UNICEF says it estimates that more than 7 million children have been affected by the earthquakes that rocked Turkey and Syria last week.

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters on Tuesday that 4.6 million children were living in the 10 provinces hit by the quakes while 2.5 million children were affected in Syria.

He said UNICEF fears many thousands of children have been killed.

Elder also said children who have lost their homes are sleeping on the streets, in schools and other places.

He noted an increasing number of children are suffering from hypothermia and respiratory infections.

The spokesperson said many children in Syria have been facing violence and displacement amid the civil war.

He called for international support, saying it would appear to be the international community's last chance to show solidarity to these millions of children.