Northwest Syria of ‘Greatest Concern’ after Quake, Says WHO

A view of a street damaged by the earthquake, in the opposition-held town of Harem, in Idlib governorate, Syria, February 14, 2023. (Reuters)
A view of a street damaged by the earthquake, in the opposition-held town of Harem, in Idlib governorate, Syria, February 14, 2023. (Reuters)
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Northwest Syria of ‘Greatest Concern’ after Quake, Says WHO

A view of a street damaged by the earthquake, in the opposition-held town of Harem, in Idlib governorate, Syria, February 14, 2023. (Reuters)
A view of a street damaged by the earthquake, in the opposition-held town of Harem, in Idlib governorate, Syria, February 14, 2023. (Reuters)

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday it was particularly concerned over the welfare of people in northwestern Syria, a opposition-held region with little access to aid, since the earthquakes struck last week.

"It's clear that the zone of greatest concern at the moment is the area of northwestern Syria," WHO's emergencies director, Mike Ryan, told a briefing in Geneva.

"The impact of the earthquake in areas of Syria controlled by the government is significant, but the services are there and there is access to those people. We have to remember here that in Syria, we've had ten years of war. The health system is amazingly fragile. People have been through hell."

Efforts to distribute aid have been hampered by a war that has splintered the country for more than a decade. War enmities have obstructed at least two attempts to send aid across frontlines into Syria's northwest, but an aid convoy reached the area overnight.

During a visit to Damascus in the wake of last Monday's quakes, senior WHO officials asked Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to open more border crossings with Türkiye to ensure aid reaches the area, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

Assad authorized two more border crossings into northwest Syria on Monday, a move the Human Rights Watch advocacy group described as "too little, too late."

Ryan, however, described the opening of the crossing points as a sign "all sides are stepping back and focusing on the needs of the people right now."

"It is an impossibility at times to provide adequate health care in the context of eternal conflict," he said.

"We've seen a huge ramp up of aid. We've seen the deployment of emergency medical teams. We've seen all the things that we need to see in a disaster. But this is not sustainable unless we have a more peaceful context in which this can happen more effectively."



Egypt’s Defense Minister Urges Military to Maintain ‘Combat Readiness’

The Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces during a meeting with Special Forces paratroopers and commandos (Egyptian Military Spokesperson) 
The Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces during a meeting with Special Forces paratroopers and commandos (Egyptian Military Spokesperson) 
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Egypt’s Defense Minister Urges Military to Maintain ‘Combat Readiness’

The Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces during a meeting with Special Forces paratroopers and commandos (Egyptian Military Spokesperson) 
The Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces during a meeting with Special Forces paratroopers and commandos (Egyptian Military Spokesperson) 

Egyptian Defense Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Abdel Majeed Saqr has called on the military to maintain “the highest levels of efficiency and combat readiness, enhance skill and physical fitness through continuous training, and preserve high morale so that the Armed Forces remain the nation’s strong shield.”

Saqr’s remarks came during a meeting with members of the Special Forces – paratroopers and commandos - attended by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ahmed Khalifa and several senior commanders.

According to a statement by Egypt’s military spokesperson on Sunday, the visit was part of a series of meetings to assess the morale, combat efficiency, and readiness of the personnel, as well as their role in safeguarding national security.

Special Forces Commander Abdel Qader Amara Habib said that the troops work day and night to preserve the security and stability of the nation, pointing to “the strong support provided by the General Command to enable its soldiers to fulfill their duties with skill and competence as part of the Armed Forces’ integrated system.”

During the visit, Saqr conveyed President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s greetings and appreciation to the Special Forces fighters, affirming “the General Command’s recognition of the great efforts made by these men to protect the nation and safeguard its sanctities.” He also praised the “self-discipline of the Armed Forces personnel and their dedication to sacrificing whatever it takes to preserve Egypt’s resources and the welfare of its people.”

Two days ago, Saqr had met with soldiers of the Southern Military Zone, urging them to remain on high alert to carry out any mission under all circumstances. He also stressed the importance of ongoing awareness to keep up with developments and events on all levels.

Last week, the defense minister also met with troops from the Second Field Army, as part of ongoing efforts by the Armed Forces’ leadership to engage with soldiers and update them on the latest developments affecting Egypt’s national security.

In remarks at that time, Saqr reiterated the General Command’s commitment to caring for the individual fighter and improving combat performance so that personnel can execute all assigned missions efficiently under any conditions.