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Live updates: Turkey-Syria earthquake kills thousands
The Syrian authorities says it has arrange greater than 100 shelters geared up with help provides for these affected by the earthquake throughout government-controlled areas, together with within the cities of Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Tartus and Latakia, a coastal metropolis which has the very best variety of deaths and greater than 100 collapsed buildings.
In Aleppo, one of many cities which have been most affected by the earthquake, 126 shelters have been arrange and 52 mosques reworked into facilities for individuals affected by the earthquake, state information company SANA mentioned. In Latakia, the federal government says it supplied 23 shelters and reworked 20 mosques into help facilities.
A complete of 11 shelters have been arrange throughout Hama, Homs and Tartus, SANA added.
The Assad regime says it’s offering the required means for hospitals to perform within the cities it controls, however are calling for added medical gear from donor governments and organizations.
“A catastrophe of this magnitude places further strain on the well being sector, which suffers from a scarcity of medical necessities and medical supplies as a result of sanctions imposed on Syria,” Syrian well being minister Hassan al-Ghobash mentioned, based on state media.
“We demand instant and pressing intervention from all organizations to supply all vital medical help,” al-Ghobash mentioned.
Human rights teams have accused the Syrian authorities prior to now of imposing extreme restrictions on the supply of humanitarian help throughout the nation to “punish those that categorical dissent,” Human Rights Watch mentioned.
When requested whether or not the Assad-led authorities will enable help into rebel-controlled territories from Turkey, the Syrian International Minister Faisal Mekdad mentioned that worldwide help can be distributed solely by the Syrian authorities.
“The Syrian state is able to enable help to enter into all areas, supplied that it doesn’t attain terrorist armed teams,” Mekdad mentioned.
What is the UN saying about efforts to assist Syria: Support is slowly reaching these in want, however even earlier than the quake, the United Nations mentioned 70% of Syria’s inhabitants wanted humanitarian help.
“This tragedy may have a devastating impression on many susceptible households who wrestle to supply for his or her family members every day,” the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator advert interim for Syria and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Disaster mentioned in a joint assertion on Tuesday.
The UN and humanitarian companions say they’re presently specializing in instant wants, together with meals, shelter, non-food objects and drugs.
CNN’s Ruba Alhenawi, Raja Razek and Hilary Whiteman contributed to this put up.