Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Total Death Toll Crosses 34,000

The total death toll across Turkey and Syria following the destructive earthquake reached at least 34,800 on Sunday, leading to grief, anger and anguish.

According to the Turkish Emergency Coordination Center SAKOM, the death toll in Turkey reached 29,605 on Sunday. Reportedly, the confirmed death toll in Syria reached 4,574. However, the United Nations warned that the total death toll has reached over 34,800.

Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations, reportedly said, “We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria. They rightly feel abandoned. Looking for international help that hasn’t arrived.” He demanded help for earthquake victims in Syria.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that they have been waiting for final approval to send deliveries into northwest Syria in order to help earthquake victims.

On February 11, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the World Health Organization, visited Syria to help people across the country. He wrote on Twitter, “I’m heartbroken to see the conditions survivors are facing - freezing weather and extremely limited access to shelter, food, water, heat, and medical care."

Reportedly, the UN convoy of ten trucks, carrying plastic sheeting, ropes and screws and nails, as well as blankets, mattresses and carpets, crossed into northwest Syria via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, in order to help earthquake victims.

According to the United Nations, at least 870,000 people urgently need food across Turkey and Syria. The UN also warned that the death toll could further increase in the future.

Meanwhile, people in Turkey expressed anger and grief over the poor quality of buildings in the country as well as the government’s response to the earthquake. Recently, Turkish police detained 12 people, including contractors, over collapsed buildings in the southeastern provinces of Gaziantep and Sanliurfa.

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