As Quake Death Toll Rises, Arab Leaders Offer Condolences to Syria’s Assad

Russian and Syrian soldiers inspect an earthquake-damaged building in Aleppo, northern Syria. (AP)
Russian and Syrian soldiers inspect an earthquake-damaged building in Aleppo, northern Syria. (AP)
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As Quake Death Toll Rises, Arab Leaders Offer Condolences to Syria’s Assad

Russian and Syrian soldiers inspect an earthquake-damaged building in Aleppo, northern Syria. (AP)
Russian and Syrian soldiers inspect an earthquake-damaged building in Aleppo, northern Syria. (AP)

The death toll from Monday’s devastating earthquakes climbed to 812 in the Syrian governorates of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Idlib Countryside and Tartous, according to the Syrian Health Ministry. At least 1,449 people have also been injured in the quake.

Figures released by the ministry are not final as they don’t include victims residing outside regime-controlled areas.

Condolences have poured in and dozens of nations have offered aid since the pre-dawn earthquake that wiped out entire sections of cities in both Türkiye and Syria.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called Syria’s Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday to offer support after the devastating earthquake.

Ahmed Fahmy, spokesman for the Egyptian presidency, said Sisi “expressed his sincere condolences” in the wake of the 7.8-magnitude quake that hit Syria and neighboring Türkiye early Monday.

“President Sisi reiterated Egypt’s solidarity with Syria and its brotherly people in this calamity. He also directed that all possible aid be provided to Syria,” Fahmy said.

Syrian state news agency SANA said that “President Assad thanked Egypt for this position, which reflects the fraternal relations that bind the two brotherly countries.”

Assad on Tuesday also received a phone call from Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik bin Taimur al Said.

During the phone call, the Sultan conveyed the people of Oman’s solidarity with the brotherly people of Syria in the wake of the destructive earthquake.

“The Sultanate will stand with Syria in everything necessary to overcome this ordeal, and will send urgent aid to support the Syrian government’s efforts to overcome the effects of this disaster and provide relief to those affected by it,” said Sultan Haitham.

Moreover, Assad received a phone call from the King of Bahrain.

During the phone call, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa emphasized Bahrain’s solidarity and standing by Syria and its people in this difficult situation.

Assad received similar phone calls from leaders in Algeria and Iran.



Hemedti Issues Strict Orders to his Forces to Protect Sudanese People

 People collect clean water provided by a charity organization to people in Gedaref in eastern Sudan on August 30, 2024. (AFP)
People collect clean water provided by a charity organization to people in Gedaref in eastern Sudan on August 30, 2024. (AFP)
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Hemedti Issues Strict Orders to his Forces to Protect Sudanese People

 People collect clean water provided by a charity organization to people in Gedaref in eastern Sudan on August 30, 2024. (AFP)
People collect clean water provided by a charity organization to people in Gedaref in eastern Sudan on August 30, 2024. (AFP)

Commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemedti, issued on Saturday strict orders to his forces to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid in line with the commitments his delegation made at the recent peace talks in Geneva.

In a post on the X platform, he said he issued an “extraordinary administrative order to all the forces” to protect civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

He called on all commanders to abide by the orders in line with international humanitarian law. Any violators will be held accountable.

The RSF has been accused of widespread violations against civilians in areas under their control. They have also been accused of committing massacres in Gezira state in central Sudan. The RSF have denied the accusations.

Hemedti announced in August the formation of a “civilian protection force” that immediately assumed its duties in the Khartoum and Gezira states.

According to head of the RSF delegation to the Geneva talks, Omar Hamdan, the force is formed of 27 combat vehicles, backed by forces that have experience in cracking down on insubordination.

Hemedti stressed last week his commitment to all the outcomes of the Geneva talks, starting with ensuring the delivery of aid to those in need.

The RSF and army agreed to open two safe routes for the deliveries and to protect civilians to ease their suffering after nearly a year and a half of war.

The mediators in Geneva received commitments from the RSF that it would order the fighters against committing any violations against civilians in areas under their control.

Meanwhile, aid deliveries continued through the Adre border crossing with Chad. They are headed to people in Darfur in western Sudan.

Fifty-nine aid trucks carrying aid supplies crossed from Chad to Darfur, said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Saturday.

“The supplies are estimated to reach nearly 195,000 people in acute need in different parts of the country,” it added.

“About 128 aid trucks carrying supplies for an estimated 355,000 people are being prepared to cross into Sudan in the coming days and weeks to ensure a steady flow of supplies. Despite the surge of supplies through Adre, humanitarian partners have warned that ongoing rains and floods have damaged three major bridges in the region, limiting movements within Darfur,” it revealed.

“While progress has been made on the Adre border crossing, funding resources are depleting, and humanitarian funding is urgently required to sustain the supplies chain,” it urged.