Day: February 22, 2023

The death toll has risen to at least eight from an earthquake that struck the border region of Turkey and Syria Monday, two weeks after a massive quake that left nearly 45,000 people dead.

Monday’s earthquake had a magnitude of 6.4 and was centered in the town of Defne, in Turkey’s Hatay province, an area that was severely damaged by the February 6 quake.

The new quake was felt in several countries, including Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt, and was followed by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake.

‘All of a sudden, the building shook. I immediately ran downstairs from the second floor. It shook terribly. It’s very sad,’ Gaziantep resident Ahmet Kilic told VOA’s Turkish Service.

He said he was afraid to return to his house because he lives alone.

Another Gaziantep resident, Zeynep Deveci, told VOA he had just returned to his home following the February 6 quake.

‘Yesterday I came back, and today we are on the street again. We don’t know what our end will be.’

Rescue workers were searching in several collapsed buildings in Hatay where people were believed to be trapped.

Syria’s state news agency, SANA, reported that six people were injured in Aleppo.

Also Monday, a U.N. convoy carrying relief supplies made its way through a newly opened border crossing into Syria at al-Ra’ee.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said there are now three fully operating border crossings for the United Nations to enter Syria.

He said the U.N. has now dispatched 227 trucks to rebel-held areas in northwest Syria and said preparations are underway to send more trucks through all three border crossings.

In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Hatay earlier on Monday and said his government would begin next month to construct nearly 200,000 new homes in the province.

Also Monday, Erdogan met in Ankara with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who a day earlier announced U.S. pledges of $100 million in additional aid for Turkey and Syria.

The new aid brings the total U.S. assistance to $185 million and will be provided to international and nongovernmental groups that have been involved in the rescue and recovery efforts.

‘The United States is here to support you in your time of need, and we will be by your side as long as it takes to recover and rebuild,’ Blinken told reporters Monday during a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

VOA’s Turkish Service and United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

Source: Big News Network

Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, co-chaired today the first meeting of the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) for the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) that was signed between the Government of Lebanon and the United Nations Country Team on 28 April 2022.

The meeting discussed the 2023 priorities of the UN Cooperation Framework and introduced the role and functions of the JSC as well as the overall way forward on the implementation of the Framework.

“The JSC constitutes the high-level accountability forum between the UN and the Government of Lebanon for the Cooperation Framework, and plays a key role in providing strategic direction, oversight, and coordination for the UN programmatic and operational interventions in the development field in Lebanon,” said Riza in his opening remarks. “The Committee will monitor the progress made towards the implementation of the Cooperation Framework that aims to help put Lebanon back on the development track. Government’s role and leadership are critical for the advancement of this framework” he stressed.

The Committee, which is co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, is composed of Heads of the UN entities operating in Lebanon and of relevant ministers to advance the priorities of the CF, who were also present in the meeting.

For his part, Mikati stressed that the meeting aims to secure technical and developmental support to put Lebanon back on the road to recovery, explaining that “extensive consultations and meetings between the relevant Lebanese ministries and United Nations organizations have contributed to defining the priorities that will put us back on the path of sustainable development and social and economic recovery.” He added that “there is no sustainable development without political stability,” renewing his call to all leaders, officials and stakeholders to “put an end to obstruction and pointless political accusations that have no helpful role to play in the day-to-day life of the suffering citizens.”

The JSC will also ensure alignment of the national Government priorities with the Cooperation Framework and monitor its implementation and results on regular basis.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Two Indonesian planes arrived on Wednesday at Damascus International Airport, carrying an official delegation, a relief team, and aid for those affected by the earthquake.

“The relief team includes experts in facing disasters, and the two planes loading 75 tons of relief aid for those affected by the earthquake” Assistant Minister of Human Development and Cultural Affairs for Regional Development Coordination and Disaster Management Affairs, Sudirman said, indicating that his country will provide all possible assistance to Syria to face the repercussions of the earthquake.

Indonesia’s ambassador to Damascus, Wajid Fawzi, said that this aid is an expression of Indonesia’s solidarity with Syria and the strong relationship binding both countries

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Deputy House Speaker, Elias Bou Saab, on Wednesday welcomed the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Lebanon, Walid Al-Hadid, with whom he discussed the most recent local developments.

Bou Saab then received Cypriot Ambassador to Lebanon, Panayiotis Kyriacou, with whom he discussed the Lebanese government’s delay in signing the Lebanese-Cypriot decision to amend the maritime border demarcation agreement.

For his part, Bou Saab pledged to contact the government and follow up on the reasons behind said delay

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Wednesday welcomed at his Ain al-Tineh residence Caretaker Minister of Communications, Johnny Corm, with whom he discussed the country’s general conditions, as well as an array of matters involving the telecoms sector.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Nine Palestinians were killed today, two of them elderly and a child, while more than 100 were injured by live bullets, six reported in critical to very critical condition, in an Israeli army incursion into the northern West Bank city of Nablus, according to the latest update by the Ministry of Health.

The Health Ministry identified the nine as Adnan Saabe Baara, 72, Abdul Hadi Abdul Aziz Ashqar, 61, Mohammad Farid Shaaban, 16, Tamer Nimr Minawi, 33, Mohammad Khaled Anbousi, 25, Musab Munir Awais, 26, Hussam Bassam Isleem, 24, and Mohammad Abdul Fattah Abdul Ghani, 23, and Walid Riyad Dkhail, 23, were killed by Israeli army gunfire while 102 others were injured from live bullet wounds and admitted to Nablus hospitals, six said to be critical to very critical. Two journalists were also injured lightly by live bullets while covering the army incursion.

Sources in Nablus said a large army force raided the old city of Nablus at a peak business hour and while students were in their schools and surrounded a house while heavily shooting in all directions.

Residents confronted the soldiers, who, in addition to firing live bullets, fired tear gas and sound bombs at the homes and shops causing many suffocation cases in the densely populated old city.

The Red Crescent in Nablus said the Israeli army prevented its ambulances from reaching and evacuating the wounded in the old city.

With the killing of the nine, a total of 58 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army gunfire since the start of the year, including 11 minors, one woman and two elderly men

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

BAGHDAD, Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, emphasised yesterday, the importance of expanding cooperation between Iraq and Lebanon in various fields.

Rashid made the remarks, during a meeting with visiting Lebanese caretaker Labour Minister, Mustafa Bayram, in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, according to a statement released by the Iraqi presidency.

“The President highlighted the need to upgrade relations between the two countries, in economic, commercial and cultural fields,” the statement said.

Rashid also underlined the importance of strengthening the cooperation through the exchange of visits and experiences, especially in the fields of employment, social protection and vocational education, it said.

For his part, Bayram noted that, relations between Lebanon and Iraq had developed through communication, and demonstrated their depth under difficult circumstances.

During Bayram’s meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, on Monday, the two sides discussed various issues of common interests, including cooperation in the trade of agricultural products and prevention of double taxation, said a press release, issued by the Iraqi Prime Minister’s media office.

Source: Nam News Network

Lebanese Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Wednesday welcomed at his Yarzeh office Czech Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Mrs. Lydia SKOLILOVA, accompanied by military attache, Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav VASEK.

The meeting reportedly discussed relations and cooperation between the armies of both countries.

Aoun also welcomed Governor of Baalbek-Hermel, Judge Bashir Khoder, who offered condolences upon the loss of three army soldiers.

Khoder praised “the army’s role in preserving the security and safety of the Bekaa region.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Abdallah Bou Habib, on Wednesday discussed Syrian refugee affairs with Italian Member of the European Parliament, Massimo Fabio Castaldo.

The pair reportedly tackled the dire repercussions of the refugee crisis on Lebanon, and the difficulties that Lebanon faces dealing with this issue.

Minister Bou Habib separately met with Denmark’s Special Representative for UN Security Council Candidature, Holger Nielsen.

Both men discussed Denmark’s candidacy for a seat at the UN Security Council for the years 2026-2025. They also discussed coordination within international organizations between Lebanon and Denmark, bilateral relations, as well as Syrian refugee affairs.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The following is a statement on behalf of the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria following the International Syria Support Group Humanitarian Task Force meeting in Geneva:

“United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ms. Najat Rochdi convened the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) Humanitarian Task Force (HTF) in Geneva today.

This is the second HTF meeting since the devastating 6 February earthquake affected Syria and came two days after a second series of earthquakes and aftershocks. The meeting focused on the needs and key asks to facilitate humanitarian assistance to all affected areas as well as on quick disbursement of funding in response to the Flash Appeal.

At the outset of the meeting, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Geir O. Pedersen briefed HTF members on his recent visit to the region in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Deputy Special Envoy Ms. Rochdi noted that in Syria at least 8.8 million people have been affected by the earthquake, with the majority of those expected to need some form of humanitarian assistance. Many more Syrians in Turkiye are also heavily impacted. Syrians have lost loved ones, homes, shelters, sustenance, services and more. The Deputy Special Envoy recalled that the earthquake struck when needs in Syria were already at an all-time high.

The Deputy Special Envoy reiterated that there must not be a politicisation of response or of aid. She stressed that parties with influence must work to ensure that humanitarian assistance can travel through all routes and all modalities. In this context, Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi welcomed the rapid resumption and scaling up of the cross-border operations, including through additional border crossings of Bab Al-Salam and Al-Ra’ee. She also called for the resumption and increase of crossline operations into northwest Syria following the blanket approval by the Government of Syria until July. She called on concerned parties and those with influence to work to secure the necessary approvals and security guarantees without delay. She also stressed that there also must be simplified, expedited procedures for humanitarian staff movement, without restrictions, into northwest Syria to continue to address the needs.

Taking note of additional humanitarian exemptions announced by key donors in response to the earthquake, Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi urged donor countries to ensure that all relevant humanitarian exemptions for sanctions, which could interfere with the humanitarian response, be fully utilised.

The UN humanitarian leadership in Syria and the UN regional hubs in Turkiye and Amman briefed HTF members on the UN response across the country. In all affected areas, UN efforts are being accelerated to deal with the immense needs. The UN is providing emergency relief including food, nutrition and drinking water, medical supplies, thermal blankets, tents, warm clothes, and other non-food items. Immediate and ongoing priorities include winterisation and shelter support, health needs, including medical supplies, ambulances and medicine, water, sanitation, food, nutrition, protection, and cash assistance. Donors were urged to support humanitarian agencies and partners as they replenish their stocks.

Donors were urged to support the Flash Appeal for a rapid scale-up of the humanitarian response in areas most affected by the earthquake. Humanitarian partners require $397.6 million to help more than 4.9 million people in most acute need until May 2023.

Noting that the earthquake has created a crisis within a crisis, the Deputy Special Envoy concluded by calling for an end to all violence and a sustained calm in Syria to enable humanitarian assistance to be delivered in all areas of Syria and to all Syrians and to give all Syrians a respite at this tragic time. She expressed the UN’s readiness to work with all parties to the conflict to further address the needs of all Syrians. Ms. Rochdi stressed that life-saving and humanitarian assistance has never been more critical for the entire country, and HTF members were urged to do everything they can to alleviate the suffering of all Syrians wherever they are.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon