First aid reaches Syria rebel-held areas since quake

An official at the Bab al-Hawa border gate told AFP that a relief convoy arrived in rebel-held northwest Syria on Thursday, the first since a horrific earthquake that claimed over 20 thousands of lives.

The 7.8-magnitude quake early Monday has killed nearly 20,000 people in Turkey and war-ravaged Syria, according to officials and medics in the two countries, flattening entire neighbourhoods.

"The first UN aid convoy entered today," said Mazen Alloush, media officer at the crossing.

An AFP correspondent saw six trucks passing through the crossing from Turkey, carrying tents and hygiene products.

Alloush noted the delivery had been expected before Monday‍‍`s quake, but said: "It could be considered an initial response from the United Nations, and it should be followed, as we were promised, with bigger convoys to help our people."