THE United Nations launched a $1 billion (£832 million) appeal on Thursday to provide aid for the 5.2 million survivors of the most devastating earthquake in Turkey’s modern history.

This comes two days after the world body started a $397m (£330m) appeal to help nearly five million Syrians across the border in the rebel-held north-west.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric was asked to explain why the appeal for Turkey is targeted at only 5.2 million people when, according to the UN and the government, more than 15 million people were affected.