More than 37 000 people fell victim to earthquake in Turkey and Syria

The BBC writes about it.

According to data as of Monday evening, more than 37 000 people fell victim to the earthquake in the two countries. However, these are not final numbers.

According to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, 31 643 people have died in the country, while the death toll has reached 5 714 in northwestern Syria, according to the UN.

The United Nations says more than 800 000 people do not have adequate access to food, and warns that the final death toll from the earthquake is likely to double.

Food supplies are running out in both countries. Volunteers in the southern Turkish city of Adana told the BBC the list of necessities was huge, with underwear, tents and blankets hard to come by.

Freezing temperatures are expected in Turkey and Syria this week, creating additional challenges for both rescuers and survivors left homeless by the earthquake.

On Saturday, February 11, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said he expected that number to double.

On Monday, during a visit to Aleppo in northern Syria, Griffiths said that the stage of rescue operations is coming to an end, and the authorities will shift their attention to providing those who survived with housing, food and medical care.

Griffiths also said the UN would soon begin sending aid from government-held areas to the rebel-held northwest.

• On February 6, two powerful earthquakes with a seven point magnitude occurred in the southeast of Turkey and the northwest of Syria within a day.