A delegation of the Syrian Coalition on Thursday visited Al-Raei border crossing in Aleppo province as they toured the departments and institutions in the liberated areas to assess the results of the work and the most important developments in the services sectors. The tour also aims to look into the possibility of developing and improving these services in parallel with the formation of the Syrian Interim Government.
The delegation was composed of the Coalition’s new presidential body headed by the Coalition’s President Anas al-Abda, Vice-Presidents Okab Yahya and Dima Moussa, Secretary-General Abdul Basit Abdul Latif, and Head-designate of the Syrian Interim Government Abdurrahman Mustafa.
Nidal Osman, Director of Al-Raei border crossing, said that the level of work and services being provided by the border crossing is constantly evolving. He said that the administration of the crossing would build new squares and buildings, including administration and immigration buildings.
Before it was officially opened, the crossing was used by relief convoys and to transport logistical assistance to relief organizations and local councils, Osman said. He noted that the crossing is now used by commercial vehicles as well.
After the Turkish commercial convoys were allowed into Syrian territory for the first time, Turkish trucks were able to unload their loads in the Shield of the Euphrates and Olive Branch regions, Osman added.
Osman said that the crossing initially allowed the passage of only about 40 commercial vehicles every day. The figure later rose to 150. Othman also said that after the opening of the new crossing on the Turkish side, relief convoys increased while the number of commercial trucks decreased.
Othman said that they set up a yard to unload the goods with an area of 16,000 square meters, noting that the establishment of the yard created new job opportunities and boosted the commercial activity in the region.
The border crossing, which is located in al-Bab sub-district, was officially opened on December 16, 2017. It was reopened to commercial vehicles after the completion of the transport and expansion work. There are two other border crossings in the province of Aleppo. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
