Syria Earthquake: Number of deaths exceeds 4,400

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The death toll from the earthquake that struck Syria rises to more than 4,000 on Saturday, with many still under the rubble.

Medical officials reported that 4,487 people were killed across Syria, in addition to more than 7,000 injured, in an ongoing toll.

In Latakia, dozens mourned the families who died in the earthquake that struck the city of Jableh, where people continue to bury the victims.

Read next: Minimal Western aid to Syria, despite temporary lift of sanctions

During the earthquake, more than 300 victims died in the city of Jableh alone, where burials continue to take place around the clock.

Social media was flooded with pictures, and the walls of bereaved cities were covered with the names of those who had died.

Saudi Red Crescent requests permission from Damascus

Yesterday, the Saudi Red Crescent requested permission from Damascus on Saturday to land a relief plane at the Damascus international airport to aid the Syrians affected by the earthquake.

Saudi Arabia delivered 11 relief trucks from the Al-Hamam village crossing in Afrin's Jenderes district, carrying food and shelter supplies provided by the King Salman Relief Center for distribution in affected Syrian areas.

Mansour stated that 21 countries have applied for permission to land in Syria to provide aid to earthquake victims, adding that in addition to Saudi Arabia, requests were approved for Cyprus, Sudan, and Belarus.

WHO: The situation is dire

For his part, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, arrived at Aleppo airport to tour some hospitals and shelters with [Syria's] health minister and the governor of Aleppo.

He added that the WHO would continue to provide emergency medical services and bring in more emergency supplies necessary for "trauma management."

"We will work together to address the impact of the earthquake, not only the emergency services during the earthquake."

Ghebreyesusto spoke to Al Mayadeen from Aleppo saying, "What is happening here is a humanitarian situation that has affected everyone, and the international community must provide support for those affected."

Al-Assad to Al-Mayadeen: Western colonialism still unchanged

The Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, told Al Mayadeen that "an official does not send messages to his people, but rather receives them from his people," adding that "our message is sincere and honest." 

Al-Assad indicated after he and his wife visited the rescue and relief sites in the city of Jableh in the Lattakia governorate on Saturday that Western double standards are not new and has existed for six centuries.

From Latakia, #Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad told #AlMayadeen that western colonization has gone unchanged for six centuries, stressing the importance of reading and analyzing history correctly.#Syria pic.twitter.com/2svkDXhWIs

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 11, 2023

The president and his wife met with members of Aleppo's Operations Room, which includes government agencies, civil organizations and associations, and commercial and industrial actors in charge of the relief effort in the city.