Deadly Earthquake devastates Turkey and Syria, leaving thousands homeless and in dire need of aid"

A powerful earthquake that hit the region three days ago has claimed the lives of over 19,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless across Syria and neighboring Turkey. The United Nations has sent its first aid convoy into opposition-controlled Syria but logistical hurdles such as truck shortages and blocked roads are hampering the efforts of the more than 100,000 rescue personnel. The harsh weather conditions, with sub-freezing temperatures and widespread shortages of heating and electricity, are also making the rescue and aid efforts more challenging.

n Turkey, many survivors are still without heat and electricity along a 200-mile stretch of mountainous terrain, while in northwestern Syria, power outages are creating fuel shortages in hospitals and snowfall is hindering rescue efforts. Urban search and rescue expert, Steve Glassey, warns that the harsh weather will likely compound the challenges for survivors and rescue workers, heightening the risk of further structural collapses and making the logistics of supplying fuel to hospitals complex.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his first visit to the disaster zone yesterday, as the death toll in Turkey rises to 16,170. The government's disaster response has faced mounting criticism, which may complicate Erdogan's quest for re-election in May. On the Syrian side of the border, bereaved family members are waiting in the bitter cold to receive the bodies of their relatives who died in Turkey. Syria has lodged a formal request for aid with the European Union but little such assistance has arrived so far due to the country's ongoing civil war.

Rescue workers in central Kahramanmaras are facing dire conditions as they search for bodies and survivors amidst the rubble of destroyed buildings. Residents have set up camps in a nearby park, sleeping in tents or on mattresses on the ground, and building fires to keep warm and make tea and soup. The devastating earthquake has left a trail of destruction and despair, and aid is desperately needed to help the survivors in their time of need.