Lattakia Governorate, OCHA discuss efforts to support quake-affected people

Talks were held on Tuesday between the Governor of Lattakia Amer Hilal and a delegation representing the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Damascus and representatives of governments and humanitarian and development organizations in some donor countries, including Italy, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

The talks dealt with the requirements for finding long-term solutions for the people affected by the earthquake and with the current cooperation between government agencies, the local community and organizations to provide necessary assistance and intervene to meet the humanitarian needs.

The talks, held in the governorate building this morning, also dealt with the facilities provided to those who lost their documents under the rubble, and means to reach those affected who reside outside the shelter centers.

The governor explained the government’s plan to respond to the earthquake disaster and the obstacles that faced the rescue and medical teams due to the repercussions of the war and the ongoing blockade imposed on Syria.

He pointed out that that the response plan was strengthened with the arrival of rescue teams and relief aid convoys from brotherly and friendly countries and the assistance of the civil and local community and international organizations.

Governor Hilal stressed the importance of concerted international efforts and organizations in the field of securing housing for the affected families who were residing in these buildings, and whose number exceeded 77 thousand families. He also stressed the need to lift the coercive measures imposed on Syria, which negatively affected the Syrian people and impeded the delivery of humanitarian aid, including the medical one.

For her part, Marina Throne-Holst, Deputy Director of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, expressed condolences over the victims that Syria lost as a result of the earthquake, noting to the great work of government institutions, associations and international organizations to face the repercussions of the earthquake and mitigate its effects.

Hamda Mustafa