400 million in funding. Erdogan said Russia had completed its search and rescue operations in Turkey and Syria and was withdrawing, with the death toll in Turkey at 35, 3418.