Middle East & North Africa

RABAT, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan navy rescued 167 Spain-bound migrants in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic from Jan. 28 to Feb. 7, official news agency MAP reported Wednesday.

The migrants have attempted dangerous crossings and encountered problems while boarding several makeshift boats, kayaks, jet skis, and even swimming, MAP said.

Before being taken to the closest Moroccan ports and handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie for the usual procedures, the migrants received first aid from navy units, according to the report.

ANKARA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations' first convoy of aid crossed from Türkiye to Syria's northwestern Idlib province on Thursday, three days after the devastating earthquake, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.

Six truckloads of aid entered the Bab al-Hawa border crossing through the Cilvegozu border gate in Türkiye's southern Hatay province, the news agency reported.

Bab al-Hawa is currently the only crossing through which the UN aid is allowed to go into the area.

ANKARA/DAMASCUS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Monday's devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria has risen to 15,383, according to data released by authorities and rescuers.

The number of people killed in Türkiye due to the devastating earthquake has reached 12,391, the country's Anadolu agency reported on Thursday, citing the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.

08 Feb 2023; MEMO: Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has criticised western sanctions which he said have "exacerbated the tragedy and catastrophe" of the devastating earthquake which struck parts of Syria and neighbouring Turkiye in the early hours of Monday morning.

08 Feb 2023; MEMO: The death toll from the 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that hit Turkiye and Syria in the early hours of Monday morning has now surpassed 11,000.

The World Health Organisation has estimated that the final figure will be closer to 20,000 and that 23 million could be impacted.

The number of dead in Turkiye has reached 8,754 and in Syria 2,470 after the worst earthquake in decades levelled buildings, destroyed bridges and cut power across the region.

08 Feb 2023; MEMO: Flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, is planning to evacuate 30,000 people from southern Turkiye after the region was hit by powerful earthquakes, an official announced, Anadolu News Agency reports.

08 Feb 2023; MEMO: A kebab restaurant owner in southern Turkiye's Adana province has opened up his three restaurants to survivors of Monday's earthquakes, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"After the first earthquake, we thought the safest place to go would be the restaurant," Salih Oral told Anadolu.

"It was raining," he recalled. "We saw people waiting in their cars, sitting on the pavement or just milling around without a place to go."

08 Feb 2023; MEMO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan yesterday declared a three-month state of emergency in ten southern provinces hit by devastating earthquakes on Monday.

"We are facing one of the biggest disasters, not only in the history of our republic, but also in our region and the world," Erdogan said in televised remarks.

08 Feb 2023; MEMO: Hundreds of serving soldiers and reservists have set off on a protest march in Israel in protest against the judicial reforms proposed by the far-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israel Defence Forces personnel launched their three-day march from Latrun this morning, and plan to end it outside the Supreme Court on Friday.

08 Feb 2023; MEMO: Pope Francis, on Wednesday, issued a plea for assistance for the victims of two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Turkiye and affected Syria, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"I remain close with all my heart to the people affected by the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria. I continue to pray for those who have lost their lives, as well as the injured, family members and rescuers," Francis said during the General Audience held every Wednesday.