Earthquake affects over 8 million Syrians: UN

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United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi announced on Wednesday that 8.8 million Syrians have been affected by the earthquake that struck northern Syria on February 6, adding, "Many more Syrians in Turkey are also heavily impacted."

"The earthquake struck when needs in Syria were already at an all-time high," Rochdi said following the International Syria Support Group Humanitarian Task Force meeting in Geneva, reiterating that the humanitarian response or aid must not be politicized.

Regarding the humanitarian exemptions announced by key donors in response to the earthquake, Rochdi urged donor countries to "ensure that all relevant humanitarian exemptions for sanctions, which could interfere with the humanitarian response, be fully utilized."

According to Rochdi, immediate and ongoing priorities for Syrians include winterization and shelter support, health needs, including medical supplies, ambulances and medicine, water, sanitation, food, nutrition, protection, and cash assistance. 

Syria's Transport Ministry said on Tuesday that 200 aid planes had landed in Syria so far, and various services necessary for these planes have been provided at the three Syrian airports in Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia, since the earthquake disaster.

Read: ICRC insists on solid sanctions exemptions in quake-hit Syria: Chief

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. The quake is considered among the strongest since 1939, according to Turkish official statements. A large number of aftershocks followed in recent days in a number of Syria's provinces and neighboring countries.

The earthquake is currently ranked seventh among the deadliest natural disasters this century, surpassing the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, and being close to the 2003 earthquake that struck neighboring Iran in terms of victims' number.

Read: Sanctions on Syria should not obstruct relief efforts: UN chief