The quantity is about to extend because the magnitude of the catastrophe turns into clearer, he mentioned, talking throughout a press convention from the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Newest experiences put the demise toll at greater than 33,000, based on worldwide media, with tens of millions extra left homeless.

Ramping up operations

Tedros additionally reported that the Syrian authorities seem open to permitting extra border crossings to ship humanitarian help into the northwest.

Conflict-ravaged Syria is split into areas below the management of the Authorities, opposition forces and armed teams.  

WHO is working throughout all areas affected by the earthquake, which struck on Monday.  

The UN company can also be scaling up operations throughout the nation, together with within the northwest, the place the affect is even worse. 

Greater than 4,300 deaths and seven,600 accidents have been reported there, based on the UN humanitarian affairs workplace, OCHA .

Previous to the earthquake, 4.1 million individuals had been already relying on humanitarian help, and wishes had been at an all-time excessive.

Current developments welcomed 

Tedros pressured the necessity to take response “to the following stage” to achieve all populations who require assist.

He welcomed the choice by the USA to ease sanctions towards Syria within the wake of the tragedy.

“We equally respect the current blanket approval by the Authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic for the UN for cross-line convoys, in addition to measures to extend cross-border entry. We hope this continues,” he mentioned.

The WHO chief reported that he had met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier on Sunday afternoon “who indicated he was open to contemplating further cross-border entry factors for this emergency.” 

Prepared to maneuver

Tedros mentioned he’s ready to maneuver throughout battle strains to northwest Syria.

“We’re on stand-by really,” he informed journalists.  “We will transfer anytime now by means of the shoreline to the northwest.  Based mostly on the blanket allow, we’ve already permission from this facet. We’re ready now to listen to from the opposite facet. As quickly as we get that we’ll cross to the northwest.”

After the earthquake struck, WHO instantly accessed its pre-positioned provides within the northwest and Aleppo, thus making therapy of main accidents attainable. Workers additionally started distributing provides to well being amenities.

Responding to wants

Tedros arrived in Syria on Saturday, the place WHO and companions have to date distributed 110 tonnes of medical provides to affected areas throughout the nation. 

A flight is scheduled to reach in Damascus on Sunday evening with very important specialised emergency well being provides for frontline staff.  

The UN company is also supporting surge capability of frontline specialised medical groups.

Cascading crises

The earthquake is the newest disaster to hit Syria, following the continuing battle, the COVID-19 pandemic, cholera outbreaks, and financial decline.

Twelve years of struggle have “pulverized” the healthcare system, mentioned Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO Emergencies Director.   Previous to the earthquake, simply 50 per cent of well being amenities had been functioning, however the true affect is way larger.

“Not solely bodily injury to the infrastructure itself however the exodus of well being staff, the lack of salaries, lack of coaching,” he mentioned.  “It is simply that demise by a thousand cuts to the system.”

‘An unfolding tragedy’

The WHO chief expressed deep respect and admiration for the survivors, first responders and well being staff, although pointing to the immense wants they face.

Nationwide and worldwide organizations, but additionally neighbours, mosques, church buildings and neighborhood teams, have been racing to ship all the pieces from meals, clear water and medical care, to a protected area for individuals to sleep.

Tedros was in Aleppo on Saturday and visited a WHO-supported cell well being clinic distributing medicines to individuals with circumstances resembling complications, anxiousness and problem sleeping

“WHO and different organizations have educated neighborhood staff to supply fast psychological well being assist, however rather more is required,” he mentioned.

Whereas within the metropolis, Tedros met a younger lady known as Nour, who misplaced her dad and mom and suffered a damaged arm when their six-storey condo constructing collapsed, noting that she “is only one instance of an unfolding tragedy that has effects on tens of millions”.

Cross-border help 

The UN’s high humanitarian official continues his mission within the area, OCHA reported on Sunday.

Emergency Aid Coordinator Martin Griffiths travelled to the Turkish facet of Baba Al-Hawa, the one remaining border crossing for UN help supply into northwest Syria approved by the Safety Council.

Mr. Griffiths additionally visited a UN hub in Hatay, the place he witnessed the transshipment and monitoring of 10 vans loaded with help offered by the Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM) previous to setting off to Syria. 

This was the fourth UN cross-border help convoy for the reason that earthquake struck northern Türkiye on Monday, affecting individuals on either side of the border. 

The primary convoy, with six vans, crossed into Syria on Thursday following a three-day momentary disruption from broken key roads. 

A second convoy of 14 IOM vans crossed on Friday, adopted by a 3rd the following day comprised of twenty-two vans containing medicines, cholera check kits, blankets, hygiene kits  photo voltaic lamps and different reduction gadgets.

OCHA mentioned aftershocks are reportedly persevering with in northwest Syria, forcing individuals to maintain fleeing their properties. 

Civil protection groups concluded search and rescue operations on Saturday and have moved onto eradicating particles and recovering our bodies, nevertheless efforts are being hampered by gasoline shortages and a scarcity of equipment and autos.

‘Put politics apart’: UN Envoy

In the meantime, the UN Particular Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, arrived in Damascus on Sunday on a pre-planned go to.

He affirmed that humanitarians will do all they will to entry everybody who wants assist, and underlined his efforts to rally assist.

“We’re reaching out in fact to bilateral international locations, we’re mobilizing funding and we’re making an attempt to inform everybody put politics apart. This can be a time to unite behind a typical effort to assist the Syrian individuals,” he mentioned.

Mr. Pedersen additionally pressured the necessity for crossline and cross-border entry.  “I am in shut contact with the UN humanitarian household, we’re working collectively to attempt to mobilize this assist and that in fact is my key message throughout this go to to Syria.”