Quake survivor vet sets up field clinic for quake-stricken animals

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A 28-year-old woman named Kübra Ünsal, who resides in the Antakya district of Hatay, was rescued alive from the rubble of a 12-story building that collapsed during the earthquakes centered in Maraş on February 6.

After receiving treatment and having to wear a brace for approximately three weeks due to cracked ribs, Ünsal immediately set up a field clinic with her friends who also had damaged clinics, in Atatürk Park.

Ünsal and her friends have treated 4,500 cats and dogs in the field clinic they established.

After treating injured and needy animals that were abandoned by the people they lived with, Ünsal and her friends redirect the animals to places or individuals who can provide them with better care.

The earthquakes

On February 6th, two earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.7 and 7.6 struck the southern province of Maraş in Turkey, causing devastation across 11 provinces in the south and southeast of the country and northern parts of Syria.

Over 50,000 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 227,000 buildings were destroyed or severely damaged, according to government figures.

The latest report from the United Nations shows that the situation in the earthquake-affected area remains dire, with ongoing challenges exacerbating the crisis. Heavy rainfall and aftershocks have continued to wreak havoc in the region, further hampering relief efforts.

As a result, approximately 1.6 million people are still living in temporary shelters or makeshift tents, with limited access to essential services and basic living conditions. Additionally, three million people have been forced to flee their homes due to the disaster. (TY/VK)