CNN
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More than 33,000 people have died in Turkey and Syria since a devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck on Monday. In the freezing conditions, hopes of rescuing more survivors are fading.
The latest figures show 33,181 deaths in both countries.
The death toll in Turkey has reached 29,605, the Turkish Emergency Coordination Center SAKOM said on Sunday.
In Syria, 3,576 dead, including 2,168 in rebel-controlled areas in the northwest, according to the civil defense group White Helmets, and 1,408 in government-controlled areas of Syria, according to Syrian state media. including dead. Citing the Ministry of Health on Saturday.
The White Helmets, which announced the end of search and rescue operations on Friday, told CNN on Saturday that the total number of fatalities is expected to rise further.
A 10-year-old girl named Kudi was rescued after spending 147 hours under rubble in southern Turkey’s Hatay province on Sunday.
In the same area, a 35-year-old survivor identified as Mustafa Sarıgül was released from the ruins of a six-story apartment building after 149 hours.
But reports of these incredible rescues have slowed as time has passed since the earthquake.
Security concerns have also hampered some international search efforts.
Germany’s relief efforts in Turkey, which were halted on Saturday over security concerns, remain suspended “in general” for these reasons, Germany’s Federal Office for Technical Rescue (THW) told CNN on Sunday. Told.
Israeli search and rescue group United Hatzala also announced on Sunday that it would be leaving Turkey after spending six days on the ground because of a “serious security threat”.
United Hatzalah chief executive officer Eli Pollack and vice president of operations Dov Maisel said in a statement: “We have received information about a specific and imminent threat to the Israeli delegation and we are working to ensure the safety of our personnel. We have to think first,” he said.
“We knew there was some risk in sending a team to this part of Turkey near the Syrian border, but we took the necessary steps to mitigate the threat for our life-saving mission. ”said Maisel. He said.
However, some international rescue operations have resumed.
The Austrian Armed Forces Disaster Relief Unit (AFDRU) said rescue dog handlers were again assisting Turkish rescue workers and that Turkish forces were guarding the search area.
The AFDRU said in a statement that the “increasingly difficult security situation” had halted operations early on Saturday, adding that “attacks between Turkish groups have increased.” Later in the day, Austrian Army spokesman Michael Bauer said on Twitter that the team had resumed operations.
82 AFDRU soldiers have been deployed since Tuesday. They are scheduled to leave on Thursday.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said Sunday it was the first group to send teams to provide mental health support to earthquake victims in Syrian shelters.
“Among the tens of thousands of victims of the devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria, hundreds of children are suffering in hospitals and shelters without families or homes,” the group published. I have read the statement.
“The children have been through a difficult time since the disaster. Some of them miraculously survived, but after their physical survival, the psychological support team of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society are working for their spiritual survival,” the statement continued.
The group’s psychosocial support team arranged events and activities for those in the shelter, including games for children.
Palestinian teams, along with local volunteers, are providing mental health services to about 300 children and their families in shelters and hospitals.
