WHO calls on conflicting parties in Syria to achieve peace using quake

Families affected by the Feb. 6 earthquake in northwestern Syria are being accommodated at a shelter located outside the city of Afrin, northwest Syria
Families affected by the Feb. 6 earthquake in northwestern Syria are being accommodated at a shelter located outside the city of Afrin, northwest Syria

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, World Food Programme (WFP) called on Syrian government and opposition to take advantage of the February 6 earthquake to be “a platform for peace.”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a media briefing, “I call on the leaders of both sides of the Syrian conflict to use the shared suffering of this crisis as a platform for peace.”

Ghebreyesus stressed that Syrians “need health for peace, and peace for health.”

He offered his condolences for those who lost their loved ones, homes and livelihoods, and expressed deepest respect for the responders and health workers.

The WHO will continue to support Syrians, but urgent greater international support is needed for the recovery and rebuilding efforts, he stressed.

On the same day, the WHO distributed life-saving medicines, supplies and equipment to three hospitals in northwest Syria that are sufficient for 280.000 treatments.

Reporting by Emma Jamal