The World Health Organization (WHO) is awaiting final approval from the rebels to send relief supplies to rebel-held areas in northwestern Syria.
On the 13th (Korean time), CNN reported that the WHO is waiting for final approval from the rebels to deliver the supplies as it faces difficulties in delivering relief supplies to rebel-held areas in northwestern Syria.
Rick Brennan, WHO Regional Disaster Response Officer, told a media briefing in the Syrian capital Damascus on the 12th (local time) that since the earthquake on the 6th, “there has been no delivery across northwest Syria.”
He said, “There is a schedule (procurement of relief forms) in a few days,” and “we are still negotiating to go to the rebel area in northwestern Syria.” He added that the WHO was “planning a massive expansion of the (medicine procurement) crossing” even before the earthquake.
It also explained, “While the WHO has been approved by the Syrian government, it is awaiting approval from rebel forces.” “We’re working really, really hard on negotiations for a position in rebel-held areas in northwestern Syria,” Brennan said.
Martin Griffiths, UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian and Emergency Relief, posted on social media on the 12th, saying, “Trucks loaded with UN relief goods are entering northwest Syria,” and posted photos of trucks loading goods for cross-border delivery. did.
Deputy Secretary-General Griffiths said he was “encouraged by the increased size of the convoy to the UN goods transshipment facility on the Turkiye border,” but the aid director insisted that “more points must be accessible for faster aid.” .
On the 12th, Raed Saleh, director of the Syrian volunteer group ‘White Helmets’, requested through his SNS that “the UN outside the Security Council open three crossings for emergency aid in northwestern Syria.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the 12th (local time) that he hoped to be able to visit rebel areas that were damaged by the earthquake on the 6th.
On the same day, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Secretary-General Ghebreyesus and promised to expand the opening of borders to support rebel-held areas in northwest Syria hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
High-ranking WHO officials, including Secretary-General Ghebreyesus, arrived in Aleppo, Syria, which was hit by the earthquake on the 11th, for a humanitarian aid flight carrying trauma first aid and surgical instruments worth 290,000 dollars (approximately 307 million won).
Secretary-General Ghebreyesus, who witnessed the serious earthquake damage with his own eyes, expressed concern that “in addition to the conflict, COVID-19, cholera, and economic difficulties, the earthquake has now brought unbearable pain.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.