Deaths May Be 8 Times Higher Than Initial Estimates
Urgent Call for Rapid Humanitarian Aid
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed that up to 23 million people could be affected by the powerful earthquake that struck T?rkiye and Syria on the 6th (local time).
Adeleheid Marschang, WHO Emergency Response Coordinator, stated at the WHO Executive Board meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland on the 7th (local time), "Considering the impact of aftershocks, up to 23 million people, including 1.4 million children, in T?rkiye and Syria are at risk of being affected." She added, "Syria is in a situation with a significant need for humanitarian assistance." This estimate appears to take into account not only the over 5,000 confirmed deaths and tens of thousands of injuries but also the destruction of homes and buildings, and people who have lost their jobs.
WHO emphasized that humanitarian support plans must consider not only the immediate damage but also potential harm from aftershocks and the recovery process. Catherine Smallwood, Senior Emergency Planner at WHO Europe, warned the day before, "There is a possibility of further collapses," and "there are cases where the death toll increases up to eight times the initial statistics."
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also expressed concern at the board meeting about the likelihood of increasing undisclosed damage. He stressed, "We are particularly worried about areas where earthquake damage information has not yet emerged," and "We need to develop damage projections to identify where we should focus our attention."
WHO reported that it is sending medical kits necessary for trauma treatment and emergency surgery, as well as emergency supplies, to T?rkiye and Syria, and has activated emergency medical personnel networks.
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