Earthquake-related developments in Syria – Day Six
A collapsed building due to the earthquake in the city of Jableh in Latakia countryside, on Syrian coast – North Press
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Rescue teams and local authorities announced on the sixth day after the February 6 earthquake that they would cease searching for survivors in affected areas, as the vast majority of those retrieved from the rubble are now dead bodies. Thousands of people are still living outdoors in accommodation centers, public squares and in their cars, fearing returning to their damaged homes. Idlib, Jinderis, Latakia, Aleppo and Hama have been declared disaster areas.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) estimated that nearly 5.3 million people have been made homeless by the earthquake, added to the 6.7 million already displaced by the war in Syria. Together, this would affect nearly half of the country’s population.
The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, called for an immediate ceasefire in Syria to pave the way for aid be delivered to the earthquake-afflicted areas. For his part, the United Nations’ Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pederson, tweeted that aid for Syrians affected by the earthquake should not be politicized.
The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allotted $25 million to aid earthquake response in Syria.
Figures
Based on information obtained by North Press from on-the-ground sources in different Syrian regions, 3.995 people have been killed and 7.005 others have been injured by the earthquake.
In areas held by the Syrian government, 1.768 deaths and 3.790 injuries have been verified; while in areas under the control of opposition forces, 2.221 deaths and 3.150 injuries were reported.
At least 903 buildings have collapsed, while more than 2.000 others have been partially damaged. Local authorities in all areas are trying to evacuate all damaged buildings and raze dilapidated ones to avert further deaths.
Officially, the Syrian government confirmed 1.387 deaths and 2.226 injuries, while the Syrian opposition’s Civil Defense in northwest Syria stated that there were 2.166 deaths and 2.950 injuries. The number is still on the rise on both sides.
The general situation
Syrian government areas
In areas under the control of Syrian government forces, 5.558 were either killed or injured. Search operations for survivors in Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Tartus and the countryside of Idlib continue.
People in these areas are still living outdoors, either in public squares, in their cars, or in accommodation centers that have been built to this end. Lack of diesel in areas under the control of the Syrian government has placed an additional burden on residents. People in cities and towns are trying to take shelter in the countryside, fearing aftershocks or new earthquakes. A large number of buildings have been damaged by cracks.
The Civil Defense of the government of Aleppo announced the end of the search for survivors in the governorate, as authorities have begun razing damaged or dilapidated buildings. On Friday, two damaged buildings collapsed in Maysaloun. Two others collapsed in Bustan al-Zahraa on Saturday. Both neighborhoods are in Aleppo.
Aid and assistance continue to arrive to areas under the control of the Syrian government. Recently, rescue teams and humanitarian aid has arrived from Pakistan and India, adding to aid delivered from Lebanon, Algeria, Iraq, Egypt, Russia, Iran, Tunisia and Venezuela. Local initiatives have also been launched. Syrian authorities allowed for aid to be sent to opposition-held areas.
The amount of aid delivered rose in the wake of the US’ decision to ease the sanctions it imposed on government-held parts of the country for a period of 180 days. The value of the Syrian lira in comparison to the US dollar noticeably rose as a result.
However, locals’ lack of confidence in the Syrian government limits the effectiveness of popular aid fundraising campaigns. Some fear corrupt officials will stuff their donations in their pockets. Employees of the Syrian government were asked to donate aid and material goods, such as clothes and food products.
Opposition-held areas
On Friday, the opposition’s Civil Defense in northern Aleppo and Idlib declared an end to search and rescue operations, as teams begin to retrieve bodies and remove rubble. The earthquake has claimed 5.371 victims in this area and made nearly 7.000 people homeless.
On Friday, the first batch of aid entered areas under the control of the opposition from Turkey. It was sent by the Erbil-based Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF), which is connected to the Kurdistan Regional Government. The convoy was made up of 14 humanitarian aid trucks. On Thursday, an aid convoy was sent by the United Nations, made up of six trucks, though they were not related to the UN’s emergency response. Through the same border crossing, 900 bodies of Syrians who died in the earthquake in Turkey were delivered to the country.
Until today, the Interim Government has rejected for the aid provided by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) to pass into its areas. Oil tankers still await to pass to northwest Syria at an internal checkpoint near Manbij.
The city of Jinderis is one of the most affected areas. The death toll is remarkably high and most of the city has been reduced to rubble.
AANES
The AANES has attempted to raze all buildings damaged by the earthquake. On Friday, a number of aftershocks hit northeast Syria, which made locals rush to accommodation centers. A large number of buildings in northeast Syria have been damaged by the earthquake and aftershocks.
Under the AANES’ “For the Sake of Humanity” campaign, a number of tents have been installed in cities and town in North and East Syria to collect monetary and material donations to be sent to areas hit by the earthquake in northwest Syria.
The AANES has received 24 bodies of victims who died during the earthquake in Turkey. Although there is an active state of emergency in the region, and despite ongoing security operations by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, the Islamic State (ISIS) has mounted fresh attacks in northeast Syria.
Humanitarian situation
The earthquake deprived tens of thousands people of food, shelter, safety and healthcare.
Those Syrians need urgent international support, including food, medical supplies and financial assistance, as well as rescue teams. There is no way to deliver the needed amount of aid, except through the Syrian government’s airports.
Thus, the UN Security Council and other UN agencies should concentrate on finding other avenues to deliver aid to Syria. Opening border crossings that are outside of the government control is one of the best ways to provide the needed support.
Concerned authorities and organizations have to strive to help the affected people and provide the required psychological and financial support, as well as taking special care to find appropriate shelter for affected children.