A report on the situation surrounding earthquake survivors

The Confederation of Public Workers Unions (KESK) released its preliminary assessment of the situation a day after two earthquakes struck Turkey's south and southeast.

KESK officials said that rescue teams have either still not reached areas in several provinces or have been ineffective. The provinces include the earthquake's epicenters Elbistan and Pazarcik in Maras, and Adiyaman and Hatay, two of the most severely impacted ones.

The Turkish Red Crescent has failed to provide assistance to the victims, and most of the survivors were out in the cold last night, as even some tents have not yet been provided, they added.

The inability to address critical issues to authorities is another major problem for the victims, according to KESK, who said, "The survivors are not able to access any authority or some kind of crisis center in disaster areas."

The survivors have also been deprived of communication with their families, as batteries for their mobile phones have run out and they are faced with power cuts.

Some of the essential items for treatment are medical cotton plaster, surgical plaster and sterile sponge, since most survivors who have been rescued from under the rubble have fractures in their bodies, and these items are urgently required for their treatment.

Several public and private hospitals in earthquake zones have been destroyed, and patients, including those who are suffering various cancer illnesses, need urgent assistance. The Health Ministry should also allow patients to provide medicines that are sold only on prescription.

While tens of thousands of people do not have cars, the ones who do are out of gas, and they cannot resupply since most of the gas stations in disaster areas have run out of stocks.