72,256 families affected by the earthquake in Lattakia

LATTAKIA, Mar.14, (ST)- The parties affiliated to Lattakia Governorate Operations Room continue their work on several tracks to study and confront the repercussions of the earthquake that struck Syria on the 6th of last February, and to provide the basic and necessary needs for those who were affected by the tragedy.

According to the recent statistics mentiined in the report issued by the Governorate Operations Room on the 10th of this month, the number of families affected by the earthquake has reached 72,256 families to date [ approximately 332,377 individuals] including the number of those who left their homes because of fear of collapse.

However, the number of families that are temporarily living in sheltes has reached 2005 families, and work is still underway to count the number of affected families hosted by other families.

The report indicated that the number of buildings that were inspected by the detection committees reached 28,279 buildings, including 10,320 intact buildings, 13,068 buildings safe for return after maintenance, 3,930 buildings in need of consolidation, and 961 buildings need to be demolition.

As for schools in the governorate, the report said that 148 completely safe schools, 452 safe schools and in need of simple maintenance in the presence of students, and 149 unsafe schools in need of reinforcement, while the number of unsafe schools reached and needed inspection by Higher Safety Committee to 86 schools.

The report in addition pointed out that the operating room has begun work in partnership with international organizations, to prepare medium-term temporary shelters to receive the affected families.

It clarified that the preparation of the City Sports Hall has been completed, and the Qerdaha Hotel is expected to be completed on the 18th of March, while preparations are still underway to equip each of the Al-Basil and Al-Shabiba centers through the “BUI” organization, and the infrastructure (sanitation – water – electricity – communications) has been completed through the General Company for Building and Development for three prefabricated housing sites.

Basma Qaddour