Syria earthquake death toll tops 3,300; new gov't decisions on aid
The death toll in Syria from the devastating earthquake is rising, and the Syrian government agrees to deliver humanitarian aid from regions under its control to regions outside its control.
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Syrian earthquake death toll tops 3,300
The death toll from the violent earthquake that struck Syria rose to more than 3,300 people, but rescue teams confirmed that many are still under the rubble.
"There are widespread appeals from citizens calling for the need to secure aid in terms of medicines and medical equipment," Al Mayadeen's correspondent to Aleppo said.
"تهجرنا ما طلعنا ولا غرض..."💔@nadrfares#الميادين#زلزال_سوريا#زلزال_سوريا_تركيا#زلزال_شرق_المتوسط pic.twitter.com/ZWBeADgsgJ
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) February 10, 2023
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad visited this morning the earthquake survivors at Aleppo University Hospital.
The Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic published pictures showing al-Assad and his wife as they inspected the condition of the survivors inside the hospital.
Al-Assad said during his tour, "It is natural for the West to politicize the situation. As for human feelings [in the West], they do not exist, neither now nor did they in the past," adding that the Syrian authorities "will put all possibilities to rebuild the affected areas and help the afflicted in them."
الرئيس السوري #بشار_الأسد أثناء تفقده أضرار #الزلزال في #حلب:
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) February 10, 2023
- رسائل #سوريا هي 12 عاماً من الصمود والسيادة والمواجهة.#الزلزال_المدمر #زلزال_سوريا #زلزال_سوريا_تركيا pic.twitter.com/p9OW2bHy6H
The Syrian President also visited the Bustan Al-Qasr area, in which the Algerian Civil Protection team is supervising the rescue operation.
Activists published pictures of the Syrian president with the Algerian rescue team, where he checked on the progress of the rescue operation taking place in the affected areas.
The Lebanese Red Cross delegation director in Syria, Walid Semaan, told Al Mayadeen that the team working in Syria is trained to find victims and survivors under the rubble.
مسؤول وفد الصليب الأحمر اللبناني في #سوريا وليد سمعان لـ #الميادين:
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) February 10, 2023
الفريق العامل في #سوريا مدرب على العمل تحت الأنقاض لإيجاد الضحايا والناجين وسبق لنا أن عملنا في تجربة مماثلة فيما يتعلق بالمباني مثل حرب تموز وانفجار مرفأ بيروت.#زلزال_سوريا#زلزال_سوريا_تركيا pic.twitter.com/U8kV5nftlC
Delivering aid to lands outside Syria
The Syrian government agreed on Friday to deliver humanitarian aid from regions under its control to regions outside its control, such as the Syrian governorate of Idlib, which was affected by the earthquake.
"The supervision of the Syrian Red Crescent and the International Red Cross over the distribution of aid ensures that aids reach those who need them," the government indicated.
The United Nations sent a convoy of 6 trucks to northern Syria through the Bab al-Hawa crossing in Idlib.
A convoy carrying Syrian aid was preparing to enter Idlib through the Saraqib border crossing and was currently waiting for UN representatives to hand over the relief aid to Idlib, Syrian informed sources told Al Mayadeen on Thursday.
According to Al Mayadeen's sources, the UAE side had been negotiating for the past three days with Idlib armed groups to open the crossings, regarding the entry of aid, and the latter refused.
"The armed groups were finally convinced with an aid convoy making it into Idlib through the Syrian Red Crescent and international organizations in Syria," the sources added.
⭕أحياء مكتظة بالسكان في مدينة #حلب مقطوعة عنها المياه والخبز بشكل كامل لليوم الخامس.
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) February 10, 2023
⭕ 10 آلاف مبنى في مدينة حلب غير صالحة للسكن جراء التصدعات التي تسبب بها #الزلزال.
⭕ 70% من مباني #جنديرس مدمرة بشكل كامل.
مراسل #الميادين في حلب رضا الباشا @rh_albasha @ramiaalibrahim pic.twitter.com/TQBkFGmHmk
Syria demands Washington to end sanctions
The Syrian Foreign Ministry demanded on Friday the US immediately end, without hesitation, without conditions or exceptions, the unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Syrian people.
"The misleading decision issued by the US administration regarding the partial and temporary freeze of some of the coercive and unilateral measures it imposes on the Syrian people is nothing more than a copy of previous sham decisions that seek to give a false humanitarian impression," the ministry said.
A group of independant UN experts urged on Friday the international community to lift sanctions on Syria in order to address the excruciating pain of civilians who suffered tremendous physical and material losses in the aftermath of Monday's devastating earthquake.
Some sanctions against Syria must be lifted so that the humanitarian community can deliver medicines and fertilizers to the country after the devastating earthquake, UN World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Corinne Fleischer said on Friday.
It is noteworthy that in 2020, then-US President Donald Trump signed into law the so-called Caesar Act, under which Congress authorized severe economic sanctions against Syria. In accordance with the sanctions, anyone doing business with the Syrian authorities is potentially exposed to travel restrictions and financial sanctions.
The US claims that "the Caesar Act and other USW Syria sanctions do not target humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people" and that Washington will continue sending its alleged humanitarian assistance to Syrians. However, this was not the case following the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and was not mentioned anywhere in Biden's remarks.
The US Treasury announced today that "humanitarian efforts and relief materials will be allowed to reach Syria, as a limited exception to the Caesar Act."
