this is bbc news broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. hope and despair in turkey and syria, as the painstaking search for survivors continues, after the quakes. we follow one rescuer and his team among the tangled ruins of apartment blocks, looking for signs of life. armageddon... armageddon. we report from the quake zone inside syria, with one of the first international journalists in aleppo. i'm lyse doucet in southern turkey, not far from the epicentre of this

earthquake — where rescue teams are still racing against the clock, hoping against hope to find people live. the partner of former newcastle united footballer christian atsu tells us she's anxiously waiting for news as it's confirmed he's still missing in hatay. i feel for everyone who is like me and my children, not knowing. and could the party be over for visitors to amsterdam? we'll explain why the city is clamping down on its reputation forsex, drink, and drugs. fears are growing for the hundreds of thousands of people in turkey and syria in need, after monday's devastating earthquakes.

living in makeshift shelters and cars in freezing conditions, there are warnings that aid is not reaching areas fast enough. more than 22,000 people are now known to have died. syrian state media says the government has approved international aid delivery to rebel—held areas in cooperation with the help of the un, syrian red crescent, and international red cross. let's go live to gaziantep, in turkey — and join our chief correspondent lyse doucet. you join us here, only an hour and a half away from the epicentre of this deadly earthquake and it's become a relief hub with care craft flying in from around the world to help with this urgent rescue effort. here along this road you can see behind me, the diggers and rescue teams are still at work. some of them working

night and day, sleepless night and day hoping against hope to find people still buried alive under this rubble. this whole road is fraught with emotion — cries of loved ones, christ erupting in this dark and freezing night, anger and grief boiling over as rescue teams try to reassure them they are doing everything they can with so many people saying that they believe their loved ones are still alive —— cries of erupting. this is just one snapshot that's been repeated in towns and cities across southern turkey, and indeed across the border in northern syria, as well, where many areas were also by this seismic shock. it's been incredibly for any journalist to reach northern syria, but one of our colleagues in the bbc arabic service gave us —— will give

us an eyewitness account in just a moment. but first, quentin sommerville has been following one of the rescue teams and one of the worst affected areas of southern turkey. in the darkest hours, a single light shines brightest. in antakya's hour of need, this man... he speaks in turkish ..erdal, has emerged as a saviour. he'll climb where others won't dare, deep inside the ruins of this shattered city. anything to save a life. it's been hours since anyone was found here, but still they work late into the night. i have to be very quiet because they're listening to see if there's anybody still alive in the building. they're taking huge risks, going into very dangerous spaces. because we're moving into day five here, and they realise, there's almost no time left. an amateur mountaineer and professional writer, erdal has taken command here.

someone or something is moving inside the building, but they can't reach them. they've tried looking in from the front, no success. they put a camera probe in. now they're going round the back of the building to see if they can find any sign of life. the floors are sandwiched tight. it's a treacherous space, but erdal�*s crew try to find a way inside. others have rallied to his courage. his team is now 100—strong. they've already saved dozens of people. so much risk, so much risk. but so much people wait us. we hear them. but we are not stop here. how do you feel about what's happened to your country? armageddon.

the bitter light of morning lays bare the earthquake�*s ruin. anta kya is destroyed. and down in amongst it, erdal and his men are still working. in the past five days he's managed only a few hours sleep. erdal thought that there was someone still alive here. a relative said that they could hear something. there's no one. but there is the overpowering smell of dead bodies. 0n the second and third day after the earthquake, they were finding a lot of people. they're hardly finding anyone now, almost no one. this is moving from a rescue phase to a recovery phase. it's very unlikely that they're going to find more survivors in this location.

erdal, we left you 5—6 hours ago. did you find anyone else last night? no, no. translation: we couldn't find anyone, only a dog. i its owner was dead. so, what happens now? translation: i don't know. since families are sensitive, they insist people are still alive under the rubble, so we keep trying to work in places where we don't find any corpses. erdalfound two of narula's children. and even though it's been many days, narula can't believe his wife and other child aren't still alive. the building isjust across the street but his wife and child can't be reached, even by erdal�*s team. translation: erdaltore himself

apart for my two children. - went to places no one would go. he saved my two children. tonight, the search goes on and still shining a light into the darkness is erdal. quentin sommerville, bbc news, antakya. i'lljust warn you that every so often we are told journalists broadcasting here, everyone here is told to remain absolutely silent when the rescue teams behind us tell us that they hear, they sense that there is a sound, then we are told to go completely silent. but for the moment while we are still allowed to broadcast... we should tell you what is just happening across the border

in syria — sorry, there is a bit of commotion here, emotions are really, really raw and you can sometimes hear outbursts of anger and grief among the many people who were the residents of this building who had to move out because even these buildings are unsafe, but because they are so full of cracks. across they are so full of cracks. across the border in northern syria, it's in the northwest of syria the last rebel held enclave that they tell us was the worst hit of this earthquake. areas in the north under syrian government control have also been hit, including the major syrian city of aleppo. we were able to obtain permission and we've translated his report for you. translation: we are now. in the shahar neighbourhood, one of the areas damaged by the earthquake. aleppo is the closest city

to the epicentre of the earthquake. until now, around 400 people have died in the city of aleppo. hundreds of injured remain in the rubble. in this area, rescue efforts are being supported by government forces in the search for the injured. they are also working on demolishing damaged buildings out of fear they might collapse at a later stage. around 60 buildings have collapsed, but there are around 400 others that are so damaged and at risk of collapse at any moment. the reports say some 55,000 people have lost their homes and they are now spread across different shelters in the city. the death toll has surpassed 4,000 people in both government and rebel held areas and over 7,000 people

are injured or unaccounted for. that's a situation in a country that's on its knees after 12 years of a punishing war. this natural disaster, this humanitarian disaster has struck at a time when there's already a deep humanitarian crisis across many parts of syria, and indeed even here in southern turkey, including many syrian refugees who were already living on the edge. so people living with little have lost everything. i'm joined now by parvathy ramaswamy, world food programme country director for turkey, from ankara. welcome to bbc news. first, let me ask you just how great are the needs forfood ask you just how great are the needs for food among those affected by this earthquake in turkey?-

for food among those affected by this earthquake in turkey? thank you ve much this earthquake in turkey? thank you very much - — this earthquake in turkey? thank you very much - what _ this earthquake in turkey? thank you very much - what we _ this earthquake in turkey? thank you very much - what we hear _ this earthquake in turkey? thank you very much - what we hear from - this earthquake in turkey? thank you very much - what we hear from our i very much — what we hearfrom our key counterparts, especially the presidency of micro management and the daily updates we get from the effort, we do see that there is immediate need for food assistance to those who have been displaced by the crisis, especially many people who cannot go back to their own shelters. we have taken the estimates given to us in the daily reports — wf p has planned for covering over half a million people, close to 600,000 people in the next coming weeks, and we believe that the true provision of hot meals through food packages where facilities are available and working through municipalities, the turkish red crescent and through partners on the ground, we'll be able to reach food assistance very fast. we've already started distribution on

wednesday, our commodities were dispatched on tuesday, and every day we are sending out food packages to kitchens, and we are also in the process of accelerating coverage as and when needs and locations are transmitted to us through our counterparts.— transmitted to us through our counterparts. transmitted to us through our counterarts. �* ., , ., counterparts. and what reports are ou counterparts. and what reports are you getting — counterparts. and what reports are you getting from — counterparts. and what reports are you getting from northwest - counterparts. and what reports are you getting from northwest syria l you getting from northwest syria from the last rebel held enclave in the province of idlib, and some of the province of idlib, and some of the surrounding countryside? 4 million people were already dependent on food hand—outs there — how dire is the situation now? this demo for these _ how dire is the situation now? ti 3 demo for these operations for northwest syria, even though they are displaced under turkey, we have are displaced under turkey, we have a team working to serve the needs of

those in northwest syria deeply affected by the earthquake. we've also heard from our colleagues that the border crossing has been opened, so our team that deals with the syrian operations have been successfully sending food into the northwest syria, and it'll continue to be done over the next coming days with all our partners. the to be done over the next coming days with all our partners.— with all our partners. the un and many others _ with all our partners. the un and many others are _ with all our partners. the un and many others are urging _ with all our partners. the un and many others are urging the - with all our partners. the un and| many others are urging the syrian government and its allies, including russia, to allow crossings from turkey into northwest syria, saying even before this disaster that one crossing is simply not enough to feed the life—saving needs of the people. and sign that this will happen? mil people. and sign that this will ha en? �* u, people. and sign that this will hauen?�* , people. and sign that this will ha--en?~ , ., happen? all i can say is that the un coordination — happen? all i can say is that the un coordination is _ happen? all i can say is that the un coordination is very _ happen? all i can say is that the un

coordination is very clearly - coordination is very clearly advocating for opening many borders, so that we can rush in to give aid. so this is still under consideration and i'm hopeful, as i see indications from our colleagues, this is something they are pursuing and we hope that we can get as much possible across the border. thank ou ve possible across the border. thank you very much — possible across the border. thank you very much for _ possible across the border. thank you very much forjoining - possible across the border. thank you very much forjoining us - possible across the border. thank you very much forjoining us at. possible across the border. thank you very much forjoining us at what must be a very busy time for you and your colleagues in the world food programme. food of course isjust one of the many things needed by many. today there was news from damascus, according to the syrian state media, that the syrian government has now agreed that food aid and other supplies needed in earthquake stricken areas can cross the lines of this 12—year—old conflict, but aid officials have told the bbc that the success of

what seems to be this concession by the syrian government will depend both on the syrian government forces on the ground, as well as the forces of the opposition across northern syria. so in the words of senior un officials, it's a small, important step forward but many more will be needed urgently. we will continue our special coverage from gaziantep and other places in southern turkey and other places in southern turkey and inside syria. for now, it's good buy from us here in gaziantep. she is one of several teams following the story in the affected areas. the tensions are readily high, around five days on from when those buildings fell, people are really listening out for sounds, hoping for

miracles. 0ne one of the many still former chelsea and newcastle midfielder christian atsu, who plays for turkish club hatayspor, is still missing in the aftermath of the quake. his partner claire rupio has spoken of her worry as she waits for news about him. she spoke to the bbc earlier. all i know is that currently, his agent is in turkey, and he's trying to get to the place where it happened. we know that his building has been... well, they know where the building is and they're trying their best to rescue everybody. and they know that there are people still under the rubble, but the problem is that they don't have the equipment necessary to get them out. so, yeah, he's still missing and they don't know where he is. so, it was quite shocking, as you can imagine, if they were confirming, saying he has been found and alive

and taken to hospital, and 11 hours later, my children had to hear it from the radio, saying that they still don't know where he is. so, i know that his agent is there and they are trying their best to find him, so i trust that he will bring me obviously the news that i can trust, that if he sees him orspeakto him...yeah. but it's quite confusing, everything, yeah. earlier his former team mate and former chelsea player micheal essien has this to say. it's very disturbing news. i've not heard _ it's very disturbing news. i've not heard from — it's very disturbing news. i've not heard from him in a while. i can't

recall_ heard from him in a while. i can't recall the — heard from him in a while. i can't recall the last time we spoke, but we've _ recall the last time we spoke, but we've been— recall the last time we spoke, but we've been messaging back and forth a few months ago. and yet, so when it happened. — a few months ago. and yet, so when it happened, ijust reached out to his people — it happened, ijust reached out to his people. i tried to call his phone, _ his people. i tried to call his phone, it _ his people. i tried to call his phone, it was ringing but no one was speaking, _ phone, it was ringing but no one was speaking, so— phone, it was ringing but no one was speaking, so i reach out to his people — speaking, so i reach out to his peeple to _ speaking, so i reach out to his people to find out what was going on. 0ne story of survival in the earthquake zone that's captured headlines worldwide is that of a baby aya, who was the only member of her family to survive. there have been thousands of offers to adopt her from across the globe. the girl was born in the rubble in the syrian city ofjindayris. she was connected to her mother by her umbilical cord. none of her family survived. aya, which means "miracle" in arabic, was rescued and taken to hospital in afrin. despite being cold and barely breathing, and suffering with bumps and bruises — she's now in a stable condition. she's one of many children whose lives are now in limbo. well, we can speak now

to dr unni krishnan, who's global humanitarian director for the charity, plan international. he joins us live from the capital of ethiopia, addis ababa. doctor, can i just doctor, can ijust start by asking how your actually able to keep children, girls in your charity's case, safe and help them recover from the loss of parents, schools, homes and siblings?— homes and siblings? firstly, my thou~hts homes and siblings? firstly, my thoughts are — homes and siblings? firstly, my thoughts are with _ homes and siblings? firstly, my thoughts are with aya _ homes and siblings? firstly, my thoughts are with aya and - homes and siblings? firstly, my thoughts are with aya and the i thoughts are with aya and the thousands of other children who have either lost their parents or have been separated from their families — and equally, our thoughts are with the friends and families of those who've lost their dear ones and are still missing. we are talking about a massive earthquake that almost impacted everyone in both countries, everyone has been touched in one way or another.

everyone has been touched in one way oranother. but everyone has been touched in one way or another. but we know that in situations such like this, children are born vulnerable and are disproportionately affected. children who are separated from theirfamilies or lost children who are separated from their families or lost their parents, lost their friends and so on. in those settings, children, especially younger ones, and girls are even more vulnerable in those circumstances. so it is absolutely critical that we prioritise protections for children. in simple terms, this means doing the most simple things, like providing blankets, medical care and food assistance. that's up to the critical because if they do not get those services in the immediate locality, it's very likely they'll start moving around looking for relief, whatever they can get. so to protect a child in the community where they are is obsolete critical,

we must step up humanitarian assistance. that's the first — the second is it is important to provide safe spaces for children. for example, we create child friendly spaces for children in earthquake settings. it's a safe space for a child where they can come to that place — sometimes their parents or friends can drop them there, we have social workers with mental health backgrounds, as well as child experts who work with children and engage them in physical activities, and most important lee, a child friendly space is a place where a child can be a child again. absolutely, and you're describing a situation where, as you said, children can look for help, and there vulnerable to violence, abuse and neglect from other people, as well? ~ , ,., , ., and neglect from other people, as well? ~ , ., ., ~ well? absolutely, we are talking about children _ well? absolutely, we are talking about children who _ well? absolutely, we are talking about children who are - well? absolutely, we are talking

about children who are totally i about children who are totally separated on their own. so what we are seeing, especially in the context of earthquakes, other major disasters, they are very likely vulnerable and are likely to be either exploited, abused, including sexual violence. so it is obsolete critical, along with life—saving medical assistance and health care, food and water, we step up child protection measures, especially for young girls. fight! protection measures, especially for ouna uirls. �* ., protection measures, especially for young girls-— young girls. and how can people watchin: young girls. and how can people watching help — young girls. and how can people watching help with _ young girls. and how can people watching help with the _ young girls. and how can people| watching help with the emotional care of children, the needs of what you're describing so clearly? so one of the huge disadvantages of an earthquake, in addition to all the thins earthquake, in addition to all true: things you've explained, is the repeated aftershocks. there's only so much a young mind can take. for example, we often explained that the young mind operates like a balloon. if you keep putting in pressure, it can't withstand all the pressure — and with every aftershock, it's testing the resilience of young

minds. so what we started doing is engaging them in simple activities so we can help them to start reducing that stress, especially the emotional stress they are passing through. so it is important that we engage them in activities that the children usually do. it is important that we create that's safe space for them, and most importantly, they start recognising that there are people around who will take care of them, and hope is an absolute ingredient, an engine that will help take children through the recovery process. i remember working in another earthquake situation, for example in 2011 injapan, a tsunami which resulted in thousands of deaths. i was working in the impacted areas — in many areas, we came across children who wouldn't flush the toilet even after years... and undoubtedly people want to help, seeing the live pictures we are of

rescues going on. we mentioned aya — you stay adoptions should never take place straightaway, lots of people have been appealing to help her. explain that point, why should adoption not happen straightaway in these circumstances? the adoption not happen straightaway in these circumstances?— these circumstances? the safest sace for these circumstances? the safest space for a _ these circumstances? the safest space for a child, _ these circumstances? the safest space for a child, especially - these circumstances? the safestl space for a child, especially those who have lost their parents, is the community from where they come from. they'll have extended families who will know the language in the culture. if you think about families with multiple children who've lost all their family, with multiple children who've lost all theirfamily, you get into the issue of adoption immediately, they could end up in different families. so it is important week give time to locate and reunite them with extended family members, and there be people who come forward and it is possible to them,. be people who come forward and it is possible to them, .— possible to them,. that's a very aood possible to them,. that's a very good message. _ possible to them,. that's a very good message, thank _ possible to them,. that's a very good message, thank you. - possible to them,. that's a very l good message, thank you. family first, great that there are so many appeals for help. we will leave the viewers now with pictures of live

rescue efforts in southern turkey. hello there. it's been a very quiet week, thanks to high pressure. we've seen a lot of dry weather around across much of the country — that is, away from the north and west of scotland. and as we head into the weekend, high pressure continues to bring a lot of dry and settled weather. it'll stay on the mild side, but there will be quite a bit of cloud around generally with limited spells of sunshine. now through tonight, there'll be a lot of cloud around generally — again, across northern western scotland, maybe some western parts of england and wales, could be a little bit of light, rain and drizzle. most places will stay dry. i think with more cloud cover tonight, it shouldn't be quite as cold as we've seen the last few nights, particularly across southern areas. but there'll still be some frosty pockets here and there where the clouds break. 0ur big area of high pressure holds on, then, for both saturday and sunday,

and we'll continue to be in a fairly mild air mass all the while, with our air coming in generally from the south. so saturday, then, a lot of cloud around, there will be some glimmers of brightness here and there. again, the cloud could be thick enough across some western areas for the odd spot of drizzle, but most places should stay dry. and again, winds will be light, and there's not much wind to disturb the atmosphere to break up the cloud. a little bit breezier across the northwest of scotland. but we get some brightness — for example, the northeast of scotland, it'll be very mild temperatures up to 13—14 celsius, but double—figure, values right across the board so much milder than what we should be at this point in february. as we head through saturday night, again, it's largely dry. a lot of cloud around, so that should keep the frost at bay — but where any cloud breaks up here for a length of time, then we could see the odd the frost pocket here and there. so sunday, then, it's another rather cloudy day. there will be some sunny breaks here and there, probably the best of it towards northern and eastern parts. but across the board, whether it's cloudy or it's brighter,

temperatures will be in double figures, it'll feel very mild. as we move out of the weekend into the start of the new week, high pressure continues to bring fine dry weather with some sunshine, certainly monday and tuesday — but then, by wednesday onwards, we could start to see these weather fronts working their way in off the atlantic to bring some of us outbreaks of rain. but there's still a question mark, whether or not these weather fronts make inroads. but so one things for certain — with the southerly winds, it'll stay pretty mild, even at the beginning and towards the end of the week, with that chance of some rain or showers from wednesday onwards. stay tuned.

this is bbc news. the headlines this hour. hope and despair in turkey and syria, as the painstaking search for survivors continues. more than 23,000 people are known to have died after monday's earthquakes.

the syrian president, bashar al assad, gives permission for international aid for victims of the devastating earthquake to be sent to rebel—held areas. of the devastating earthquake to be this follows days of appeals by aid agencies urging the syrian government to act. former newcastle united footballer christian atsu is still missing in the turkish quake. his partner calls for equipment to be sent to the collapsed building where he was living. and could the party be over for visitors to amsterdam? officials say it will soon be illegal to smoke cannabis on the street in the city's red light district. the plans aim to improve life for residents. you're watching bbc news. now it's time for newscast.

newscast.