February 8, 2023
Venezuelan rescue brigade preparing to go to Syria and Turkey
On Monday, February 6, after the devastation and material damage in Syria caused by a massive 7.8 earthquake, Venezuelan Minister for Foreign Relations Yván Gil met with the Syrian Ambassador in Caracas, Kenan Zaher Al Deen, to coordinate support that the Venezuelan government will provide Syria. This is also within the context of the illegal US and European sanctions that the Syrian people still face amid the foreign occupation of their country that continues even during this devastating natural disaster that has not only caused wide spread destruction but is responsible for the deaths of over 15,000 people and tens of thousands more who are injured and missing, and the number is climbing.
On his social media sad that President Nicolás Maduro has instructed us to “provide all the support available to help this sister nation. Let the Syrian people count on our total solidarity!”
This promise quickly turned into action and on Wednesday morning, Venezuela sent 52 specialists to Turkey and Syria to collaborate in rescue actions in the areas affected by the earthquakes.
This brigade is made of firefighters and members of the Civil Protection and the Simon Bolivar Humanitarian Task Force. Accompanied by six rescue dogs, the specialists departed on a Conviasa airline plane, which was also transporting 22 tons of humanitarian aid.
The Venezuelan rescuers will make a first stop in Syria, where they will deliver part of the food and medicine they carry. The firefighters will stay in this country.
Subsequently, the plane will continue to Turkey, where the other part of the humanitarian assistance will be delivered and the rest of the Civil Protection team will disembark.
At the airport from before the plane took off, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Gil once again ratified the solidarity of President Nicolas Maduro with the peoples of these 2 suffering countries.
The international community must raise its voice now so that the U.S. sanctions against Syria be lifted immediately and its population can receive the resources it needs, Gil stressed.
Source: Telesur