The quake also caused buildings to collapse in Turkey, where the government reported at least 912 people dead and more than 5,300 injured. In areas held by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government, 326 were killed and more than 1,000 wounded, according to state media, mostly in Latakia, Hama, Aleppo and Tartus.
In northwestern Syria, buildings have already been extensively damaged during nearly 12 years of fighting.
“What makes it more dangerous is that the bombardment has affected buildings,” said a White Helmets representative, speaking on condition of anonymity, referring to the bombing of rebel-held areas in accordance with the group’s policy. The infrastructure is almost destroyed.” The Syrian government and its ally Russia.
The group, which works in rebel-held Syria, says it is also facing difficulties accessing areas damaged by heavy rains and snow. Its teams are facing closed roads and expecting heavy rain storms. They are calling on the international community to pressure Assad and Moscow not to bomb the area.
The region, controlled by militant opposition groups, is home to about 4.5 million people — and nearly all, 4.1 million, are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.
Half the population has migrated many times, from other places. Large numbers live in tent camps or rickety settlements, often built among olive groves or on harsh, barren land. Many people live in bombed-out buildings that were abandoned during the war.
The region also does not have enough doctors – which is especially evident during disasters – and many of its hospitals and health centers have been destroyed. Hospitals have been repeatedly bombed by airstrikes by Assad’s forces or his Russian allies, who often provided air cover during the war.
On Monday, the Syrian American Medical Society, which supports 36 facilities in northwestern Syria, said four of its hospitals were damaged and evacuated.
“The conditions in our hospitals are catastrophic,” he said via WhatsApp. A video posted on social media According to society officials, who The Washington Post was not able to immediately confirm, the emergency ward of Bab al-Hawa hospital in the northwest of the country was crowded with medical workers and civilians.
The group said in a statement Monday that victims were filling the hallways, and there were insufficient trauma equipment and supplies to rescue survivors or treat the injured.
A parallel rescue operation was underway in government-held areas on Monday morning. According to a post on his official Telegram channel, Assad called an emergency meeting and ordered the cash-strapped government to distribute food and medical aid to the needy, as well as stabilize damaged buildings across the country. Also review
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