Chinese relief aid is seen in Damascus international airport in Damascus, capital of Syria, Feb. 15, 2023. The Chinese government provided humanitarian assistance to Syria on Wednesday to help the country overcome the repercussions of the deadly earthquake. It includes medical and food supplies, tints, and communication equipment. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
DAMASCUS, Feb. 15 (Xinhua)-- A plane landed in Damascus on Wednesday with a batch of humanitarian aid from China to help Syria overcome the repercussions of last week's powerful earthquakes.
Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei and Moataz Dawji, the assistant minister of Syria's Local Administration and Environment Ministry, were at the airport to witness the transfer of the aid supplies.
Relief aid from China is unloaded at Damascus international airport in Damascus, Syria, on Feb. 13, 2023. A second batch of relief aid from the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) arrived in Syria by plane on Monday to provide emergency supplies for people affected by the earthquakes in the country. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
At the airport, Shi told reporters that the aid constitutes 80 tonnes of medical supplies, such as respirators and oxygen-generating devices, as well as tents, first aid kits, blankets, winter clothes, and food materials.
Shi said that though separated by thousands of miles, China and Syria have always been good and true friends who help each other and look out for each other.
"The Chinese government will provide more urgent humanitarian assistance, whether food or medicinal materials, as well as communication equipment to support the Syrian efforts in overcoming the earthquake disaster," the ambassador added.
Ali Abdul-Rahman and his two kids stand on the side of his destroyed porch at his house hitten by an earthquake in the Masharqa neighborhood in Aleppo city, northern Syria, Feb. 13, 2023.(Photo by Monsef Memari/Xinhua)
For his side, Dawji said that the Syrian government's priority now is to help the survivors and provide them with the help they need, expressing the belief that Syrians can overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes with help from friends like China.
After the massive earthquakes that jolted Türkiye and neighboring Syria on Feb. 6, China has been actively providing assistance to the two countries. The Chinese Red Cross Society moved immediately, providing two batches of humanitarian supplies to Syria, which arrived in Damascus on Feb. 9 and 13 respectively.
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