Germany Pledges More Aid to Quake Victims in Syria

Germany has promised to increase aid for people in northern Syria affected by deadly earthquakes in early February.

"Even though the (Syria's) Assad regime is putting one obstacle after another in the path of the aid organizations: We will not leave the people there alone," Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told German mass-market weekly Bild am Sonntag.

Baerbock spoke of the mothers, children, and grandparents who were caught up in more than 10 years of war - many forced to flee multiple times - only to now have to mourn loved ones who lay under the rubble.

"They now lack even the most basic necessities for survival: a roof over their heads, clean drinking water, something to eat, and medicine. That is why we are once again increasing our aid to the region by over €22 million," around $23.5 million, Baerbock told the Sunday edition of the Bild newspaper. That brings Germany's aid for Syria to just under €50 million.

Strong earthquakes hit southeastern Turkiye and northern Syria on February 6, causing thousands of deaths and widespread damage. Over 46,000 people are confirmed dead, while many are still believed to be missing.

On Sunday, the UN mentioned that the earthquakes affected some 8.8 million people in Syria.

The UN's deputy envoy to Syria, Najat Rochdi said the majority of those affected needed "some form of humanitarian assistance" and that the UN was "fully committed to doing more to help all Syrians".

UN deputy envoy to Syria Najat Rochdi said that the majority of those impacted were in need of "some form of humanitarian assistance," and that the UN "is fully committed to doing more to help all Syrians."