IRC warns of "catastrophic humanitarian needs" in wake of earthquake
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February 7, 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake news

By Tara Subramaniam, Sana Noor Haq, Christian Edwards, Ed Upright, Aditi Sangal, Leinz Vales, Mike Hayes, Tori B. Powell and Elise Hammond, CNN

Updated 12:03 a.m. ET, February 8, 2023
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11:25 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

IRC warns of "catastrophic humanitarian needs" in wake of earthquake

From CNN’s Mostafa Salem

Earthquake survivors sit sheltering in a tent the day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast in Hatay, Turkey, on February 7.
Earthquake survivors sit sheltering in a tent the day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast in Hatay, Turkey, on February 7. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is warning of “catastrophic humanitarian needs” in both Syria and Turkey and appealing for critical funds and lifesaving support for those affected “before it is too late," after the massive 7.8 magnitude quake that devastated the region, an IRC statement said Tuesday.

"With the response in its infancy the need for humanitarian aid is stark ... Even before the earthquake, humanitarian access was constrained in northwest Syria, with most aid coming in via one crossing-point with Türkiye. In this time of increased need it is critical that the levels of aid crossing also increase at pace too," IRC Syria Country Director Tanya Evans said in the statement.  

The IRC is also appealing to the international community to urgently increase funding to both Syria and Turkey to ensure that those affected will get the “lifesaving support they need before it is too late,” the IRC statement said.

The IRC is launching its earthquake response to both countries which will include provisions of cash, basic household items, dignity kits for women and girls and hygiene supplies.  

IRC will also support partners to provide essential health surfaces and safe spaces for women and children affected by this crisis.

10:58 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

Norwegian Red Cross in Syria says discussions underway to open aid corridor to rebel-held areas

From CNN's Katharina Krebs and Chris Liakos

There are discussions underway to open aid corridors from government-controlled parts of Syria to rebel-held areas following Monday’s powerful earthquake, Mohammad Hammoud, Syria country manager at the Norwegian Red Cross, told CNN on Tuesday.

Speaking to CNN’s Max Foster earlier today, Hammoud said he hopes that with the help and efforts from humanitarian communities, this would happen “in the coming days.”

“Currently, nothing has moved there, but there are discussions about moving aid and access to these areas,” he said.

When asked if the Syrian government in Damascus has been helpful to areas out of its control following the earthquake, Hammoud said: “They have stated that they are open to cross-line intervention, meaning from government-held areas to non-government-controlled areas.”

Earlier today, the head of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent – which describes itself as an independent and volunteer-based humanitarian organization – said that the organization is ready to “immediately” send aid convoys to rebel-held areas, including Idlib, through the United Nations. 

Hammoud added that the humanitarian situation is worsening. “We are in a race against time," he said, speaking from Damascus.

Describing rescue and search operations, Hammoud said that due to the lack of machinery most of the work on clearing rubble is done by hand while the cold weather conditions are not helping.

"The buildings are already weakened because of eleven years of war," Hammoud told CNN.

9:14 p.m. ET, February 7, 2023

How countries and companies are helping Turkey and Syria

From CNN staff

Earthquake survivors cry on the street in Hatay, Turkey on February 07.
Earthquake survivors cry on the street in Hatay, Turkey on February 07. (Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Countries, companies and non-profits are committing aid to the regions and people impacted by Monday's powerful earthquake. Here's what we know so far:

  • Egypt offered relief assistance to Syria in the wake of the deadly earthquake, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency spokesman on Tuesday. On Monday, the Egyptian foreign ministry tweeted Egypt is sending urgent relief aid to both countries.
  • Amazon has announced that it will help victims of the Turkey earthquake by donating food, medicine and equipment from its Istanbul warehouse. The retail giant, which has almost 2,000 employees in Turkey, said in a statement Monday that it had activated its "disaster relief capabilities" and was preparing to donate relief items, including blankets, tents, food, baby food and medicines. It expects the first shipments to depart from its fulfillment center in the country's capital Wednesday.
  • Indonesia also announced aid to Turkey, according to the reporting of Indonesian state media Antara, which also reported that Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin highlighted the urgency of dispatching humanitarian aid to Turkey to return the support granted by the country to Indonesia during their times of need over major natural disasters in the past. Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Lalu Muhammad Iqbal was also reported saying that the first batch of humanitarian aid, in the form of a freight container full of foods, is currently on its way from Ankara to Gaziantep, one of the most-affected cities after the earthquake.
  • Ukraine will send 87 emergency staff workers to Turkey to assist with relief efforts, the Ukrainian cabinet minister announced on Tuesday.  The 87 rescuers are part of a search and rescue detachment of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
  • The self-ruled island of Taiwan increased its donation to Turkey from $200,000 to $2 million, its foreign ministry announced. Taiwan has also dispatched more than 130 rescue workers to assist.
10:50 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

Ukraine to send 87 emergency staff to Turkey, government says

From CNN's Kostan Nechyporenko, Maria Kostenko and Lauren Kent

Ukraine will send 87 emergency rescue staff to Turkey to assist with relief efforts, following the deadly earthquake, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers announced on Tuesday. 

The 87 rescuers are part of a search and rescue detachment of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed condolences to the Turkish people on Tuesday in a call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

"I expressed condolences over the tragedy that befell the 🇹🇷  [Turkish] people due to the earthquakes. I informed of the decision to send a group of rescuers and equipment from 🇺🇦 [Ukraine] to 🇹🇷 [Turkey] to help in overcoming the aftermath. They will soon arrive in 🇹🇷 ]Turkey's] affected regions," said Zelensky in a tweet about his conversation with Erdogan.

Meanwhile, in Kyiv, people placed flowers and candles at the Turkish Embassy on Tuesday to pay respects to the victims of the earthquake. 

10:13 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

UNESCO says it is ready to provide assistance after earthquake damaged cultural sites

From CNN's Chris Liakos

Rescue teams search through the wreckage of collapsed buildings in Aleppo, Syria, on February 7.
Rescue teams search through the wreckage of collapsed buildings in Aleppo, Syria, on February 7. (Omar Sanadiki/AP)

UNESCO, the United Nation’s cultural organization, says it will provide assistance following cultural site damage in Turkey and Syria due to Monday’s powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

Following an initial survey of damages, UNESCO said that it is “particularly concerned about the situation in the ancient city of Aleppo, which is on the List of World Heritage in Danger.”

It added that significant damage has been noted in the citadel. 

“The western tower of the old city wall has collapsed and several buildings in the souks have been weakened,” UNESCO said.

In the Turkish city of Diyarbakır, the agency lamented the collapse of several buildings. The city is home to the World Heritage site Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape, which is "an important centre of the Roman, Sassanid, Byzantine, Islamic and Ottoman periods,” according to the UNESCO press release.

The organization says it is mobilizing experts to establish a precise inventory of the damage “with the aim of rapidly securing and stabilizing these sites.”

10:49 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

“We are in a race against time,” Syrian humanitarian worker says

From CNN's Christian Edwards

Mohammad Hammoud, Syria country manager at the Norwegian Red Cross, told "CNN This Morning" that rescue searches face an “urgent” scramble to find survivors and “provide them with life-saving aid.”

“The lack of machinery to move the collapsed buildings means that most of the work is done by hand. We are mainly reliant on manpower,” Hammoud said, speaking from Damascus.

Hammoud continued to explain the struggles that rescue operations face in Syria.

“We have a lack of fuel. Some of the ambulance services have stopped working. We are trying now to find a way to get fuel into the country,” he said.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent has called for “cross-line” support, to enable resources to be sent from government-controlled parts of the country, like Damascus, to the rebel-controlled northwestern region, which has been worst hit by the earthquake.

“Currently, nothing has moved there, but there are discussions about moving aid and access to these areas,” Hammoud said. He hopes resources can be sent “in the coming days.”

In the meantime, his organization has been providing aid to survivors, while rescue efforts continue.

“We have been trying to support with blankets, mattresses and some shelter equipment," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of people face the threat of becoming homeless in the coming months and days, because of the weaknesses of the buildings after 11 years of war.”
10:11 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

941 buildings collapsed in Turkish city of Kahramanmaras, interior minister says

From CNN's Hande Atay Alam 

People sit next to a fire near the site of a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, on February 7.
People sit next to a fire near the site of a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, on February 7. (Suhaib Salem/Reuters)

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Tuesday that there are 941 buildings totally collapsed in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region on Monday.

Soylu said this number does not include the damaged buildings but only the buildings that totally collapsed in the city. 

10:06 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

Syria's White Helmets continue rescue operations despite "great difficulties and aftershocks"

From CNN's Hira Humayun

Civilians and White Helmets members work to save people trapped beneath a destroyed building in Harem, Syria, on February 7.
Civilians and White Helmets members work to save people trapped beneath a destroyed building in Harem, Syria, on February 7. (Anas Alkharboutli/picture-alliance/dpa/AP)

Syria’s volunteer organization the White Helmets — also known as Syria Civil Defense — is continuing rescue operations in opposition-held northwest Syria despite “great difficulties and aftershocks,” they said in a tweet on Tuesday.

“Our teams continue rescue operations amid great difficulties and aftershocks,” the group said.

According to the group, more than 900 people in northwest Syria have been killed in the earthquake, and that number is expected to rise.

9:51 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

CNN on the ground: Rescue workers try to extract trapped people they heard under the rubble

CNN was on the ground in Gaziantep, Turkey, where workers were trying to rescue people they heard under the rubble.

First, the workers asked everyone on the scene to be quiet so they could try to listen as they look for people to extract. After some observation, they called for water and resumed the generator to provide power for the machinery they were using for this extraction.

"One has to hope that there will be an extraction here — 15, at least, underneath this rubble. In the last few minutes, they have heard the voices of at least three. So this [is] now a live extraction now," CNN's Becky Anderson reported.

Watch the moment: