Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has defended his government's response to Monday's devastating earthquakes, saying it is impossible to prepare for disasters of this magnitude. Speaking during a visit to the disaster zone, he acknowledged difficulties with the initial response but blamed delays on damaged roads and airports.
More than 12,000 people have been killed in southern Turkey and northern Syria, with rescue efforts continuing as survivors seek food and shelter in freezing conditions. The earthquakes are estimated to have affected about 23 million people, many of them children, according to the charity Save the Children.
Families in some of the worst-hit areas have criticised the slow speed of rescue efforts, saying they have had no help digging to find relatives. The White Helmets group leading rescues in rebel-held areas of Syria say time is running out to save people.
In Syria, a special adviser to President Bashar al-Assad has accused the West of playing politics with aid. Dr Bouthaina Shaaban called for EU and US sanctions to be lifted, claiming Syrians abroad cannot send money to help. She accused the West of only wanting to send aid to the White Helmets, which Syria considers a terrorist group.
US President Joe Biden said aid was being delivered to all areas regardless of who controls the territory, while EU officials insisted sanctions are not hindering humanitarian efforts. Dr Shaaban questioned why western nations treat Syria differently to Turkey, stating: 'It’s not humanity, it’s politics.'
Save the Children warned that the window to get shelter, medical supplies, water and food to the worst-affected areas is rapidly closing. The charity's emergency response team coordinator in Hatay, Turkey, Berna Koroglu, said: 'We need support, and especially psychological first aid support for children, who have watched their homes and schools collapse.'
