Syria’s Water System at Risk of Collapse in Northwest after Quake, Warns Red Cross

Collapsed buildings are seen through the windows of a damaged house following a devastating earthquake in the town of Jinderis, Aleppo province, Syria, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. (AP)
Collapsed buildings are seen through the windows of a damaged house following a devastating earthquake in the town of Jinderis, Aleppo province, Syria, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. (AP)
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Syria’s Water System at Risk of Collapse in Northwest after Quake, Warns Red Cross

Collapsed buildings are seen through the windows of a damaged house following a devastating earthquake in the town of Jinderis, Aleppo province, Syria, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. (AP)
Collapsed buildings are seen through the windows of a damaged house following a devastating earthquake in the town of Jinderis, Aleppo province, Syria, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. (AP)

Syria's ageing and war-damaged water system around the northwestern province of Aleppo is at risk of collapse after an earthquake struck a month ago, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Monday.

Some 6,000 people were killed by the Feb. 6 earthquake and aftershocks in Syria, with most of them dying in a opposition-held zone near the Turkish border.

The event also caused direct damage to water infrastructure there, reducing its effectiveness and raising the risk that contaminated water could seep in, the Geneva-based ICRC said in an emailed statement warning of a "possible collapse".

"The possibility of devastating public health consequences as a knock-on effect from the earthquake is frighteningly high," said Fabrizio Carboni, the regional director for the Near and Middle East for the ICRC.

Already, cholera has spread in parts of Syria with at least two deaths reported since the earthquake.

Many rooftop water tanks were also destroyed during the earthquake, it said, creating additional strain on the system which is already impaired after 12 years of conflict.



Iraq’s FM: No Preconditions on Resumption of Iraqi-Syrian Relations

FILE PHOTO: Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad//File Photo
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Iraq’s FM: No Preconditions on Resumption of Iraqi-Syrian Relations

FILE PHOTO: Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad//File Photo

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said on Friday that his country will invite Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to attend the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad.

His statement constitutes the first official Iraqi stance on developments in Syria since the overthrow of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime and the appointment of al-Sharaa as Syria's new president.

Baghdad prepares to host the Arab League summit in May. Observers consider the event as an opportunity to break the stalemate in the relations between Baghdad and Damascus.

In an interview with France24, Hussein said he sent an official invitation to his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shibani, who is expected to visit Baghdad very soon.

Al-Shibani had earlier said he will visit the Iraqi capital following an official invitation. The Syrian minister expressed intent to discuss border security and economic cooperation with Iraqi officials.

Al-Sharaa to Visit Baghdad

“There will be the Arab League Summit in Baghdad next May and Iraq is going to invite all Arab leaders, including Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa,” Hussein said.

He affirmed that the Iraqi government has no preconditions regarding relations with Syria, but announced that Baghdad has a set of views regarding the future of its neighbor.

Hussein addressed the presence of ISIS terrorists in eastern Syria, saying they “are very much active nowadays” and “because of the fact that they are on the border, they can be a threat for Iraq.”

Therefore, the Minister said, Baghdad needs to cooperate with Syria to attack ISIS and prevent its resurgence.

Meanwhile in Baghdad, the upcoming visit of Syria’s Foreign Minister has raised controversy, particularly over how Iraq must deal with the New Administration in Damascus, while the Iraqi government is engaged in international dialogue on helping Syria organize a comprehensive political process.

Baghdad remains hesitant to engage with the new regime in Syria in the presence of powerful Iraqi political groups linked to Iran.

Iraqi politician Mashan al-Jabouri told Asharq Al-Awsat that “Iraq's decision to engage with Syria remains largely decided by (Shiite) armed factions.”

He explained that the visit of the Syrian Foreign Minister to Iraq will not much affect the Iraqi-Syrian relations.

But, he said, “it will be an official recognition of the change that happened in Syria.”

While in Baghdad, al-Shibani will tackle several issues, including border security and the opening of crossings.

Sources said the issue of Syrian officers and soldiers who entered Iraq and have settled in shelter centers after the overthrow of al-Assad’s regime, will also be placed on the table.

Around 200 Syrian soldiers and officers have crossed into Iraq through the Al-Qaim border crossing in the west of the country and stayed in shelter centers.

“Most of them hold different military ranks. The Iraqi government is following their affairs on a daily basis,” the sources said, noting that “their presence in Iraq bets on the outcome of the Iraqi-Syrian talks that will start soon.”