Turkey and Syria continue to count their dead, six days after the earthquake that devastated both sides of the border.
More than 25,000 people have been killed in both countries, the two states announced early Saturday afternoon.
This new announcement comes as Anakara is currently carrying out arrests in connection with the construction of buildings that collapsed following the earthquake.
At the same time, the head of the WHO is traveling to Aleppo to announce emergency medical aid.
Six days after this deadly earthquake,
Le Figaro
takes stock of the situation.
Wave of arrests in Turkey
A dozen people have been arrested in Turkey after thousands of buildings in the southeast of the country collapsed following the earthquake, local media report.
Among those detained are an entrepreneur from the province of Gaziantep and eleven from the province of Sanliurfa, said the Turkish agency DHA.
From Syria, WHO chief announces emergency medical aid
The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in the Syrian city of Aleppo, hard hit by the earthquake, on Saturday.
He must visit several hospitals and accommodation centers with the Minister of Health and the governor of the province, according to the official news agency Sana.
This is the first visit to Syria by a senior UN official since Monday's devastating earthquake at dawn.
He announced the arrival of “
nearly 37 tons of emergency medical supplies.
“
This will contribute to emergency aid to those affected
,” he added, adding that these are the first aids and that more than 30 additional tons are expected to arrive on Sunday.
"
We will continue to support you to bring in more emergency supplies
," he continued.
The director of the WHO also expressed his "
fear
" of the repercussions of the tragedy.
“
Water supply and other services have been affected, people are at risk of diarrheal diseases and other health issues, especially mental health issues
,” he said.
"
Mr. Ghebreyesus' visit is important to see the damage caused by the earthquake as well as the shortage of medical equipment and medicines in hospitals
," said Syrian Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabach.
The almost twelve years of civil war have undermined most of the health infrastructure in Syria, especially in the rebel areas in the north-west of the country.
According to the WHO, almost 50% of health facilities are out of service in the country, while those that are functioning suffer from a lack of equipment, medical personnel and medicines.
Crossing point between Turkey and Armenia opened for the first time in 35 years
A crossing point has been opened on the Turkey-Armenia border for the first time in 35 years to deliver aid to earthquake victims.
Five trucks carrying aid for the victims crossed the Alican crossing point in Igdir province on Saturday, the Turkish Anadolu agency said.
"
Humanitarian aid sent by Armenia has crossed the Margara Bridge on the Armenia-Turkey border and is heading towards the earthquake-affected areas
," Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister tweeted .
Vahan Kostanayna, quoted by Anadolu.
This crossing point was specially opened in 1988 to deliver aid to Armenia which had just suffered an earthquake affecting its capital Yerevan and whose death toll is estimated at between 25,000 and 30,000.
Woman rescued in Turkey after 100 hours under rubble dies
A woman rescued in Kirikhan, Turkey, by a German rescue team after more than 100 hours under the rubble succumbed to her injuries on Saturday, a German NGO said.
"
Our team is in shock and saddened
," said the NGO ISAR Germany, which specializes in assisting victims of natural disasters, on Twitter.
This f
The German team explained on Friday that they had succeeded, while she was still buried, in supplying her with water and fruit juice using a hose.
They had maintained contact with her for several days through a small well.
Aged 40, she was immediately taken care of by doctors on Friday.
“
The rescue was very complicated because it was very narrow
,” Stefan Heine, a spokesperson for the NGO, told AFP on Friday, describing “
a centimeter work using breakers.
“
The woman remained on her stomach for a very long time, very close to deceased relatives
,” he added.
This victim had held out beyond the 72-hour mark, deemed crucial by experts to find survivors under the rubble.