The first UN convoy with humanitarian aid arrived in Syria from Turkey on Thursday (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images)
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2 mins ago
The UN chief would be "very pleased" if he could deliver aid through additional crossings between Turkey and Syria
By Richard Roth, Jessie Gretener
The Secretary General of the United Nations Organization, Antonio Guterres, in a file photograph (Credit: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres has said he is open to the idea of delivering aid to Syria through additional border crossings, in addition to the Bab al-Hawa crossing — the only UN-approved humanitarian aid corridor. the United Nations between Turkey and the rebel-held areas of northern Syria.
"Of course, I would be very happy if the Security Council could reach a consensus to allow the use of more crossings, as we also need to increase our capacity to conduct operations in Idlib from Damascus," Guterres said.
“Many non-UN relief agencies are already delivering aid through other crossings,” he added.
On Tuesday, the UN said the Bab al-Hawa crossing was "actually intact" but the road leading to the crossing had been damaged by Monday's earthquake, hampering relief efforts.
The first United Nations convoy, made up of six trucks, crossed into northern Syria on Thursday through the Bab al-Hawa crossing, according to Guterres.
He said that "the United Nations has done everything possible to expedite its response," adding that "more help is on the way, but much, much more is needed."
“The earthquake came as the humanitarian crisis in northwestern Syria was already severe, with needs at their highest level since the conflict began,” Guterres said, describing the dire need to bring urgent humanitarian aid to Syria.
"We are sadly aware that we have not yet seen the full extent of the damage and the humanitarian crisis unfolding before our eyes."
Guterres said the UN would launch an urgent appeal for donor support for Syria early next week.
He added that he has already released US$25 million from the UN Central Emergency Fund for Syria, and UN agencies and other national and international NGOs are assessing their initial funding requirements over the next three months.
“These resources will be used by the humanitarian community for critical aid: shelter, health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, education, protection, and psychosocial support services,” Guterres explained.
Guterres also said that Martin Griffiths, the United Nations assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, is already in Turkey to assess the earthquake-affected areas.
Griffiths will also visit Gaziantep, Aleppo and Damascus to assess aid needs.
4 mins ago
The death toll in Turkey and Syria from the earthquake is approaching 20,000
By Hande Atay Alam, Celine Alkhaldi, Mostafa Salem
Bodies of those killed in the earthquake at the door of a hospital in Elbistan, Turkey, on February 9, 2023 (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
The death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria is now at least 19,863, according to authorities.
In Turkey, the death toll has risen to at least 16,546, with 66,132 injured, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
The total number of deaths in Syria stands at at least 3,317, including 1,970 in rebel-held areas in the northwest, according to the White Helmets civil defense group.
Another 1,347 deaths have been reported in government-controlled parts of Syria, according to Syrian state media.
The total number of people injured in Syria in all affected territories rose to 5,245 (2,295 in government-controlled areas and 2,950 in rebel-controlled areas).
At least 71,377 people have been injured between Syria and Turkey, according to figures from the Turkish government, the White Helmets and Syrian state media.
1 hour ago
They confirm the death of the Colombian Johanna Carolina Kap after the earthquake in Turkey
By Paula Bravo Medina
With these images, the family of Johanna Carolina Kap desperately searched for her for days.
Colombian citizen Johanna Carolina Kap, who was in Turkey during the powerful earthquake, has died, as confirmed by her family and the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This Wednesday, the family of the Colombian and the Foreign Ministry had affirmed that Kap would have been taken alive from the rubble of the hotel where she was staying for a university excursion to graduate as a tourist guide.
The family and the Colombian embassy relied on information from the Union of Chambers of Tourist Guides (TUREB), who said that Johana Carolina had left the place where she was alive.
This Thursday, Nicolás Milllán, the Colombian's nephew, confirmed to CNN en Español that Kap had died.
According to what he told this outlet, on Wednesday Kap's husband, Erhan, a Turkish citizen, was alerted to go to a hospital to identify a person, but it was not Johana Carolina.
"(Ehran) returned to the hotel and with an excavator they removed three bodies and (one) was my aunt's," Millán said in a conversation with CNN en Español.
Read the full note here.
2 hours ago
The death toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria rises to more than 19,700
By Atay Alam, Celine Alkhaldi
Miners work on rescue tasks in Turkey, after the earthquake (Credit: REMI BANET/AFP via Getty Images)
The death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria is now at least 19,738, according to authorities.
In Turkey, the death toll has risen to at least 16,546, and another 66,132 people were injured, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
The total number of deaths in Syria rose to at least 3,192, including 1,930 in rebel-held areas in the northwest, according to the White Helmets civil defense group, and 1,262 deaths in government-controlled parts of Syria, according to Syrian state media. .
The total number of people injured in Syria across all affected territories rose to 5,158, with 2,258 in government-controlled areas and 2,900 in rebel-held areas.
At least 71,290 people have been injured in Syria and Turkey, according to figures from the Turkish government, the White Helmets and Syrian state media.
Earthquake in SyriaEarthquake in Turkey