DAMASCUS, Feb 9 (Bernama) — Syria welcomes any help extended by countries and international organisations in the aftermath of the tragic earthquakes that jolted the country on Monday, provided that it is done so without politicisation, Special Adviser to the Presidency Dr Bouthaina Shaaban said.
“Hours after the earthquake occurred, Syria appealed to the UN member states, the agencies of the international organisation and its specialised funds, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian action partners from international governmental and non-governmental organisations to support its efforts in confronting the disaster in accordance with the standards of humanitarian action approved by the UN , and in coordination and cooperation with the Syrian government, and this confirms that we accept aid from all countries, provided that it is not politicised,” Shaaban said.
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported Shaaban’s remarks in an interview with Sky News TV Channel on Wednesday.
She added “We accept assistance from the West, and if the United States and the European Union offer to provide it, we accept it, but they did not offer any assistance despite the appeal of the President of the International Red Cross to all countries of the world to contribute to that.”
She made it clear that a large number of friendly and brotherly countries sent aid to Syria to overcome the repercussions of the disaster, although Western countries claim that providing this aid violates Security Council resolutions, according to SANA.
The Special Advisor also stressed the need to lift the illegal Western economic measures imposed on Syria, which have caused the suffering of its people and prevented state institutions from performing their role optimally in facing the repercussions of the earthquake.
Media reported the magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centred in the Kahramanmaras province, Turkiye, had killed more 15,000 people in Turkiye and Syria so far.
