Makhlouf and Danapala discuss UNHCR’s response plan in Syria to mitigate the effects of the earthquake

Damascus (ST): Discussing the response plan of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria and the mechanism of action to mitigate the effects of the earthquake formed the focus of the meeting of Eng. Hussein Makhlouf, Minister of Local Administration and Environment, with the “Chairman of the Higher Committee for Relief and Head of the UNHCR Mission in Syria,” Sivanka Danapala.

Makhlouf stressed the need to expand the circle of support provided by the Commission in these circumstances, especially shelter projects, rehabilitation of homes for the affected, infrastructure and livelihood support, with the possibility of dealing with the lack of vehicles and equipment necessary to accelerate the pace of work in the process of evaluating the technical condition of buildings.

He explained that the work is now focused on securing housing for those affected outside the temporary shelters, where the technical construction committees evaluate the technical and construction condition of the buildings and classify them to take the necessary action according to each case (restoration, rehabilitation or construction), which contributes to accelerating the return of the people to their homes.

Makhlouf thanked the UNHCR for all its rapid response to provide humanitarian and relief aid to those affected by the earthquake in the affected governorates, stressing the provision of all necessary support for the work of the UNHCR and other UN and international organizations, to build a joint work program to help those affected and achieve tangible results.

For his part, Danapala spoke about the Commission’s action plan to expand its humanitarian response to the repercussions of the earthquake in the affected areas and to reach those in need, especially in these circumstances, stressing that contacts are being done to increase the resources provided to cover all needs.

K.Q.