hello and welcome to bbc news. the world health organization says that almost 26 million people have been affected by the earthquakes that struck turkey and syria. the number confirmed dead has passed 25,000. on a visit to southern turkey, the un aid chief, martin griffiths, said there was an urgent need for medical assistance, as well as food and shelter for survivors. we ll hearfrom mr griffiths in a moment, but first, our correspondent quentin sommerville is in harem in the northwest idlib province of syria, which is rebel controlled. he found no sign of a relief effort, with local people, including children, left scouring through rubble for survivors. this is the town of haram in north west syria. there is a bit of activity here, but nothing like you see in terms of activity on the other side, on the turkish side of the border. the border is literally just across that hill. the people here have lost about 700 buildings. another 4,000 or so are unsafe. so they are living i
aid to syria, which i think is inappropriate in this context. because of their opposition to president bashir al asad? exactly. and all the terrible president bashir al asad? exactly. and all the terrible consequencesl president bashir al asad? exactly. l and all the terrible consequences of this awful wall. it is huge credit to the us government that they have put out a general license, which will protect humanitarian aid from the effect of sanctions just right after this earthquake. that s essential. banking services have got to work. aid is coming in inquired into syria, its being airlifted in, it is being driven in and we want to get some of it into the north west as well as elsewhere. so, that s what we will be looking at in syria in the coming days. in the coming days. what s your createst in the coming days. what s your greatest fear in the coming days. what s your greatest fear now? in the coming days. what s your greatest fear now? greatest - in the coming days. what s