The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (Acnudh) called for an “immediate” ceasefire in Syria to facilitate the work of providing aid to the victims of the earthquake that devastated part of the country and Turkey earlier this week.
“At this terrible time in Turkey and Syria, we call for the urgent delivery of assistance to all those in need. UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk calls for an immediate ceasefire in Syria and full respect for the obligations of human rights and humanitarian law so that aid can reach everyone,” Acnudh said on his Twitter account.
The civil war in Syria, which began in 2011, complicates the access of humanitarian aidespecially to the areas in the hands of the rebels, in the northwest of the country.
Until now, the bulk of aid destined for the affected area leaves Turkey and must pass through the Bab al Hawa crossing, the only authorized crossing point between the two neighboring countries.
Besides that there is territories difficult to access due to warthe earthquake destroyed some Turkish routes, which complicates the supply.
devastating earthquakes.
Homeless families.
Displaced people again.call me @unhcrinsyriatells us how UNHCR is helping the affected people.
Please support if you can: https://t.co/0fARP1vXMo pic.twitter.com/gmMS1vfLUZ
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@UNHCRamericas) February 10, 2023
The UN had already asked the government of Bashar al Assad to open other crossing points to speed up rescue and assistance efforts to the millions of people affected by the earthquakes, many of whom were already living in very precarious conditions before the earthquake.
Rescue teams were still searching the rubble for survivors on Friday, nearly 100 hours after the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 21,000 people so far.
On Thursday night, a brigade of 28 Argentine lifeguards left Ezeiza airport for Turkey on a humanitarian aid mission to join the search and rescue tasks.