The United Nations on Monday expressed its «deep sadness» at the death toll and destruction caused by the earthquake measuring 7.4 on the open Richter scale in the Turkish province of Kahramanmaras, which has left more than 1,600 dead in Turkey and Syria, according to the latest official estimates.
The UN mission in Turkey has expressed regret «for the loss of life and destruction of property» and conveyed its condolences to the families of the victims. «We wish a speedy recovery to the injured,» it has said in a statement, before showing its readiness to deliver aid.
The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Turkey has expressed its «deep sadness» over the «tragic consequences» of the earthquake and conveyed its condolences to the families of the victims.
«UNHCR stands with Turkey at this difficult time and remains committed to supporting the Turkish authorities in responding to this situation,» it said.
The agency’s Syria office has also expressed its «deep sadness» over the «loss of life» and said it is «actively coordinating a response with UN agencies and other humanitarian actors to deliver assistance and support to those in need in Syria.»
Likewise, the UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has expressed «dismay» at the «tragic loss of life and destruction» in both countries. «Condolences to all those affected, including many families who have already suffered greatly and long ago. We are fully engaged in solidarity and support,» his office has said through his account on the social network Twitter.
For its part, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has been «shocked» by «the devastating earthquake» that has hit Turkey and Syria «at the peak of a harsh winter.»
«Our teams are assessing the damage through the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) or search and rescue teams are ready for deployment,» he said via Twitter.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed that more than 1,000 people have been killed and more than 5,300 injured. In addition, Syrian authorities have confirmed about 370 dead and 1,089 wounded in areas under their control, while some 220 people have been killed and about 420 wounded in rebel-held areas in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, in the northwest of the Arab country, as indicated by the Syrian Civil Defense, known as ‘white helmets’.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
