Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, confirmed on Thursday that the scene following the devastating earthquake was "not surprising," as Syrians "felt it at different turns of the war on Syria", noting that it was "more expressive" for it came "after 12 years of war and embargo."

In a televised speech about the repercussions of the earthquake that struck the country, Al-Assad added that "If this war has exhausted and drained a lot of the national resources, and weakened the capabilities to face more crises, the war itself gave the Syrian society the expertise and the ability to act quickly and effectively in the early hours of the earthquake."

الرئيس السوري #بشار_الأسد عن تداعيات الزلزال:

"المساعدات العاجلة التي وصلت من الدول الصديقة والشقيقة ساهمت في تخفيف آثار الزلزال".#سوريا #زلزال_سوريا #زلزال_سوريا_تركيا #زلزال_شرق_المتوسط pic.twitter.com/9pcPV1CidS

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) February 16, 2023

What we learn from this harsh experience is "to believe in our own tremendous capabilities," the Syrian President added.

Al-Assad pointed out that "What we shall face for months and years, in terms of economic, social and services challenges is no less important than what we faced during the first days," adding that "what is important is having the vision based on a national consensus and a broad dialogue" to face the repercussions of the earthquake.

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The Syrian President stated that "government institutions have started to provide temporary housing until permanent housing is provided at a later stage," noting that "creating a fund for supporting the affected people is under study."

He added, "The necessary legislation will be passed and measures taken in order to alleviate the economic burdens on their population," in addition to "some other ideas which have been proposed recently and will be announced by the relevant institutions, after being properly examined, discussed and their feasibility ensured."

الرئيس السوري #بشار_الأسد عن تداعيات الزلزال:

" نعمل على إصدار تشريعات واتخاذ إجراءات لتخفيف تداعيات الزلزال بالإضافة إلى أفكار أخرى سيعلن عنها من قبل المؤسسات المعنية ".#سوريا #زلزال_سوريا #زلزال_سوريا_تركيا #زلزال_شرق_المتوسط pic.twitter.com/BkoLjinxgL

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) February 16, 2023

President Al-Assad thanked the countries that stood by Syria, from the first hours of the disaster, as well as the rescue teams that were sent to participate in relief operations.

Al-Assad appreciated "the emergency aid sent by sisterly and friendly countries, which constituted a significant support for the national efforts to alleviate the impact of the earthquake and save many of the injured," noting that "Syria has not been an earthquake area for about two and a half centuries. Neither the buildings nor the institutions nor the equipment was prepared for different types of natural disasters."

Since the devastating earthquake struck northern Syria on February 6, humanitarian aid planes and rescue and relief teams continued to arrive in Syria, from multiple countries, especially from Tunisia, Algeria, the UAE, China, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and others.

In the meantime, the US and European sanctions imposed on Syria hindered humanitarian response to the disaster, which caused massive destruction and claimed the lives of thousands. In the face of an international rush to send aid to the stricken areas in Turkey, the same international enthusiasm was absent in defying the US sanctions and pulling the Syrians out from under the rubble of the siege.