Quake leaves Syrians to face double catastrophes – WFP official
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director called on Saturday for opening more crossings to facilitate life-saving aid to quake survivors in Syria, following a visit to affected areas in the country.
David Beasley, WFP Executive Director, said, “Food assistance must get to the people of northwest Syria from all sides, through all routes, without any restrictions.”
Beasley described the situation in northwest Syria after the devastating Feb. 6 earthquake as “a catastrophe on top of a catastrophe” following 12 years of unrelenting conflict.
At dawn on Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Syria and Turkey, killing thousands and injuring much more. The earthquake also caused immense destruction of buildings, trapping thousands under the rubble.
He stressed the areas that received the hardest blow by the earthquake lack the capacity and infrastructure to deal with the impact of the devastating earthquake.
“Our trucks are rolling, and this food and other supplies will literally save thousands and thousands of lives,” Beasley said.
He also praised the decision to reopen two additional border crossings for delivering aid and relief assistance to people of northwest Syria after the earthquake, calling on all parties to ramp up cross-line deliveries.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to allow United Nations aid deliveries to opposition-held areas in northwest Syria through two additional border crossings with Turkey for three months, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Feb. 13.
The director noted that $150 million is needed to support 800.000 people affected by the earthquake in Syria for six months and another $300 million is required to maintain WFP’s food assistance for 5.5 million people in Syria every month.
He stressed that 3.8 million Syrians will not receive WFP’s assistance within months in case the aforementioned amounts are not received.