‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja

 

 

DAILY COURIER – The death toll from the Turkey-Syria earthquakes has passed 21,000. At least 17,674 people have been killed in Turkey, according to Vice President Fuat Oktay, while at least 3,377 are known to have died in Syria.

 

The World Bank has promised $1.78bn to Turkey in relief and recovery assistance.

 

The local and international response in the wake of Monday’s earthquakes have been most complicated in opposition-held Syria, which remains the most isolated of the affected areas.

 

On Thursday, the first UN aid convoy since the quakes passed into the region from Turkey through the Bab al-Hawa crossing. Aid had been slowed by logistical issues and damage to the road connecting Gaziantep to the UN transhipment hub in Hatay.

 

Rights observers have decried the slow trickle of aid to the region amid Syria’s 12-year civil war.

 

Assaad al-Achi, head of the civil society organisation Baytna Syria, told Al Jazeera that the Turkish government has authorised aid to go through two additional crossings, Bab al-Salama and al-Rai, although UN officials have said Bab al-Hawa remains their only approved crossing.

 

Ukrainian rescuers fly in from war zone to help Turkey

 

Ukrainian rescue experts have become all too familiar with emergencies in a war zone.

 

They have now brought their skills to Turkey to search for earthquake survivors. Ukraine sent 88 emergency responders to Turkey on Thursday to help with the disaster. The team includes specialists in search and rescue operations, doctors, dog handlers and firefighters.

 

“There is a war in our country, but we understand that we have to help, and this aid is mutual,” said Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, spokesperson for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

 

Australia deploys search and rescue team, New Zealand donates more money for relief

 

Australia says it has sent a team of 72 people to help with search and rescue efforts in Turkey.

 

The team will have about 22 tonnes of equipment and critical supplies, including tents, bandages, bolt cutters, chainsaws and drills.

 

The team “will make a real difference,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote on Twitter.

 

He noted Australia earlier announced a contribution of $10 million Australian dollars ($6.9m) to the aid efforts.

 

Meanwhile, New Zealand has announced an additional $1.9m towards humanitarian efforts in Turkey and Syria, bringing its total contribution to $2.8m. The new money will go to the World Food Programme in Turkey and UNICEF in Syria.