Thousands of emergency workers are in the nation’s eastern region. They are trying to find victims of Sunday’s earthquake. As we told you yesterday, the quake that hit Turkey had a magnitude of 7.2. It killed hundreds of people and at least 1,300 others were hurt. Nearly a thousand buildings demolished in this. Rescue workers are trying to make their way through that rubble to find any survivors. They used heavy machines, shovels, in some cases they are even using their bare hands. The military is also part of search rescue operations. Medical supplies and food are coming into the region by truck and by plane. The rescue workers and survivors are having to deal with temperatures that are near freezing. That makes the process that much harder. 

 

There are ways for you to get involved here, be part of the recovery efforts in Turkey. If you go to the spotlight section on our home page, cnnstudentnews.com, and click the impact your world link, you’ll find the information on the relief organizations that are already working in the Turkey. You’ll find information about how you can make a difference for the victims of this natural disaster. 

 

Officials in North Africa country of Tunisia are expected to announce final election results today. But no matter what the outcome is, these elections will still be its story, because this was Tunisia’s first national elections since it became an independent country back in 1956. More than 80%  of the country’s registered voters went to the polls on Sunday, more than 80%, huge turnout. They were casting ballots for political representatives who will write a new constitution and design Tunisia’s new government. The polling sites that you can imagine, were packed on Sunday. Many Tunisians waited hours to vote. CNN’s I* W* caught up with one who explained that the freedom to choose his own leaders was more important than the long lines. 

 

And you waited three hours to cast your ballot?

Something like three and a half hours, but we didn’t feel it, I mean, those like five minutes. Because we are very very happy to inside there.

 

Tunisia’s holding elections because revolt there threw the long time ruler out of power. It was the start of what’s called the Arab Spring. And by Arab Spring, we’re talking about this series of uprising in North Africa and the Middle East. The protests and revolts came with price, a little one. Leone L* looks at the cost of the Arab Spring and how much it might take to rebuild. 

 

The Arab Spring has changed the political landscape in Middle East, but it’s also come at a heavy economic cost. The worst affected countries, including Libya, Egypt and Tunisia, have * losses of nearly $56 billion in terms of income and extra spending. They’ve also seen a drastic reduction in revenues, because for many of these countries, their economies are at a virtual stand still. Yemen, has seen its revenues fall sharply, down 77%. Libya has seen revenues drop by 84%. Funding for the recovery process for these countries is needed urgently. And in September, the international community including the G8, some of wealthier Arab countries, and institutions, like the World Bank promised $38 billion in financing for Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan. The consultants other pledges were made at G8 meeting back in may, despite the promises, much of the money has yet to be delivered. And the IMF says the cost of the recovery for those North African economies is more than $160 billion over the next three years. Leone L* for market place Middle East,