By John Okeke
More than 5,000 people has been killed following a huge earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria even as international aid effort is being stepped up.
Rescuers are racing to save people trapped beneath the rubble after thousands of buildings collapsed in both countries.
In northern Syria people trapped beneath the rubble are calling out for help but there is almost no one to respond to their calls.
The 7.8 magnitude quake struck near Gaziantep in the early hours of Monday while people were asleep.
A 7.5-magnitude tremor then hit at around 13:30 local time (10:30 GMT), which officials said was “not an aftershock”
The country’s disaster agency says more than 3,419 people were killed in Turkey alone after the first quake, and more than 15,000 were injured.
Also, more than 1,600 people are reported to have died in Syria.
Countries including the US and South Korea are sending aid after Turkey issued an international appeal for help
We’re beginning to hear just how many people could be affected by these earthquakes, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that as many as 23 million people across Turkey and Syria “are exposed”.
This includes around over one million children, WHO’s senior emergencies officer Adelheid Marschang told the UN health agency’s executive committee earlier.
Issues are already cropping up in Syria, which felt the effects of both quakes, with the flow of critical UN aid from Turkey being blocked due to damage on roads.
“This is a crisis on top of multiple crises in the affected region,” Marschang said of Syria, adding the country’s needs are high after “nearly 12 years of protracted, complex crisis, while humanitarian funding continues to decline”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announces a three-month state of emergency across 10 provinces worst affected by Monday’s devastating earthquakes.
Meanwhile, Nigeria and other World leaders have continue to offer their support and condolences to Turkey and Syria.
In a statement made available to THE AUTHORITY and endorsed by Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca K. Omayuli (Mrs), said ,”
The Federal Government of Nigeria commiserates with the Government and people of the Republic of Türkiye over the devastating earthquakes that occurred in the South Eastern part of the country on 6th February, 2023, resulting in the death of thousands of people in the affected areas.
“Nigeria stands in solidarity with Türkiye in these trying times and pledges its readiness to assist in any way possible.”
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to express his sympathy on the death of thousands of people and wished recovery for the injured, Turkey’s Directorate of Communications said in a statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also conveyed his condolences to Erdogan.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke with Syria’s Bashar al-Assad offering his full support for earthquake relief efforts, Egypt’s presidency has said.
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FG condemns the killing of Nigerian pilgrims in Burkina Faso
By John Okeke
The Federal Government has condemned the killing of Nigerian travellers unidentified gunmen on 1st February, 2023 between Kantchari and Fada N’gourma in Eastern Burkina Faso.
This was contained in a statement made available to THE AUTHORITY and endorsed by Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca K. Omayuli (Mrs).
“The Federal Government of Nigeria received with grave concern, disturbing reports of the gruesome killing of some Nigerian travellers by yet to be identified gunmen on 1st February, 2023 between Kantchari and Fada N’gourma in Eastern Burkina Faso.
“The Nigerians who belonged to the Tijjaniya Sect, were said to be travelling to Senegal on a periodic pilgrimage when the tragic incident occurred.
“The Nigerian Government is deeply dismayed by this unfortunate development and is engaging with the Burkinabe authorities through the Nigerian Mission in Ouagadougou to ensure a thorough investigation of the incident, with a view to bringing the culprits to book, ” it said.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria condoles with the families of the affected persons and enjoins Nigerians to remain calm while investigation is ongoing,” the statement added.
