03:33German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier held a memorial service on Monday for the victims of the devastating earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria occurring two weeks ago.
"Our thoughts are with the survivors in the disaster area. We think of you in Adana, in Gaziantep, and in Urfa. To you in Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, Idlib and Aleppo. To all of you in Turkey and Syria whose cities and dreams of life are in ruins," said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
After holding a minute's silence together with emergency workers and officials, Steinmeier addressed citizens to help victims in both countries.
"Your humanity remains in demand, even when the images from the earthquake zone have long since been replaced by other news. Everyone can help - some less, others more. Some more practically, others more through donations. The important thing is that we do it. That we do it together," he said.
He also appealed to the Syrian government, saying that it did not have the right to block the aid supplies, amid reports of difficulties to reach opposition-controlled areas.
"It is good that the United Nations is now on the ground, that they are blazing trails to those trapped, that they are trying to get aid supplies to where they are needed most. But I appeal today in particular to the political leadership in Syria. Let the aid workers do their life-saving work. No one has the right to block humanitarian aid," he added.
Steinmeier also addressed the people affected by the disaster with the phrase "We are always with you" in German, Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish.
Earlier on the same day, other quakes, magnitude 6.3 and 5.8, rocked Turkey and Syria border region leaving six dead and about 200 people injured.
On Monday, February 6, two earthquakes hit Syria and Turkey, devastating cities across the two countries. Many buildings collapsed, with Aleppo and Haman Idlab affected the most in Syria.
At the time of publication, the combined death toll exceeded 47,000 twelve days after the devastating earthquake. Around 41,642 have reportedly been killed in Turkey as well as 5,800 deaths in Syria.
Germany: 'No one has the right to block humanitarian aid' - President Steinmeier holds memorial service for earthquake victims
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier held a memorial service on Monday for the victims of the devastating earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria occurring two weeks ago.
"Our thoughts are with the survivors in the disaster area. We think of you in Adana, in Gaziantep, and in Urfa. To you in Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, Idlib and Aleppo. To all of you in Turkey and Syria whose cities and dreams of life are in ruins," said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
After holding a minute's silence together with emergency workers and officials, Steinmeier addressed citizens to help victims in both countries.
"Your humanity remains in demand, even when the images from the earthquake zone have long since been replaced by other news. Everyone can help - some less, others more. Some more practically, others more through donations. The important thing is that we do it. That we do it together," he said.
He also appealed to the Syrian government, saying that it did not have the right to block the aid supplies, amid reports of difficulties to reach opposition-controlled areas.
"It is good that the United Nations is now on the ground, that they are blazing trails to those trapped, that they are trying to get aid supplies to where they are needed most. But I appeal today in particular to the political leadership in Syria. Let the aid workers do their life-saving work. No one has the right to block humanitarian aid," he added.
Steinmeier also addressed the people affected by the disaster with the phrase "We are always with you" in German, Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish.
Earlier on the same day, other quakes, magnitude 6.3 and 5.8, rocked Turkey and Syria border region leaving six dead and about 200 people injured.
On Monday, February 6, two earthquakes hit Syria and Turkey, devastating cities across the two countries. Many buildings collapsed, with Aleppo and Haman Idlab affected the most in Syria.
At the time of publication, the combined death toll exceeded 47,000 twelve days after the devastating earthquake. Around 41,642 have reportedly been killed in Turkey as well as 5,800 deaths in Syria.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier held a memorial service on Monday for the victims of the devastating earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria occurring two weeks ago.
"Our thoughts are with the survivors in the disaster area. We think of you in Adana, in Gaziantep, and in Urfa. To you in Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, Idlib and Aleppo. To all of you in Turkey and Syria whose cities and dreams of life are in ruins," said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
After holding a minute's silence together with emergency workers and officials, Steinmeier addressed citizens to help victims in both countries.
"Your humanity remains in demand, even when the images from the earthquake zone have long since been replaced by other news. Everyone can help - some less, others more. Some more practically, others more through donations. The important thing is that we do it. That we do it together," he said.
He also appealed to the Syrian government, saying that it did not have the right to block the aid supplies, amid reports of difficulties to reach opposition-controlled areas.
"It is good that the United Nations is now on the ground, that they are blazing trails to those trapped, that they are trying to get aid supplies to where they are needed most. But I appeal today in particular to the political leadership in Syria. Let the aid workers do their life-saving work. No one has the right to block humanitarian aid," he added.
Steinmeier also addressed the people affected by the disaster with the phrase "We are always with you" in German, Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish.
Earlier on the same day, other quakes, magnitude 6.3 and 5.8, rocked Turkey and Syria border region leaving six dead and about 200 people injured.
On Monday, February 6, two earthquakes hit Syria and Turkey, devastating cities across the two countries. Many buildings collapsed, with Aleppo and Haman Idlab affected the most in Syria.
At the time of publication, the combined death toll exceeded 47,000 twelve days after the devastating earthquake. Around 41,642 have reportedly been killed in Turkey as well as 5,800 deaths in Syria.