Thread by @Charles_Lister

Northwestern #Syria — #Idlib & #Aleppo in particular — have suffered 12yrs of brutal conflict. More than 65% of the basic infrastructure of the area is destroyed or heavily damaged.

Tonight’s earthquake couldn’t have hit a more vulnerable region.

An absolute disaster.

https://twitter.com/charles_lister/status/1622420324020002819

Utterly horrific reports coming from all across NW #Syria - every town I’ve heard from has dozens of buildings flattened. People stuck under the rubble.

Any many, many casualties — including children.

@SyriaCivilDefe will be heroes tonight, working amid heavy rain & sleet.

I’ve heard from x3 hospitals in #Idlib & N. #Aleppo — all are full, every bed taken by emergency cases following tonight’s earthquake.

As rescuers & civilians seek to extract people & belongings from rubble, there’s mass panic about aftershocks.

@SyriaCivilDefe stretched thin.

NW #Syria is home to the world’s biggest & most acute humanitarian crisis — & thanks to #Russia, the international community can provide aid through only one crossing point, to 4.5 million people.

Disaster response isn’t part of that equation & #Assad’s regime won’t give any.

#Turkey has requested international emergency assistance & they should get it ASAP.

But a major global effort needs to mobilize *now* to assist #NW #Syria - a semi-besieged, war-scarred region with 4.5 million of the worlds most vulnerable people.

But it’ll require bold action.

If #Assad’s regime had its way, NW #Syria would be besieged into brutal submission. It opposes *any* humanitarian aid.

An international disaster relief operation would require acting unilaterally — otherwise this population will remain abandoned to fend for themselves. Again.

One single hospital in one town of NW #Syria (in #Atareb) has reported 18 deaths already — per @sams_usa.

At a rough count, I’ve seen ~25 more deaths reported elsewhere, but expect these numbers to rise, I fear considerably.

BREAKING - sustained and very strong aftershock just now at the epicenter of last night’s earthquake in S #Turkey & NW #Syria.

That’s what everyone feared, as rescues continue & structures struggled to stand.

The latest death tolls from #Syria total 850+ dead — but the number is likely to rise markedly, as rescue operations continue apace & that aftershock will have made things a lot worse.

What an unfathomable disaster, amid winter & a spiraling economic collapse.

The Turkish Army, which has 70+ positions across #Idlib, is dispatching rescue teams with heavy equipment to rescue civilians under the rubble.

One source told me “100s” probably “1,000s” are buried under collapsed buildings - many alive & screaming for help.

One @sams_usa hospital in Atareb in W. #Aleppo has reported 89 dead with "many more" serious cases evacuated to Bab al-Hawa on the #Turkey border.

That's from one town, 150km from the epicenter.

@sams_usa This is what remains of an orphanage in #Sarmada, #Idlib -- one young child was killed & 5 injured.

50 others, by some miracle, managed to escape unhurt.

@sams_usa #Turkey death toll has reach 1,121 & 7,634 more wounded. A total of 2,834 buildings have been completely destroyed.

In #Syria, we're looking at 900+ dead, but the rescue efforts are struggling capacity-wise & the infrastructure was far more vulnerable.

What a tragedy.

@sams_usa In #Salqin, #Idlib -- this boy was trapped under the collapsed upper floor of a multi-story building, his body hanging over the edge.

By some miracle, he's been extracted alive.

@sams_usa Here are 2 comments I've heard this morning from NW #Syria, that place this catastrophe in its broader horrific context:

- "Those living in tents are the lucky ones."

- "At least we're not being bombed this time, while we rescue people in the rubble."

@sams_usa Bear in mind that NW #Syria is currently home to ~2.8 million displaced people -- a majority of whom reside in IDP camps.

Most of the camps were already over-capacity, but the scale of destruction caused by this earthquake is going to see camps swell more than ever before.

@sams_usa I'm seeing lots of pledges of international support & disaster relief to #Turkey -- & a #Russia mission to help #Damascus.

But no indication of any international effort to assist the 5 million most vulnerable people in NW #Syria.

Yes it's complex, but it's urgently needed.

@sams_usa This is a residential area on the outskirts of Harem in #Idlib.

24hrs ago, there were 25 separate 5-storey buildings -- but today, it's all rubble.

Locals say 500-700 may have died in Harem, altogether.

@sams_usa "Thousands" of homes have been destroyed in NW #Syria -- meaning 10,000s of civilians are likely now homeless, without any form of shelter.

IDP camps look likely to swell, while they're already far beyond capacity.

Meanwhile, the UN says cross-border aid has been hit hard.

@sams_usa Prior to the earthquake, the UN said cross-border aid into NW #Syria was only 40% funded.

Now the main road leading to Bab al-Hawa has been heavily damaged, which will severely curtail meaningful aid flows.

The displacement & humanitarian crisis is spiraling as you read this.

@sams_usa I just saw a video from #Antakya Hospital in southern #Turkey -- there must have been 100+ dead bodies filling multiple hallways, each covered with blankets.

A complete disaster.

@sams_usa The #HTS-linked Salvation Government in #Idlib has issued a public call for foreign journalists & news channels to "cover the disaster left by the earthquake."

"We affirm our readiness to coordinate & arrange media work for all media outlets & journalists," they say.

@sams_usa The death toll in NW #Syria has risen to 700, with 2,000+ wounded.

@SyriaCivilDefe says "hundreds" more bodies remain stuck under rubble, so this toll will continue to rise.

@sams_usa @SyriaCivilDefe For now, official death tolls suggest 3,000+ have died in #Turkey & #Syria combined.

The @WHO just said it's possible 20,000 may have been killed by the earthquake.

Meanwhile, NGOs in NW #Syria have confirmed Bab al-Hawa -- the only aid crossing -- is currently 100% inactive.

@sams_usa @SyriaCivilDefe @WHO To my knowledge, every single hospital in NW #Syria is now over capacity.

Evacuation of critical patients to #Turkey was ended overnight.

The White Helmets are running out of diesel to operate heavy equipment.

IDP camps taking in a mass of newly homeless, displaced people.

@sams_usa @SyriaCivilDefe @WHO When #Russia periodically threatens to end cross-border aid access into NW #Syria, the UN & NGOs warn of an "unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe."

Well, now we have no cross-border aid access AND a catastrophic earthquake, mass destruction & 1,000s of casualties IN WINTER.

@sams_usa @SyriaCivilDefe @WHO A major aftershock just hit southern #Turkey & NW #Syria -- described by locals as equivalent in severity to the first two earthquakes.

It's dark now, very cold & raining.

@sams_usa @SyriaCivilDefe @WHO I don't think we've come anywhere close to hearing the scale of the tragedy in NW #Syria.

Rescue personnel say 733 dead -- but in countless towns, locals are reporting 100s of bodies stuck under rubble.

In Jindires alone, locals say 600-800 are buried (via @SchoenbornTrent).

@sams_usa @SyriaCivilDefe @WHO @SchoenbornTrent As if to make matters worse, pro-#Assad forces appear to have just shelled the opposition-held town of Marea in northern #Aleppo.

The town was hit hard by the earthquake & people are still being rescued.

This child’s entire family were killed in the earthquake — and by some miracle, she survived, but left an orphan.

Born into a 12yr-old war & confronted with the ugly reality this world can represent.

No more words.

Imagine living through 12yrs of horrendous, brutal conflict — like #Ukraine every year, 12 times, with chemical weapons too — then as things calm just slightly, you get hit by a catastrophic earthquake that flattens the little that survived the last decade.

That’s NW #Syria.

Remarkable footage, as 3 young children & their father are rescued from the rubble of their home in NW #Syria.

Absolute heroes, @SyriaCivilDefe.

This baby girl was born under the rubble of her home in #Afrin in NW #Syria — rescuers discovered her this afternoon, still attached by her umbilical cord to her mother, who had tragically died.

I mean, there are no words.

So, #UAE, #Algeria, #Tunisia, #Egypt, #Jordan & #Saudi have all pledged aid to #Syria.

To my knowledge, it'll all be delivered to #Damascus.

That means nothing will get to the northwest, where 4.5 million people are completely alone & cut-off.