AANES ready to send aid to Suwayda, awaits Damascus approval
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – A senior official from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) confirmed on Tuesday that humanitarian aid convoys intended for Suwayda, southern Syria, are fully prepared, pending formal approval from Damascus to open a humanitarian corridor into the embattled southern governorate.
“We have warehouses stocked with relief and medical supplies, in addition to ongoing community initiatives, all of which fall under the umbrella of the Autonomous Administration,” said Farouq al-Mashi, Co-Chair of the Social Affairs and Labor Board.
Al-Mashi noted that the AANES is currently awaiting approval from the transitional government in Damascus. Coordination and communication are being handled by the AANES’ Department of Foreign Relations.
“There are numerous obstacles to opening a humanitarian corridor into Suwayda, the most pressing of which are the security conditions surrounding the area,” he added.
Al-Mashi stressed the necessity of coordinating with Damascus, especially on security matters, to ensure the safe passage of aid convoys.
He reaffirmed that the AANES is prepared to dispatch the aid immediately upon receiving official approval, after which the Syrian government would assume responsibility for ensuring the convoys’ safety and delivery inside its territory.
Last week, the AANES responded to an appeal by prominent Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, who had called for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor between Suwayda and northeast Syria. The AANES immediately expressed its readiness to provide humanitarian and medical assistance.