The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has called on the international community to provide «long-term» support and solidarity to people in Turkey and Syria affected by two devastating earthquakes on February 6.
«We call on the international community to support the people of Syria and Turkey, not only in the coming days, but also in the months and years needed for recovery,» IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said in a statement.
He also recalled that «the level of pain and suffering is immense» and «the need for support is equally enormous». This humanitarian response is not a sprint, it is a marathon,» he stressed.
Specifically, the IFRC on Saturday raised its request for aid to help earthquake victims to 202 million euros (200 million Swiss francs).
It continues to expand international support, with urgently needed relief supplies and resources, as well as shelter, medical and mental health care, food and water.
«The aftermath of the earthquake is total devastation. Buildings, schools, homes and hospitals are destroyed. The most heartbreaking reality is the many thousands still missing and trapped under the rubble. The chances of finding survivors are dwindling. Time is running out fast,» added the IFRC secretary general.
In this regard, he warned that response efforts are «extremely challenging.» «Many roads and other infrastructure have been damaged, limiting access to affected areas. Freezing winter conditions and aftershocks are also hampering these efforts and putting rescuers in considerable danger,» he lamented.
The Turkish Red Crescent and Syrian Arab Red Crescent are at the center of this response with teams that are largely made up of people who come from those same communities and may have lost loved ones and homes, the federation explained.
ACTION ON THE GROUND In Turkey, more than 4,000 staff and volunteers have been deployed in the affected provinces with stocks of food and basic relief items to support the injured and evacuees. In total, its teams have distributed 3.5 million hot meals to people outdoors and in emergency shelters and reached 284,000 people with ready-to-eat packages.
In addition, to meet the growing demand for blood, the Turkish Red Crescent has sent its national blood reserve to the affected regions and is asking the country’s population to donate blood.
In Syria, Syrian Arab Red Crescent teams have been responding with 4,000 volunteers in the most affected areas, including Hama, Aleppo, Lattakia and Tartous, reaching nearly 60,000 people with life-saving support.
Volunteers on the ground have distributed more than 42,000 packages of food, water, basic items and hygiene kits to people, and have been providing services to restore family links.
In addition, Red Crescent National Societies in both Turkey and Syria are providing psychosocial and mental health support to those in need to alleviate distress and refer them to long-term mental health care if necessary.
In Palestinian refugee camps in Syria, Palestine Red Crescent teams are working alongside the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to provide life-saving support, including first aid and food distribution. Their response teams are mainly focused on the Palestinian camps in Aleppo and Latakia, providing ambulances, medical clinics, doctors and volunteers.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
