The UN has launched an appeal to raise 1 billion dollars to help the victims of the earthquake in Turkey

The UN today launched a three-month $1 billion flash appeal for Turkey so that humanitarian agencies can help more than 5 million people affected by catastrophic earthquakes last weekthe largest to hit the country in a century.

“The people of Turkey have experienced indescribable anguish” said Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, who visited the country last week. “I met families who shared their stories of shock and devastation. We need to be with them in their darkest hours and make sure they get the support they need.”

More than 9 million people in Turkey have been directly affected by this once-in-a-generation disaster, with more than 35,000 people who lost their lives until February 15according to the Turkish government.

Rescuers pull a Syrian migrant from the rubble of a collapsed building in Antioch, southern Turkey (Cem Tekkesinoglu/IAD images via AP)

The earthquakes struck in the depths of winter, leaving hundreds of thousands of people, including young children and the elderly, without access to shelter, food, water, heating and medical care in sub-zero temperatures. Some 47,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged and thousands of people have sought refuge in temporary shelters in Turkey..

Schools, hospitals and other essential services have been damaged or destroyed by the earthquakes. Many families have been separated and hundreds of children are now orphans or unable to find their parents.

Besides, Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees in the world. More than 1.74 million refugees live in the 11 earthquake-affected provincesaccording to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The UN is coordinating the operations of miles of persons of búsqueda and rescue in the provinces of Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya, and the humanitarian organizations han comenzado operations of relief in the areas most affected, in apoyo of the respuesta directed by the government. The United Nations and its partners are delivering hot meals, food, tents, warm winter clothes, blankets, mattresses and kitchen sets to people in need and sending medical supplies and personnel to affected areas. Psychosocial support is provided and child friendly spaces and safe spaces for women are being created.

Funding for today’s new appeal will go to 5.2 million people. The resources will enable humanitarian organizations to rapidly scale up operations to support government-led response efforts in areas such as food security, protection, education, water and shelter.