Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria; Death toll soars past 5,000, Details Here
With many homes destroyed in the earthquakes, families will be displaced and exposed to the elements at a time of the year when temperatures regularly drop below freezing and snow and freezing rain are common, UNICEF has warned.
It warned that schools, hospitals and other educational and medical facilities are likely to have been damaged or destroyed by the quakes, further impacting children. “Potential damage to roads and critical infrastructure will also complicate search and rescue efforts and the wider humanitarian response,” it said.
“The images we’re seeing out of Syria and Türkiye are heart-wrenching,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “That the initial earthquake happened so early in the morning, when many children were fast asleep, made it even more dangerous, and the aftershocks bring continuing risks.” (Agencies)
