The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.8, followed by more than a hundred tremors, killed at least 21,719 people, including 18,342 in Turkey and 3,377 in Syria, according to the latest official reports, published on Friday 10 FEBRUARY. On both sides of the border, thousands of homes were destroyed. Rescuers are stepping up their efforts to search for survivors, even though the crucial first 72-hour window to find survivors has closed. The situation is further aggravated by freezing cold. Follow our live.
90 tons of German material. Germany is sending 90 tons of material by plane to Turkey, the government announced on Friday. “Three A400M military aircraft left on Thursday” from Wunstorf air base in Lower Saxony and three more will take off on Friday, the German defense minister said.
The PKK suspends its “operations” in Turkey. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) decided on Friday to suspend its “operations” in Turkey after the earthquake, announced a military official of the group. The PKK, which has been fighting against the Turkish army since 1984, is classified as a terrorist organization by Ankara.
$1.78 billion from the World Bank for Turkey. The institution announced Thursday that it would provide aid of 1.78 billion dollars, or 1.66 billion euros, to Turkey. This aid must primarily help with relief, detailed the World Bank, but also to target needs in terms of reconstruction.
France releases 12 million euros for Syria. This emergency aid will be distributed “in conjunction with non-governmental organizations and the United Nations”and will concern “all affected regions” in the country, whether under the control of the rebels or of Damascus, says a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A first aid convoy to Syria. He was able to enter the rebel areas of northwestern Syria from Turkey on Thursday through the Bab al-Hawa border post. The convoy, made up of six trucks, is carrying blankets, mattresses, tents, relief materials and solar lamps, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Turkish diplomacy said it is working to open two other crossing points “with areas under government control” damask “for humanitarian reasons”.
