The earthquakes that struck southern Turkey and western Syria on February 6th left over 37,000 dead and over one million people homeless.
Over 1 million are left without homes or living outdoors due to damage to buildings and fears of collapse amid freezing conditions, and many say they feel forgotten by the Turkish government.
Displaced residents near the epicenter said they had set up tents as close as they could to their damaged or destroyed homes to keep it from being looted.
Using the earthquake as cover, at least 20 inmates escaped from Syrian jail holding mostly Islamic State members close to Turkish border.
Turkey and Syria broke off diplomatic ties after Assad responded with force to a 2011 uprising against his rule which turned into a civil war.
The earthquake, just like other natural disasters throughout history, could have an impact on international relations, experts say.
The Assad regime is using the situation to pressure for sanctions relief in exchange for allowing aid to arrive in areas of northwestern Syria.
Over 20 Israeli and Turkish organizations will coordinate to deliver food, medicine, clothing, equipment and more to hundreds of thousands of victims.
A lack of water and sanitation, as well as the frigid temperatures, could continue to cost lives in the regions devastated by the earthquake.
Erdogan faces crescendo of criticism over response • ‘Lack of capabilities’ in war-hit Syria quake zone too
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