Syria earthquake: ‘left behind’ and ‘forgotten’ says Brit-Syrian survivor

The United Nations says it is working urgently to get more aid into northern Syria, where areas devastated by the earthquake have seen little help.

Rebel-held towns like Jandaris – close to the Turkish border – have had to make do without any of the supplies, heavy machinery and international rescue teams that have been deployed in Turkey since the quake struck, relying instead on local White Helmet volunteers.

Government-controlled areas have received more support and the Foreign Office Minister Andrew Mitchell today suggested sanctions imposed on President Assad’s regime could be temporarily eased if it helped speed up the flow of aid.

We spoke to Wisam Afisa – a British Syrian who was visiting his parents in government-controlled Aleppo when the earthquake struck.