The United Nations is fully committed to supporting the response to the earthquake disaster that struck Turkey and Syria, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirmed, following the massive earthquakes which hit southern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday, prompting fears of a humanitarian crisis.
The initial 7.8 magnitude quake struck close to Gaziantep, followed by another 7.5 magnitude earthquake several hours later.
"My heart goes out to the people of Turkey and Syria in this hour of tragedy" the UN Secretary-General said in a statement. "The United Nations is fully committed to supporting the response. Our teams are on the ground assessing the needs and providing assistance."
"We count on the international community to help the thousands of families hit by this disaster, many of whom were already in dire need of humanitarian aid in areas where access is a challenge," the UN chief added.
The UN humanitarian coordinating office (OCHA) underscored that the initial 7.8 magnitude quake hit at the height of winter. The epicentre was in southern Turkey, where nearby Gaziantep - an important UN aid hub for northern Syria - was among the cities affected.
"Deeply saddened by the loss of life caused by this morning's #earthquake," the UN refugee agency in Syria (UNHCR) tweeted, adding that it was "actively coordinating a response with UN Agencies and other humanitarian actors to deliver assistance and support to those in need in Syria".
After an official request for international assistance from Ankara, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) confirmed that it was ready to support the emergency response.
"Our hearts and thoughts are with the children and families in Turkey and Syria affected by the devastating earthquakes. Our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
The UNHCR expressed its solidarity with the peoples of Turkey and Syria, and declared its readiness to assist in providing urgent relief to the survivors through UNHCR field teams wherever possible.
