Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria may have affected 23 million people, WHO estimates

Some 23 million people could be affected by the earthquakes that shook south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria, WHO said on Tuesday, February 7, pledging its long-term support after sending emergency aid.

“Event maps show that 23 million people are potentially exposed, including around 5 million vulnerable people”World Health Organization official Adelheid Marschang told a regular meeting of the organization’s Executive Board.

“WHO is aware of Turkey’s strong response capacity and considers that the main unmet needs could be in Syria in the immediate and medium term”she added.

The earthquake, followed by powerful aftershocks, killed more than 5,000 people in Turkey and Syria, also leaving thousands injured and homeless in freezing cold, but the toll is still tentative.

Three charters sent to both countries

“The delivery of aid across the border to northwestern Syria risks being or is already being disrupted due to the damage caused by the earthquake. That in itself is already a huge crisis.”a relevé Adelheid Marschang.

At his side, the director general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, first called for a minute of silence for the victims.

“We will work closely with all partners to support the authorities in Turkey and Syria, in the critical hours and days ahead, and in the months and years to come, as both countries recover and recover. rebuild »he then said.

He announced the dispatch of “three charter flights in both countries” with medical materials, including surgical kits, from the humanitarian logistics hub in Dubai. “We are mobilizing emergency equipment and we have activated the WHO network of emergency medical teams to provide essential health care to the injured and most vulnerable people”he added.

“A race against time”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also explained that damage mapping is being done to understand where WHO needs to focus its attention.

“Now it’s a race against time. Every minute, every hour that passes, the chances of finding survivors alive decreases.he said, thinking “particularly concerned about areas where we do not yet have information”.

“Aftershocks, severe winter conditions, damage to roads, power, communications and other infrastructure continue to hamper access and other search and rescue operations”underlined the head of the WHO.