UNITED NATIONS, February 17: The world body is continuing its cross-border aid delivery to northwestern Syria following massive earthquakes, a UN spokesman said Thursday.
Twenty-two trucks carrying aid from the World Food Program and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) crossed the Bab Al-Hawa crossing from Türkiye, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Two additional trucks carrying UNHCR-provided tents crossed the Bab Al-Salam crossing. In northwestern Syria, shelter needs are the top priority among displaced people, she said.
The Bab Al-Hawa crossing point was authorized by the UN Security Council for the delivery of cross-border aid to northwest Syria.
After the earthquakes on February 6, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad decided to open the two crossing points of Bab Al-Salam and Al Ra’ee from Türkiye to northwestern Syria for an initial period of three months to enable timely delivery of humanitarian aid. aid.
Dujarric said that many houses collapsed after the earthquakes. As of Tuesday, more than 8,900 buildings had been destroyed or damaged in northwestern Syria, leaving 11,000 people homeless.
Obviously, other priorities, in addition to shelter and food needs, are cash assistance and supplies to deal with harsh winter weather conditions, he said.
