Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces devastated by two earthquakes that have killed more than 5,200 people, Reuters reports .
The President said that 54,000 tents and 102,000 beds have been sent to the affected areas. At the moment, more than 53,000 rescuers are working in the earthquake zone. He also added that at the first stage, 100 billion liras (about $5.3 billion) were allocated for emergency assistance.
Meanwhile, residents of the affected Turkish cities are angry at the slow response of the authorities to what happened. According to the representative of the United Nations, thousands of children may be under the rubble.
Numerous videos of destruction and analysis of rubble are published on social networks. Some of the bottoms show children found alive and rescued. The 7-year-old girl kept her hand on her little brother's head to protect him as they lay under the rubble for 17 hours.
It was possible to find and save a 5-year-old girl who spent 37 hours under the rubble in Turkey.
Turkish Airlines operated 80 flights, delivering almost 12,000 volunteers to the earthquake zone who volunteered to help clean up the rubble. Volunteers in different countries collect humanitarian aid.
Turkish organizations helping the victims of the earthquake are now accepting donations, which can be made in liras, euros and dollars. Here is a list of some organizations:
- AFAD is the Turkish state emergency agency. Donation details can be found here .
- AKUT is a non-governmental volunteer organization that helps in the search and rescue of people. Donation details can be found here .
- The Turkish Red Crescent is a medical care organization that is part of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Requisites for translation here or on this page .
List of organizations in Syria:
- UNICEF. Volunteers of the organization help the victims in Syria and accept donations for the victims and children who have lost their parents. Donation details are here .
- International Committee of the Red Cross. Donation details are here .
- Doctors Without Borders. Medics are working in northern Syria, treating the wounds of the victims and helping hospitals. Donation details are here .
- The Union Of Medical Care And Relief Organizations is a non-governmental organization that helps with healthcare in regions of Syria that are not controlled by official Damascus. Donation details are here .
The 7.8 magnitude quake struck near the Turkish city of Gaziantep, a key industrial center near the Syrian border, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The tremors were also felt in Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus and Israel. Later there was a second earthquake of magnitude 7.5 and dozens of weaker aftershocks.