The human toll of the powerful earthquake which stood at more than 28,000 dead in Turkey and Syria on Sunday will "
double or more
", warned the head of the UN humanitarian agency, Martin Griffiths.
The latter went to Turkey on Saturday in the city of Kahramanmaras, epicenter of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred on February 6 which killed 24,617 people in the country and 3,574 in Syria, for a total of 28,191 people killed.
"
I think it's difficult to estimate (the toll) precisely because we have to go
under the rubble
, but I'm sure it will double, or more
," he told Sky News.
"
We haven't really started counting the number of dead yet
," said Martin Griffiths.
5.3 million people homeless in Syria
Tens of thousands of rescue workers continue to search the rubble in the freezing cold which adds to the misery experienced by millions of people affected.
The United Nations has warned that at least 870,000 people urgently need hot meals in Turkey and Syria.
Up to 5.3 million are currently thought to be homeless in Syria alone.
Read alsoEarthquake: Austrian army and German rescuers suspend operations in Turkey
Nearly 26 million people have been affected by the earthquake, WHO said on Saturday, appealing for donations of $42.8 million to fund immediate health needs.
Turkey's Disaster Management Agency said more than 32,000 members of Turkish organizations were taking part in the search.
In addition, there are 8,294 rescuers from abroad.
“
Soon the people in charge of search and rescue will give way to the humanitarian agencies whose job it is to take care of the extraordinary number of people affected over the next few months,
” Martin Griffiths also said in a video on Saturday. posted on his Twitter account.
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