UN discusses assisting earthquake-affected Syria, Turkey away from politics
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, UN Information Service (UNIS) hold a hybrid briefing attended by the UN bodies to discuss humanitarian needs and means to help in solving the tragedy of the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday.
On Monday at 4:17 am, Syria and Turkey were rocked by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was located near Gaziantep in Turkey, and killed thousands of people in the both countries.
The victims’ toll of the strong earthquakes in Syria has reached 2.098 dead and 4.106 injured, according to North Press’ Monitoring and Documentation Department.
In Turkey, the deaths have mounted to 6.234 and injuries to 37.011, according the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing that was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the Office for the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Among the attendees were the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria (OSE), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Vellucci stressed that efforts for the time being were focused on search-and-rescue and conducting an assessment and that any humanitarian effect of sanctions that could affect the plight of ordinary Syrians should be alleviated.
The UN Secretary-General confirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting the humanitarian response, according to the UNIS director.
He noted, speaking on the behalf of the Human Rights Council (HRC), the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, in a press release, called for an immediate ceasefire in Syria to allow for the optimal search-and-rescue operations and unfettered humanitarian access to help the affected people.
Jens Laerke, Deputy Spokesperson at OCHA, said two disaster assessment and response expert teams were immediately deployed in Turkey.
Laerke noted that in Syria, which maintain a very robust international presence, humanitarians needed to be allowed to do their work and save lives today away from politics.
He stressed that this tragedy should be seen as a humanitarian crisis and all politicization should be kept away.
The cross-border aid mechanism from Turkey into Syria said Laerke was also affected by the earthquake.
Jennifer Fenton, for the OSE, said the tragic loss of life and massive destruction left by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria made Geir Pedersen, the Special Envoy for Syria, very sad, especially as they are in the middle of winter.
Pedersen reiterated the Secretary-General’s call on the international community to help the thousands suffering from loss, she noted.
Philippe Leclerc, Representative for the UNHCR in Turkey, said some 8,000 people had been rescued in Turkey by the search-and-rescue teams coordinated by AFAD.
Leclerc stressed that Turkish people and Syrian refugees were helped alike with no distinction.
Matthew Saltmarsh, also for the UNHCR, said an appeal for Syria was launched for USD 465 million, the appeal for Turkey stood at USD 348 million.
Saltmarsh added that over 4.1 million displaced people needed support in northwest Syria.
Tamara Alrifai, the UNRWA Director of External Relations and Communications, said 90 percent of Palestinian families across Syria were in need because of the earthquakes and that six Palestinian refugees were killed in Latakia and Neirab as the number is expected to rise.
James Elder, for the UNICEF, stressed that the earthquake was the most powerful to hit the region in almost 100 years as it comes at the worst possible time amid freezing temperatures.
Elder noted that priority in northwest Syria, where many children had already been facing brutal winter, simmering conflict, and cholera outbreak, was to ensure access to clean water and sanitation.
Elder fears that thousands of children might have been killed in the earthquakes as precise numbers have not been available yet.
Tommaso Della Longa, for the IFRC, said that the IFRC launched two appeals to help the two affected countries the first appeal was for CHF 70 million and it grew to CHF 200 million as extent of damage was apparent.
Della Longa added that the Syrian authorities’ capabilities and services were affected by numerous shortages of electricity, fuel and skyrocketing prices as they lack the heavy machinery necessary to properly conduct search-and-rescue.
Ruben Cano, head of the IFRC Delegation in Turkey, said priority was thus to provide temporary housing, including tents, as well as blankets and mattresses amid the freezing winter.
Cano stressed some 1.6 million refugees currently received cash assistance in Turkey.
Margaret Harris, for the WHO, the critical things in Syria was to get clean water and advise people to boil their water, in order to avoid cholera and other water-borne diseases.
David Hirsch, for the ITU, said an emergency telecommunications roster was operated and could be deployed upon the Member States request.