THE United Nations launched a $1 billion (£832 million) appeal on Thursday to provide aid for the 5.2 million survivors of the most devastating earthquake in Turkey’s modern history.

This comes two days after the world body started a $397m (£330m) appeal to help nearly five million Syrians across the border in the rebel-held north-west.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric was asked to explain why the appeal for Turkey is targeted at only 5.2 million people when, according to the UN and the government, more than 15 million people were affected. 

He was also asked why the appeal for Turkey is two and a half times larger than the one for Syria to help almost the same number of people.

Mr Dujarric said the Turkish appeal “was designed in very close co-operation with the government of Turkey, which is leading the relief efforts.

“This is the number they came up with for the focus on people who need the most humanitarian aid, most quickly, and where the UN can be most effective.” 

On the disparity in the amount of the appeals, he said “there is already a well-established humanitarian community which has been working in Syria,” and before the quake there was a $4.8bn (£3.9m) humanitarian appeal for Syria for 2023.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres announced the $1bn appeal, saying “the needs are enormous, people are suffering and there’s no time to lose.” 

Mr Guterres added. “I urge the international community to step up and fully fund this critical effort in response to one of the biggest natural disasters of our times.”

The United Nations has been criticised for the slow response in getting aid and heavy equipment into Syria’s rebel-held north-west since the earthquake struck 10 days ago.