ANKARA/DAMASCUS, February 13: The following is the latest data on Turkey and Syria affected by the earthquake.
COMBINED LEAVES
The death toll from Monday’s earthquakes in Türkiye rose to 29,605, the country’s disaster agency said, quoted by Anadolu Agency, bringing the total death toll with neighboring Syria to more than 33,000, with tens of thousands injured.
RESCUE EFFORTS
The first batch of emergency aid, including tents and blankets, delivered by the Chinese government for earthquake relief arrived in Türkiye on Saturday. More emergency supplies, including tents, electrocardiographs, ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and medical transport vehicles, will also be shipped in batches from China.
Syria is also receiving supplies from the Red Cross Society of China and the local Chinese community. Aid from the local Chinese community included infant formula, winter clothing and medical supplies, while the first batch of emergency medical supplies from the Red Cross Society of China arrived on Thursday.
On Sunday, Algeria and Libya also sent planeloads of relief items to quake-hit areas. Pakistan sent another special relief consignment on Sunday as part of relief assistance for earthquake-hit areas of Türkiye.
Qatar has shipped the first part of 10,000 container houses for earthquake victims in Türkiye, Anadolu Agency reported.
Meanwhile, foreign heads of state and ministers began to pay visits to Türkiye and Syria to show solidarity.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Türkiye on Sunday to show his support. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the first foreign head of state to visit earthquake-hit Turkey, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday.
Also on Sunday, the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited Syria and pledged continued support to the country to overcome the aftermath of the earthquakes, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.
PROBLEMS AND ANSWER
The lack of sanitary facilities has started to endanger the survivors of the earthquake in Türkiye.
“The issue of hygiene is becoming more and more urgent,” Ihsan Cakir, deputy general secretary of Hatay Municipality, wrote on Friday. Hatay province was one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquakes.
“The underwater sources could have been contaminated, with the sewage system in ruins,” said Celalettin Kocaturk, a doctor in Istanbul, adding that tap water is now unsafe for drinking or ablutions. He also warned of an increased risk of an epidemic.
