DAMASCUS (Dispatches) -- Deputy head of the Iranian-Syrian Parliamentary Friendship Association Abbas Kalro has expressed Iran’s solidarity with the Syrian people and their continued support to help them cope with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that killed thousands of people.
In a meeting with Governor of Latakia Amer Hilal, the Iranian official discussed the province’s needs including for humanitarian, health, relief, and engineering assistance as well as cooperation for reconstruction of collapsed buildings and providing alternative housing for those affected, official news agency SANA reported.
Hilal touched on the human and material losses caused by the earthquake and the inadequacy of technical capabilities to deal with its repercussions due to the West’s economic sanctions.
Kalro reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to standing by Syria and its willingness to provide necessary aid and extend a helping hand to those affected by the earthquake.
The World Bank said Friday that Syria sustained an estimated $5.1 billion in damages in last month’s massive earthquake that struck southeast Turkey and northern parts of the war-torn country.
The quake killed at least 50,000 people, including about 6,000 in Syria, according to the United Nations. Tens of thousands are still missing and hundreds of thousands were left homeless.