Saudi Arabia is coordinating efforts to operate direct relief flights to Aleppo, to provide medical, shelter, search, and rescue aid to those affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Türkiye, according to Saudi sources.
The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kingdom was preparing to send thousands of volunteers, including doctors, health practitioners, and specialists in emergency, search, and rescue, to help those affected by the earthquake.
Director of the Health Aid Department at the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), Abdullah al-Moallem, confirmed that the Saudi relief bridge would provide aid to those affected in Türkiye and Syria under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Moallem revealed there were Saudi efforts to conduct direct relief flights to Aleppo in the coming hours after coordinating with the Syrian Red Crescent.
Asked about the arrival of the Saudi medical teams to Syria, the official explained they would arrive soon after opening the crossings.
Moallem recalled that the sixth Saudi plane arrived Saturday at Gaziantep Airport in Türkiye, carrying 98 tons of relief aid, including food, tents, blankets, rugs, shelter bags, and medical supplies.
The medical assistance included machines for X-rays, vital and patient monitoring, anesthesia, respiration, and supplies for surgical operating rooms.
Moallem explained that the rescue and aid teams include the Saudi Red Crescent teams of doctors, health assistants, and paramedics, rescue teams from the Civil Defense, including 93 individuals specialized in search and rescue, and various medical volunteers registered on the KSRelief platform.
He said that the Center has plans to establish field hospitals later but noted that the priority is for search and rescue, depending on the situation and following the Saudi leadership’s directives.
Director of Volunteer Programs at KSRelief, Ali al-Qarni, indicated that more than 4,000 male and female volunteers registered to help those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye.
Qarni told Asharq Al-Awsat that the first field volunteer teams had already arrived to help in Türkiye and Syria, indicating there were medical, emergency, psychological support, and rescue teams.
The official warned that the first minutes in such disasters were important for rescuing lives, adding that the Center is currently devising plans required after such incidents following the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Qarni called on all volunteers wishing to contribute and help in Syria and Türkiye to register on KSRelief’s volunteering portal, praising the large numbers that came forward and expressed willingness to help.
The campaign launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to donate to the earthquake victims in Syria and Türkiye collected more than SR250 million.
