By John Ikani
The United Nations (UN) has admitted failure in delivering crucial aid to war-torn regions in Syria.
It has also warned that the death toll from the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria which currently stands at over 33,000, could double.
The UN’s Relief Chief, Martin Griffiths, stated that despite a convoy of supplies arriving via Turkey, much more aid is needed for the millions of people, whose homes were destroyed.
The UN convoy, consisting of ten trucks, carried supplies such as; shelter kits, blankets, mattresses, and carpets, but the pace of aid delivery has been slow due to the conflict in Syria and the fact that some parts of the country are still under rebel control.
“We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria. They rightly feel abandoned. Looking for international help that hasn’t arrived,” said Griffiths.
Security concerns have led to the suspension of some rescue operations, and arrests have been made for looting and fraud.
An Israeli emergency relief organization suspended its rescue operation in Turkey due to a security threat to its staff.
The United Nations warns that 870,000 people urgently need hot meals across Turkey and Syria, with up to 5.3 million people possibly left homeless in Syria alone.
The World Health Organization, (WHO) has appealed for $42.8 million to cope with the immediate health needs of the 26 million people affected by the earthquake, as dozens of hospitals were damaged.
In Turkey, over 32,000 people from Turkish organizations are working on search-and-rescue efforts, along with 8,294 international rescuers.
However, rescue teams lack advanced search equipment and often have to dig through the rubble with shovels or their bare hands.
The lack of equipment has led to frustration, with Alaa Moubarak, Head of Civil Defense in Jableh, northwest Syria, stating that “hundreds of lives” could have been saved with the proper equipment.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the Security Council to open new cross-border aid points between Turkey and Syria, with a meeting to discuss the situation in Syria, possibly taking place in the coming days.
Meanwhile, anger is growing in Turkey over the poor quality of buildings and the government’s response to the disaster, which is the country’s worst in nearly a century.
Officials have reported that 12,141 buildings were either destroyed or seriously damaged, and police have detained 12 people, including contractors, over collapsed buildings.
The confirmed death toll stands at 33,179, with 29,605 reported deaths in Turkey and 3,574 in Syria.
