Emergency teams continue to search and rescue victims of the Turkey-Syria quake. ARCHIVE

Rebel-held north Syria, accessed through new route

An aid convoy entered rebel-held north Syria through a newly re-opened border crossing, where help has been slow since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit the country. After authorities agreed to allow the international organization to use the gate for humanitarian purposes, a caravan of 11 United Nations vehicles entered Syria through the Bab Al Salama border point. The trucks were packed with things needed for humanitarian relief, including carpets, mattresses, and materials for making shelter. Before the earthquake, there was only one crossing through which more than four million people living in rebel-controlled northwest Syria received the crucial humanitarian aid they needed. Only a few survivors were found in the rubble ten days after the disaster. Although search and rescue operations are still ongoing, the priority is already focused on feeding and housing millions of people who are homeless. The UN’s slow response to the earthquake in rebel-held areas has been criticized by activists and local emergency teams, who contrast it with the planeloads of humanitarian aid brought to airports under government control. The United States, which refuses ties with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, urged both the government and the rebels to cooperate for supplies to enter. The UN launched a plea for Dh1 billion to cover three months of "life-saving relief" for victims in Syria, and it is similar to the plan for Turkey. KD/Expat Media
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