Ghebreyesus visits a number of earthquake-affected sites, shelters, and the health sector in Aleppo
On February 11th, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, accompanied by the Minister of Health, Dr. Hassan Al-Ghobash, and the Governor of Aleppo, Hussein Diab, was briefed on a number of neighborhoods affected by the earthquake that struck the city of Aleppo last Monday.
Ghebreyesus was also briefed on the work of removing rubble and searching for survivors in each of the neighborhoods of Al-Shaar, Al-Halwaniya, Sad Al-Luz, and Joura. Awwad, the old transportation, Bustan al-Basha, and al-Mashareqa.
Ghebreyesus checked out the conditions of those affected in the two shelters in the Saad Al-Idlibi Mosque in Al-Holak neighborhood and the Monastery of the Holy Land of the Latin community in Al-Furqan neighborhood.
Ghebreyesus stated that the assistance of WHO takes place first by helping the injured and providing important basic materials such as medicines which is why a plane has arrived containing relief materials that exceed 35 tons of medical and health supplies, including antibiotics, equipment and devices for small operations that are performed in hospitals.
Ghebreyesus added: WHO continues to work according to a plan to meet the initial needs, and a long plan that includes helping the families of the victims and the injured to get out of this crisis.
Ghebreyesus expressed his hope that announcing the partial lifting of sanctions on Syria for a period of 180 days will contribute to facilitating and supporting international relief operations and the arrival of the necessary materials.
For his part, Minister of Health, Dr. Hassan Al-Ghobash affirmed the continuation of cooperation between the Ministry and WHO and the importance of the visit of the Director General of the Organization, which aims to stand on the ground and know the actual shortage in hospitals and the effects and damages of this disaster on the health sector.
Dr. Al-Ghobash called for providing the required medical assistance, supplies and services, pointing out that work is continuing to provide rapid and long-term relief aid, and there is constant communication with the WHO’s country director to provide what the health sector needs.
He expressed his hope that the visit would be an incentive and act as motivation in facilitating more medical aid for Syria, especially modern technologies, x-ray machines and the requirements for surgical operations to treat those affected by the earthquake disaster.
The Director of Health, Dr. Ziyad Al-Hajj Taha, the Director of the WHO Regional Office, Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, and the WHO Representative in Syria, Dr. Iman Al-Shanqeeti, participated in the tour.
- al-Mohammad