The Director‑General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said on Tuesday that aftershocks, severe winter conditions and damage to roads, power supplies, communications and other infrastructure continue to hamper access and search‑and‑rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria. Speaking at the 152nd session of the Executive Board on the earthquake, he announced that WHO is dispatching three charter flights to both countries with medical supplies, including major surgical trauma kits.
A 7.8‑magnitude earthquake devastated Turkey and Syria early Monday, killing an estimated 5,000 people, injuring thousands more and reducing many buildings to rubble. It is the largest and deadliest quake to hit Turkey in decades. Dr Ghebreyesus expressed that WHO is “shocked and saddened” by the images and reports coming from the affected areas.
Observing a minute’s silence, he said, “All of us extend our deepest sorrow and sympathy to the representatives of both countries here, and to your people.” He invited everyone to stand with him in remembrance of those lost and those still being searched for.
National officials in both countries are leading the search‑and‑rescue operations while anticipating an increased need for trauma care. “It’s now a race against time. Every minute, every hour that passes, the chances of finding survivors alive diminish,” Dr Ghebreyesus warned. He emphasized that the initial focus is on saving lives and treating wounds, especially in areas where information is still lacking. Damage mapping is ongoing to determine where attention is most needed.
WHO is operating on a “no regrets” basis, with incident‑management teams rapidly established at national, regional and global levels. Emergency supplies are being mobilised, and WHO’s network of emergency medical teams has been activated to provide essential health care for the injured and most vulnerable. The three charter flights, departing from the logistics hub in Dubai, will deliver the medical supplies and trauma kits.
“We will work closely with all partners to support authorities in both countries in the critical hours and days ahead, and in the months and years to come as both nations recover and rebuild,” Dr Ghebreyesus said. He concluded, “To our sisters and brothers from Türkiye and the Syrian Arab Republic, we all stand with you in this moment of unspeakable grief. This is a moment when we must come together in solidarity, as one humanity, to save lives and alleviate the suffering of people who have already suffered so much.”
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