UN Starts Emergency Assistance In Response To Earthquakes In Turkey, Syria

Following the devastating earthquakes that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria early Monday, UN agencies have scrambled to assist many thousands of reported victims, including those believed to be buried beneath the rubble.

“In this hour of tragedy, my heart goes out to the people of Turkey and Syria,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. “The UN is fully committed to assisting with the response. Our teams are on the ground, assessing the situation and offering assistance,” he added.

The initial 7.8 magnitude tremor struck near Gaziantep, a major city and capital of the Gaziantep Province in Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia Region, and was followed by another 7.5 magnitude tremor several hours later, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Following the second earthquake, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a situation update, stating that “close to 2,000 deaths have been reported” in the two affected countries, with at least 78 aftershocks.

The Turkish government has issued a Level 4 alert, requesting international assistance.

In northwest Syria, 4.1 million people, mostly women and children, rely on humanitarian aid.

In Syrian communities, a cholera outbreak is ongoing, exacerbated by harsh winter weather. There is a funding gap of 48 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022, with USD 371 million pledged out of a total required of just over 800 million.

“As a member of the United Nations family, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) stands ready to assist affected people as they recover from this tragedy in the coming days, weeks and months,” UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said in a statement.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has authorised emergency medical teams to provide care to the injured and most vulnerable populations, according to a tweet from WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The initial 7.8 magnitude earthquake's epicenter was close to Gaziantep in southern Turkey, an important UN aid hub for northern Syria, according to the OCHA. Many cities in the area were impacted.

“This is one of the most powerful earthquakes in recent memory. Turkey and Syria require all assistance possible. The current search and rescue efforts will only last a few days, but medical assistance for the injured, restoration of water, power, and other services, and shelter for those who have lost their homes will take precedence,” Xinhua obtained a live commentary from former UN relief chief Mark Lowcock via email.

Lowcock is a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, a nonprofit think tank focused on international development with offices in Washington DC and London.

“Deeply saddened by the loss of life caused by this morning's earthquake,” Syria's UN refugee agency tweeted, adding that it was “actively coordinating a response with UN Agencies and other humanitarian actors to deliver assistance and support to those in need in Syria.”

“As a member of the United Nations family, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) stands ready to assist affected people as they recover from this tragedy in the coming days, weeks, and months,” UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said in a statement.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has authorised emergency medical teams to provide care to the injured and most vulnerable populations, according to a tweet from WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The initial 7.8 magnitude earthquake's epicenter was close to Gaziantep in southern Turkey, an important UN aid hub for northern Syria, according to the OCHA. Many cities in the area were impacted.

“This is one of the most powerful earthquakes in recent memory. Turkey and Syria require all assistance possible. The current search and rescue efforts will only last a few days, but medical assistance for the injured, restoration of water, power, and other services, and shelter for those who have lost their homes will take precedence,” Xinhua obtained a live commentary from former UN relief chief Mark Lowcock via email.

Lowcock is a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, a nonprofit think tank focused on international development with offices in Washington DC and London.

“Deeply saddened by the loss of life caused by this morning's earthquake,” the UN refugee agency in Syria tweeted, adding that it was “actively coordinating a response with UN Agencies and other humanitarian actors to deliver assistance and support to those in need in Syria.”