12 February 2023 , 19:37
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There are fears that ISIS could return after 20 fighters escaped prison in the aftermath of the earthquake in Syria, it has been reported.
Millions have been left homeless and more than 33,000 have died in the region of Turkey and Syria that was rocked by a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake early Monday.
The death toll from the two huge earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria climbed to 33,000 on Sunday, with the United Nations warning that the final number may double.
Officials and medics said 29,605 people had died in Turkey and 3,574 in Syria bringing the confirmed total to 33,179.
Scenes from the rescue and search of survivors trapped under the rubble in the city of Sarmada, north of Idlib in Syria (EyePress News/REX/Shutterstock)While the death toll is much larger in Turkey, Syria has been largely left alone to deal with the crisis on top of the devastation from 11 years of war.
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In Syria, at least 20 prisoners belonging to ISIS escaped a military prison following the earthquake.
The infamous "Black Prison" near the Turkish border holds about 2,000 inmates, with about 1,300 suspected to be ISIS fighters, AFP reports.
A general view of damaged buildings and infrastructure in ruins in Hatay, Turkey (dia images via Getty Images)Experts fear the terror group, which is still active but not very powerful, could try and take advantage of the chaos.
It is feared the terror group - which still remains active but weakened - could seek to exploit the chaos to stage a comeback.
Dr Hamoon Khelghat-Doost has warned the earthquake will allow a resurgence by ISIS.
An aerial view of collapsed buildings in Gaziantep, Turkey (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)The professor of political science at the University of Lincoln told The Media Line : "The whole focus of Turkey and its allies is on how to respond to the devastating earthquake and its consequences.
"Any event, including natural disasters, that can divert the attention of a nation to a topic other than securing its borders is very much welcomed by extremist organizations such as ISIS."
Furthermore, Dr Bamo Nouri, an expert in Kurdistan and United States involvement in the Middle East, agrees that Turkey’s military actions could result in ISIS regaining strength.
He said: “An ISIS revival will come as a result of a Kurdish vacuum.
"They (Kurds) were at the forefront of the fight against ISIS then, and they are now."
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It comes as Syrians have begun digging mass burial sites in the north of the country for the victims of powerful earthquakes.
No strangers to mass graves due to the horrors of nearly 12 years of civil war in the country, families now face fresh grief after twin earthquakes — the first a magnitude 7.8 and the second a 7.5 — hit Turkey and neighbouring Syria.
Footage posted by the White Helmets, a civil defence and rescue organisation operating in areas of Syria outside of government control, shows grave sites being dug in the Afrin District in the northeast for victims from the town of Jindires, according to details in the post.