The death toll from the two powerful earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has risen to over 21,000. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the quakes as the "disaster of the century." In Turkey, at least 18,342 people were reported dead and more than 74,242 injured, according to the Turkish disaster management authority. Additionally, in government-controlled Syria, state media reported 1,347 dead and 2,295 injured, while rescue workers in rebel-held northwest Syria estimated that over 2,037 people had been killed and 2,950 injured. The toll is expected to continue to rise.

In response to the tragedy, countries from around the world are delivering emergency aid to the two countries. France has announced $12.9 million in emergency aid for Syria and the US has committed $85 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for Turkey and Syria. U.N. aid has