Humanitarian crisis in Syria increases due to political decisions 4:37
(CNN Spanish) --
The strong earthquake of magnitude 7.8 that hit southeastern Turkey on Monday also had enormous effects in Syria, a country devastated by more than a decade of civil war whose most affected part was precisely that under the control of rebels.
The earthquake has left a balance, at the moment, of 22,772 dead and 82,956 injured in both countries, and in Syria the dead amount to 3,384, with 5,245 injured.
Hope after tragedy: the emotional rescues of survivors after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria
But what has made the response to the earthquake enormously difficult is that there are still parts of Syria controlled by rebels - mainly Idlib, in the north and hit by the earthquake - and parts under the control of the government of President Bashar al Assad - accused of using weapons chemicals—, engaged in an armed conflict.
Precisely, 2,037 deaths and 2,950 injuries have been reported in areas controlled by rebels, and 1,347 deaths and 2,295 injuries in areas controlled by the Government.
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The delivery of urgent supplies to these areas is uneven: only two UN aid convoys have entered rebel-held northwestern Syria through the only authorized border crossing in Turkey since Monday's earthquake, while the Assad's government has received planeloads of aid from countries around the world.
Hope of finding survivors in Turkey and Syria dwindles 3:19
Meanwhile, almost 11 million people have been affected by the catastrophe in Syria, according to the UN.
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There are also 3.6 million Syrian refugees, according to data from Human Rights Watch, mostly settled on the border between Turkey and Syria and who have been affected by the earthquake.
Syria's president criticizes the West
In his first remarks since the earthquake, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told reporters that Western countries "have no regard for the human condition."
Assad and his wife, Asma, visited different places affected by the quake and visited survivors in a hospital in Aleppo, according to images released by the state news agency SANA.
State media and Syrian government officials have blamed the lack of humanitarian aid and the impeding of rescue teams on US and European Union sanctions.
What kind of help do children in Turkey need after the earthquake?
3:03
The US has reiterated that sanctions do not apply to humanitarian efforts, and on Friday, the US Treasury Department issued a "General License" authorizing for 180 days "all post-war relief-related transactions." earthquake that would otherwise be prohibited by the Syria Sanctions Regulations".
The Syrian Foreign Ministry called the US Treasury decision a move intended to give a "false impression of humanity," according to SANA.
The World Food Program calls for greater access
Meanwhile, the World Food Program (WFP) is calling for greater access to the Syrian territories affected by the earthquake to replenish aid supplies that have been depleted, David Beasley, director of the program, said in a statement to CNN.
"The stocks we have are running out fast, especially ready-to-eat rations, and they need to be replenished quickly. To do that, we need access," Beasley said.
In the past, aid entered northwestern Syria via Turkey at the Bab Al Hawa border crossing, the only point of entry authorized by UN Security Council resolutions.
A resolution proposing more border openings between Turkey and Syria was vetoed by Russia and China.
First UN aid convoy arrives in Syria after earthquake 2:50
WFP aims to provide ready-to-eat meals to 100,000 people in northwestern Syria and have regular rations for 1.4 million people with partners ready for distribution.
"Northwestern Syria is a catastrophe upon a catastrophe," Beasley said.
The Syrian government approved this Friday the shipment of aid to rebel territory in the northwest of the country, according to a statement, but has not provided deadlines.
Syrian authorities have repeatedly claimed that the government is "prepared" to send aid to rebel-held territories, but no aid has reportedly flowed in from government territories since Monday's earthquake.
With information from Becky Anderson, Mostafa Salem and Eyad Kourdi., Isil Sariyuce and Hande Atay Alam.
WarSyriaearthquakeTurkey