Humanitarian aid arrives in drops to some areas of Turkey and Syria: snow and war make it difficult for volunteers to access

Emergency teams work hard in Turkey and Syria to try to find survivors of the two earthquakes that have claimed thousands of lives on the border between the two countries. Added to the terrible consequences of the earthquake, which has completely destroyed many roads, is the snow that devastates some of the affected provinces.

The weather conditions are seriously hampering land transport to the most remote parts of Turkey: rescuers have to remove rubble under several centimeters of snowfall and with gloves, and help arrives in drops.

The freezing temperatures further aggravate the situation for possible survivors: “The population is without shelter in spaces with very low temperatures, and this is what needs to be addressed immediately. For example, blankets, mattresses, fuel…”, explained Sandra Ferrer, Plan International Program Implementation Manager.

In Syria, the low temperatures make it necessary to continue the work lighting bonfires between the collapsed buildings. There the war is one more difficultysince the devastated area of ​​the country can only be accessed through a single border post, the one set up by the UN in the area controlled by the rebels.

Thousands of volunteers try to reach the country from Turkey itself and many other countriesbut the airports are in chaos, they are completely overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, the residents of the affected cities ask for urgent help: “Voices are heard. There is no one (helping) here. Nobody. What kind of country is this?” one man tearfully lamented.

Some people have been buried under the ruins for more than 24 hours, but the media have not arrived. “No one has come from the emergency department to tell us: ‘no, do it better that way’. We are doing it all ourselves, without knowing“, another neighbor has snapped.