The UN has issued an appeal for $397 million (R7.1 billion) in relief for about 5 million earthquake survivors in Syria, emphasizing that the funds will be used for housing, healthcare, and food.
The dead toll surpassed 41,000 on Wednesday, nine days after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck sections of Syria and the Turkish Republic, formerly known as Turkey.
The World Health Organization described the earthquake as the deadliest natural disaster in a century. Turkish officials reported 35,418 deaths, while the United Nations reported 5,800 deaths in Syria.
In the meantime, search and rescue activities continue as a UN convoy carrying humanitarian aid from Turkey crosses the Bab al-Salam crossing. Trained search dogs sought for survivors still buried beneath the concrete layers.
Among the rescue organizations present in the Turkish city of Iskenderun is the Swiss K9 volunteer squad REDOG. REDOG is collaborating with GEA, a local all-volunteer search and rescue organization.
Matthias Gerber, vice chief for search operations at REDOG, told Al Jazeera, “It’s one of the most emotional moments of my life when the dogs alert us that they’ve found people in the rubble.”
»Turkey-Syria earthquake: 41, 000 fatalities and counting«
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