Rapid response by the local relief sector to the repercussions of the earthquake

Voluntary teams, community initiatives, bodies and institutions continue to mobilize all their potentials to serve the people in the earthquake-affected areas.

The local relief sector’s rapid response to the earthquake during the first week of the disaster has proved its strong presence.

The Syria Trust for Development has been extensively involved in relief efforts by securing basic requirements for those affected in shelters or in their places of residence with relatives and friends in various regions. It has also set up specialized committees in cooperation with the engineers’ union in the affected governorates to detect uncollapsed buildings and homes in the earthquake areas and to conduct a preliminary assessment for the safe return of  inhabitants.

To date, the Syrian Trust’s field teams continue to prepare meals and deliver them to shelters for children who have lost their families and those in need within its community service centers, as well as to contribute to providing medical services and treatment to the injured.

The Syrian Trust has also sent more than 3,000 food parcels to the governorates to be distributed immediately to the affected persons at shelter centers.

In a similar role, since the early hours of the earthquake disaster on Monday, February 6, the Al-Areen Humanitarian Foundation paid the costs of treatment and surgeries for the injured who were transferred to private hospitals and communicated with public hospitals and assisted in securing all necessary medical supplies and equipment for the injured.

Ambulances belonging to the Foundation’s emergency system have also been distributed to affected areas to transport injured persons to hospital or dead to burial places, and later to transfer the injured, after recovery, from hospitals to relatives’ homes or shelters.

According to Dr. Raneem Asaad, the official of the medical office of the Foundation, the staff of the Foundation donated blood and distributed basic supplies including mattresses, blankets, medicines and infant formula to shelters, and followed up on the needs of the injured in hospitals, especially those who lost their family.

Field kitchens were also put in place to ensure food for those affected and provide healthy food for sick people. The Foundation asked those affected outside shelters and who moved to the homes of their relatives in the city or villages” to communicate with it via numbers posted on its Facebook page, so that the concerned teams provide them with all their needs.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Social Affairs, in cooperation with Damascus Governorate, the Union of Charitable Associations in Damascus and its countryside, and the Ahl al-Sham Initiative Foundation, conducted an aid convoy containing 45 tons of foodstuffs, clothing, blankets and other items to meet the emergency and necessary needs of citizens in the affected governorates.

In turn, the “Basmet Shabab Souria” (Syrian Youth Imprint) Foundation in Dara ‘a and Deir Ez-Zour launched a blood donation campaign in support of the wounded and injured as a result of the devastating earthquake. In Latakia, the Foundation formed several teams to help transport the wounded and injured, evacuate, rescue and search for survivors from the rubble.

The Foundation’s volunteers, in cooperation with civil defense units, carried out rescue operations and lifted debris in the area of Salhab, “Ayn al-Krum”, Hawaiq village and the city Centre.

The NGOs intensified their efforts to provide the necessary needs. The “Recovery the Poor Charitable Association” sent a relief convoy consisting of 7 trucks carrying foodstuffs, mineral water, various clothes, blankets, medicines, medical supplies, wheelchairs and other necessary materials for those affected.

The “Syria brings us together” Foundation sent 5 convoys loaded with food and relief items to the governorates of Hama, Lattakia and Aleppo.

The “Ghiras Development Association” and the “Help Association” participated in preparing and sending aid convoys loaded with various foodstuffs, clothes, shoes, and medicines to the affected governorates, in addition to preparing meals for the affected people.

“Al-Khair Channels Foundation” conducted eight cars containing various foodstuffs, blankets, winter clothes, medicines, diapers and baby formula.

The “Ahmed Humanitarian Project” also launched an appeal to gather in Damascus, collect clothes, medicines and blankets and deliver them to shelters in affected areas.

The “Sterilize it” team announced that it prepared cars to send assistance to those affected in Aleppo and Jableh in coordination with local authorities to respond to the consequences of the disaster. The assistance included medical materials, chronic disease medicines, medical devices, spray masks, oxygen cylinders and fire extinguishers.

Al-Quds Charitable Society sent an aid convoy that included 6 trucks of foodstuffs, clothes, mattresses and blankets.

In the context of providing social and psychological support to those affected, the Syrian Commission for Family and Population Affairs allocated telephone numbers to seek advice on this type of support through specialists 24 hours a day.

Amal Farhat