The Secretary-General of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Haytham Rahmeh, has called for the integration of efforts and international support to respond to the devastating consequences of the earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria on February 6th.
Rahmeh expressed his gratitude to the countries and organizations that have provided assistance to those affected by the earthquakes, despite the delay in the arrival of necessary technical equipment during the initial days of the disaster. He thanked Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Iraqi Kurdistan region, Turkey, the European Union, the International Organization for Migration, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Egyptian volunteer team residing in Türkiye.
In addition to expressing his thanks, Rahmeh urged for more solidarity and support to heal the wounds left by the earthquake and to provide the necessary response for those affected. He stressed the importance of securing housing for all the affected families who lost their homes or were forced to leave them because they were unsuitable for housing.
The Syrian Opposition Coalition’s Secretary-General praised the civil defense and rescue teams in both Syria and Türkiye for their tremendous efforts in saving lives, and also thanked the Syrians inside and outside Syria for launching fundraising campaigns to aid those affected in northwestern Syria.
Rahmeh acknowledged that the disaster requires not just immediate relief aid, but also a long-term response plan. He emphasized the need to secure shelter and housing, particularly with winter conditions and extreme cold multiplying the effects of the disaster on women, children, and the elderly.
He noted that Qatar pledged to send 10,000 prefab homes to northwestern Syria, and called on other countries and friends to contribute to covering the rest of the needs and necessities for securing shelter and housing. The disaster has had a significant impact on the psychological health of those affected, especially with several families now living in one tent.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
