In the wake of destructive earthquakes, the Technische Hilfswerk (THW) is organising relief supplies to the value of some 1,500,000 euros for the region of north-western Syria. This afternoon, Wednesday, THW operatives handed over the first pallets – out of a total of 370 – to the World Food Programme (WFP) for onward shipment to Syria. “Everyone should have equal access to the assistance they need. For many of the people affected in Syria, this is not the first time they have lost everything. The earthquakes have completely destroyed large parts of the region’s infrastructure. Our aid shipments are just a first step,” says THW President Gerd Friedsam.
In Syria, the region particularly affected by the tremors of February 6 is the Idlib province near Aleppo. The areas affected by the disaster are very difficult to reach and the political situation is making it even more difficult to deliver the emergency aid that is so urgently needed. "The survivors have lost everything. Their most urgent needs are winterproof accommodation that protects them from the cold. By organising this aid delivery, the THW is contributing to the relief of this suffering," explains Gerd Friedsam.
Operatives in the THW Logistic Support Centre in Baden-Württemberg put together the aid shipment. "The need for emergency aid is enormous. So our logistics centre is loading some 370 pallets with relief supplies for north-western Syria, including tents, heaters, sleeping bags, field beds, sleeping mats, electricity generators and blankets," says Gerd Friedsam. "These new logistics hubs enable us to maintain stocks of relief supplies for this type of operation, which means our operatives can prepare aid for shipment at very short notice." This aid package was taken by the World Food Programme (WFP) for onward transport to north-western Syria. The WFP has been active in the region for years so it has the necessary logistical capacities in place already. In total, 73 tonnes of relief goods will be sent from Baden-Württemberg to Syria. The transport costs are being funded by the EU.
The disaster area in Syria is divided into the areas controlled by the government in Damascus and those under the control of rebels. Haulage contractors will ship this delivery to Turkey, and then on to Syria. In order for aid deliveries to be able to reach the Syrian earthquake regions more easily, the government has said it will open up more border crossings from Turkey.
In recent days the THW has already provided more than 100 tonnes of relief supplies for Turkey. Furthermore, on Monday evening the 50 experts of the THW's Rapid Deployment Unit Search and Rescue Abroad (SEEBA) returned from their deployment to Turkey. During their operations, this team managed to rescue two women from under the rubble, working together with other operatives. One rescue took place 100 hours after the quakes, the other a further 30 hours later.