The death toll in the Turkish-Syrian border area continues to rise. More than 28,000 people in both countries lost their lives, at least 3,574 of them in Syria. There is still a lack of everything: emergency services, doctors, medication, drinking water and food. In addition, the rescue work is made more difficult by the lack of equipment and winter weather. In addition, access to the Syrian disaster area is extremely difficult due to the political situation. Northern and north-western regions are particularly affected, meaning people living in many places were already in ruins. The Kurdish Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurd) is pushing for the establishment of security corridors for humanitarian aid deliveries.

The Damascus regime is currently blocking emergency aid from the organization based in the north-east of the country with vital supplies for those affected by the earthquake in the Aleppo and Shehba areas. It is required that at least half of the funds be given to the regime - including an ambulance. Otherwise, no transit permit will be granted.

Political calculations are behind this: the ruler Bashar al-Assad's regime has been using aid deliveries for years to assert its own interests. All other aid organizations active in the areas of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) are also affected by the measure.

Appeal to the UN and other aid organizations

"For this very reason, safe corridors are needed to bring humanitarian aid to the earthquake areas in the north of the country," explained Heyva Sor a Kurd in a statement. Countless people in Aleppo, Shehba and other places are desperately waiting for help and are particularly dependent on medical care. In an urgent appeal to the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, the Kurdish Red Crescent Organization calls for immediate action.