early on Monday, toppling entire apartment blocks, wrecking hospitals, and leaving thousands more people injured or homeless.Under a pile of rubble in the southern province of Hatay, a woman’s voice could be heard calling for help. Nearby, the body of a small child lay lifeless.“They’re making noises but nobody is coming,” he said. “We’re devastated, we’re devastated. My God… They’re calling out. They’re saying, ‘Save us,’ but we can’t save them.
“We barely made it out of the house,” said Neset Guler, huddled around the fire with his four children. “Our situation is a disaster. We are hungry, we are thirsty. It’s miserable.” At least 1 444 people were killed in Syria and about 3 500 injured, according to figures from the Damascus government and rescue workers in the northwestern region controlled by insurgents.
“Everyone is putting their heart and soul into efforts although the winter season, cold weather and the earthquake happening during the night makes things more difficult,” he said. He said 45 countries had offered to help the search and rescue efforts. In Syria, the effects of the quake were compounded by the destruction of more than 11 years of civil war.