According to the latest official reports from earthquake magnitude 7.8 more than 21,600 people have lost their lives, of which 18,342 in Turkey and 3,377 in Syria.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited the University Hospital of Aleppo, in his first visit to an earthquake-hit area. The presidency released photos of Assad and his wife visiting victims of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
The UN estimates that 23 million people are “potentially exposed, including five million vulnerable” and fears a major health crisis will erupt. Humanitarian organizations are mainly concerned about the spread of the cholera epidemic, which has also occurred in the past in Syria.
Help from the West
The Assad government’s efforts to break out of isolation are not limited to the Arab world. Damascus has accused the West of fueling the civil war that broke out in the country to topple the Assad government and says the economic crisis it faces is linked to international sanctions imposed on it since 2011.
But on Monday the Syrian ambassador to UN Bassam Sabagh announced that his country is ready “to work with all those who wish to help Syria.”
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mokdad said the government was ready to “facilitate” the arrival of aid from international organizations. The Syrian Red Cross requested the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
On Wednesday, Damascus asked for the EU’s help in efforts to rescue the trapped, as announced by the European Commissioner, Yanes Lenarcic, calling on the member countries to offer it. At the same time, he underlined “the importance of ensuring” that the aid “will not be misappropriated”.
The US indicated on Tuesday that it was working with local non-governmental organizations in Syria to help victims, denying any contact with Damascus. “The reimgs will of course go to the Syrian people, not the regime,” said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Source: News Beast
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