First UN team enters rebel-held areas in Syria

The first UN delegation has entered northwestern Syria since the double earthquake hit Turkey and Syria last week leaving thousands dead. 

More than 35,000 people were killed in both countries by the disaster, which also left thousands homeless.

In the government-controlled part of Syria, at least 1,414 people have died, according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). Meanwhile, the rebel-run areas have reported at least 3,160 deaths.

"A multi-agency mission has gone this morning from the Turkiye side across the border crossing... It’s largely an assessment mission,” the World Food Programme’s Syria director, Kenn Crossley, told AFP in Geneva.

Only a single crossing point - Bab al-Hawa - has been open to humanitarian personnel since the 6 February earthquakes struck across the border region of southern Turkey and northwest Syria.

“I welcome the decision today by President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to open the two crossing points of Bab Al-Salam and Al Ra’ee from Turkey to northwest Syria for an initial period of three months to allow for the timely delivery of humanitarian aid,” António Guterres said in a statement.