The death toll from the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria last Monday (6) has reached 22,000, according to the balance sheet released this Wednesday (10). The data is updated as the search progresses.

Number equals population according to IBGS (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) for Porto Belo, a city on the north coast of Santa Catarina.

The earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria this Monday (6) left the city in ruins.

Of the 22,000 victims of the 7.8 earthquake, 19,000 are in Turkey.

WFP (World Food Programme), an agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Rome, requested 403 million reais this Friday (10) to help the approximately 874,000 people affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

“We are talking about providing assistance with food and hot meals to approximately 874,000 people,” the statement said.

Following the devastating earthquake on Monday (6), the organization distributed food to at least 115,000 people in both countries.

“Distribution takes place at several points. First of all, we provide hot, ready-to-eat meals and food packages for families that do not require cooking utensils and can be consumed immediately,” explained Corinne Fleischer, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“For the thousands of people affected by earthquakes, food is now one of the basic needs, and our priority is to quickly get it to those in need,” he added.

The UN agency, which has been working in the affected areas for four days, hopes to be able to help the 284,000 people displaced in Syria and about 590,000 displaced people in Turkey.

WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian organization, has already helped 43,000 people in Syria and 73,000 in Turkey.

Last year, he helped 97 million people in 88 countries who were suffering from severe food insecurity and hunger.

In 2020, the organization received the Nobel Peace Prize “for its efforts to combat hunger and for its contribution to improving peace conditions in conflict-affected areas.”

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© Agence France-Presse