A team from Aga Khan Foundation begins monitoring, evaluation and distribution of aid to those affected by the earthquake in Al-Qadmus

A team of 25 volunteers from the Aga Khan Foundation has started monitoring and evaluating operations, and the distribution of aid to homeowners affected by the earthquake in the city of Al-Qadmus, in coordination with the City Council.

The official of the Readiness Department at the Aga Khan Foundation, Iyad Zeino, stated  to a SANA reporter that the team, equipped with special equipment to clean the roads and facilitate the movement of citizens between homes, helped remove stones and rubble. He noted that material and in-kind assistance was distributed to those affected, according to the assessment carried out by the city council on the damage.

He pointed out that the initial assessment includes 48 totally and partially affected families, and the provision of aid continues until the completion of assessments for all damaged homes and buildings, especially since the numbers are increasing and need to be updated on a daily basis through coordination with Al-Qadmous city council.

Zeino noted that the damaged houses are made of stone, placed on top of each other to make  double walls that do not have cement and are unable to withstand horizontal earthquakes, which poses a danger to the people. With the onset of the crisis, solutions cannot be put in place directly, but rather the solutions are emergency ones until they think of a strategic vision.

In turn, Head of Al-Qadmous City Council, Tariq Atfa, stated that, in cooperation with the Aga Khan Foundation, sums of money were distributed to each family according to the percentage of damage, and relief materials including blankets and mattresses. The number of the most affected families reached 50 . A sum of money was deposited for the benefit of Al-Qadmous City Council by the Foundation in order to distribute it to another section of the affected families.

Atfa pointed out that the Aga Khan Foundation’s rescue team started this morning, in cooperation with the workers of the city council, to clear the alleys from rocks, rubble and stones, because the alleys are very narrow and it is difficult for the vehicles to enter them. He confirmed that the work is continuing until removing all of the rubble from the alleys.

Saeb Mustafa, whose house was completely damaged, expressed his thanks to the Aga Khan Foundation and praised the efforts made by Al-Qadmous city Council in counting the damage and assisting the affected families.

Inas Abdulkareem