Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 10: More than 21,000 people have died in Syria and Turkey and thousands are injured after the massive earthquake. Officials say 17,674 people have died in Turkey and 3,377 in Syria, bringing the confirmed total to 21,051.
Round-the-clock rescue operations are on but snow and rain are adding to the difficulties of the survivors.
Rescue efforts, on the fourth day, are being conducted round-the-clock to save those still trapped under the rubble. Some of the heaviest devastation occurred near the earthquake’s epicentre in Gaziantep, where entire city blocks lay in ruins. Cold, hunger and despair gripped hundreds of thousands of people left homeless.
The government said that nearly 3,000 buildings, including public hospitals, collapsed in seven cities.
Meanwhile, India has initiated ‘Operation Dost’ to help Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of the quakes. Under the operation, India has sent rescue teams, medical teams and other supplies to the two disaster-hit nations.
The United States today announced an initial $85 million package for emergency relief for Turkey and Syria. America said the funding will go to partners on the ground ‘to deliver urgently needed aid for millions of people’ including through food, shelter and emergency health services.
