The combined death toll of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has now surpassed 41,000, with tens of thousands more injured and hundreds of thousands displaced. Across the region, rescue personnel continue to search for survivors. “People everywhere on the streets. The weather is absolutely freezing. They don’t have anywhere to go,” reports Wafaa Sadek, our country director, to ABC News. “The children are screaming. Adults screaming. The situation is very, very bad.”

International Medical Corps is responding with critically needed services in both countries.

In Syria, infrastructure and essential services had already been decimated after nearly 12 years of conflict. Before the earthquakes, some 30% of health facilities were non-functional. In the aftermath of Monday’s earthquake, International Medical Corps’ priority is the stabilization and support of functional health facilities through the delivery of urgently needed supplies. Yesterday, we delivered 15 metric tons of essential medicines and medical supplies, including cholera kits. We are also deploying five mobile medical units (MMUs) equipped to provide emergency and primary health services to around 1,000 patients a wee, to the heavily impacted areas of Aleppo, Hama and Lattakia.

In Turkey, near the Syrian border, the total destruction of two hospitals is severely limiting local access to emergency trauma care. In addition, a huge number of displaced people living in temporary camps and shelters need food, water, and other essential non-food items such as blankets, jackets, hand sanitizer, and sanitary pads. We continue to work closely with a local partner to address priority needs.

More information, updates, and ways to get involved and help are available on our website https://internationalmedicalcorps.hr/.