it s almost a week since two earthquakes devastated parts of turkey and syria, in which so far, more than 33,000 people have died. the united nations says that figure could double. remarkably though, survivors are still being pulled from the rubble. united nations aid vehicles have now begun arriving in syria, but the head of the un s relief mission says many people have a right to feel abandoned. part of the problem is that rebel groups still control parts of the north west, following years of civil war. 0ur middle east correspondent quentin sommerville and cameraman robbie wright have managed to gain access, and sent us their first report from inside the rebel held area. a border and a catastrophe shared, but in the earthquake s aftermath, syria and turkey couldn t be further apart. we ve just crossed into syria at the border crossing. there were about a dozen aid trucks, fuel tankers coming in, but actually, there were more refugees, more corpses coming out than there was
it s a week since two earthquakes devastated parts of turkey and syria, in which so far, more than 33,000 people have died. the united nations says that figure could double. remarkably though, survivors are still being pulled from the rubble. united nations aid vehicles have now begun arriving in syria, but the head of the un s relief mission, says many people have a right to feel abandoned. part of the problem is that rebel groups still control parts of the north west, following years of civil war. 0ur middle east correspondent quentin sommerville and cameraman robbie wright have managed to gain access, and sent us their first report from inside the rebel held area. a border and a catastrophe shared, but in the earthquake s aftermath, syria and turkey couldn t be further apart. we ve just crossed into syria at the border crossing. there were about a dozen aid trucks, fuel tankers coming in, but actually, there were more refugees, more corpses coming out than there was aid co
they just withdrew. on our way, a russian shell landed very close behind us. we have to be very careful about our movements. it s a very clear day here. good weather for russian drones that will be operating in the skies. the nearest russian positions are just two kilometers away. we are taken below ground to commanders at the heart of the battle. like ihor, who is resolute but in a tough corner. they are trying to push us, he says, and to encircle us, so we have to leave the city, but it hasn t worked yet. of course, we have losses, but we are managing and holding on.
we are taken below ground to commanders at the heart of the battle. they are trying to push us, he says, and to encircle us, so we have to leave the city, but it hasn t worked yet. of course, we have losses, but we are managing and holding on. above ground, they wait for orders, like the young men before them in wars gone by. they get coordinates for an enemy position, and rush to fire a 60 millimetre mortar. the second round doesn t fire, sending the troops and us running for cover.
transaltion: if i had the strength, i would be the first to defend. - i would stand and help our troops. you know, it hurts a lot. what did we fight for? what did we set free? but it seems ivan could be one of the last victims of russian shelling in kharkiv. explosion. ukrainian forces say they ve recaptured a number of villages on the outskirts of the country s second city. analysts believe the russians could soon be pushed out of artillery range. that would be welcome news to the defenders of barvinkove, a strategic town on the edge of the donbas. they re well dug in here, but know the russians are coming. they want to go to dnipro and zaporizhzhia , maxim says. they want to capture our territory, to encircle us, surround us. but this will not happen. we will not allow it. in the port city of mariupol, the un and red cross say they will continue their attempts to free civilians from the besieged azovstal steelworks. yesterday, they escorted a further 50 civilians to safety.