Live updates: Over 23,000 dead from quake in Turkey and Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad criticized Western nations in his first televised feedback for the reason that 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck elements of the nation 5 days in the past, Syrian state media confirmed.

Assad and his spouse, Asma, visited completely different websites affected by the earthquake and visited survivors at a hospital in Aleppo, photos on state-run information company SANA confirmed.

Standing close to a constructing destroyed by the earthquake, Assad advised reporters that Western nations “don’t have any regard for the human situation.” This remark is consistent with statements heard from authorities officers and Syria’s state-run media, who’ve pinned the shortage of humanitarian help and hindered rescue tools on US and EU sanctions.

The US says its sanctions usually are not imposed on humanitarian efforts, and on Friday, the US Treasury issued a “Normal License” for 180 days, which authorizes all earthquake relief-related transactions in any other case prohibited by sanctions laws. The Syrian Overseas Ministry known as this a measure a way to offer a “false impressions of humanity,” SANA stated.

Bear in mind: Virtually 11 million individuals have been affected by the catastrophe in Syria, the UN stated. The demise toll in Syria stands no less than 3,384, together with 2,037 in rebel-held areas within the northwest, in response to the “White Helmets” civil protection group – and 1,347 deaths in government-controlled elements of Syria, in response to Syrian state media. Greater than 5,000 individuals have been injured throughout all affected territories, in response to authorities.

The supply of pressing provides to quake-hit areas of northern Syria has been sophisticated by a long-running civil warfare between opposition forces and Assad’s authorities, who’s accused of killing his personal individuals. Syrian Overseas Minister Faisal Mekdad says any help it receives should undergo the capital Damascus.

That leaves rebel-held areas reliant on help teams together with the UN, who has solely been capable of ship two convoys since Monday, which is starkly completely different to Turkey, the place 70 nations and 14 worldwide organizations have promptly provided groups of rescuers, donations and help as of Thursday.