World Health Organization WHO calls last week’s earthquakes in Turkey and Syria the “worst natural disaster in Europe in the last hundred years”. The natural disaster has so far claimed at least 35,000 lives.
“We are witnessing the worst natural disaster in our region in a century and the exact magnitude is still not certain,” says regional director Hans Kluge. Although Syria is not in Europe, the epicenter of the quakes was in Europe, according to the WHO.
According to Kluge, about 26 million people need help. “The needs are huge and growing by the hour.” Due to the cold, poor hygiene and sanitary conditions and the spread of infectious diseases, concerns about health problems are growing.
The WHO, an organization of the United Nations, has classified the affected area in Turkey with Europe. The organization also insists on providing aid between Turkey and Syria and within Syria itself.
Southeast Turkey and northeastern Syria were hit by multiple earthquakes last Monday. The natural disaster caused a lot of damage. More than a week after the earthquakes, survivors are still sporadically found under the rubble, although many rescue efforts have since been halted. Emergency aid is now mainly aimed at providing food, shelter and (psychological) care.
