Government allocates SYP 50 billion as an initial amount to finance emergency operations in earthquake-affected areas

The Cabinet approved an executive action plan to manage and organize relief operations in the governorates of Aleppo, Lattakia, Hama and Tartous, in the light of the directives issued by the Cabinet’s session held yesterday under the chairmanship of President Bashar al-Assad to follow up on the effects of the devastating earthquake that struck Syria on Monday the 6th of February 2023.

During its session today, chaired by Eng. Hussein Arnous, the Cabinet allocated 50 billion Syrian pounds as an initial amount to finance the emergency operations being carried out to deal with the effects of the devastating earthquake.

The Cabinet decided to distribute the aid to the areas affected by the earthquake according to a specific program.

Engineer Arnous explained that the plan includes the initial assessment of the earthquake’s repercussions, and the preparation of initial databases on the number of buildings that fell and the damaged infrastructure in the context of planning to deal with these damages according to the priorities and available capabilities.

The Cabinet decided to assign the governors to follow up the work of the construction safety committees and to identify the buildings that are likely to fall in each governorate. The Higher Committee for Relief was assigned to follow up the relief file, whether at the central level or at the level of sub-committees for relief in the governorates. The Prime Minister instructed the State Planning Commission to coordinate with all concerned authorities to prepare a constantly updated report on the damage caused by the earthquake in all sectors in the affected governorates, in coordination with the governors and the concerned committees.

Premier Arnous instructed the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment to follow up on providing all necessary supplies and assistance to the injured and affected by the earthquake, including foodstuffs, shelters, and others, as quickly as possible, according to priorities and to the maximum available capabilities.

The Prime Minister referred to the efforts made by the civil society, the private sector, popular organizations and the media to contribute to responding to the requirements of dealing with the effects of the devastating earthquake and to the role of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.