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Lebanese ministers head to Syria after earthquake

Team being sent to Damascus to assess how Lebanon can support its stricken neighbour

The National

February 08, 2023

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Follow the latest on the earthquake in Turkey

A high-level delegation of ministers from Lebanon arrived in Damascus on Wednesday to assess how Beirut can assist neighbouring Syria following the earthquake in Turkey that has killed about 10,000 people.

Thousands remain missing and many buildings in Syria and Turkey have been reduced to rubble.

The ministerial delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and Public Works and Transport Minister Ali Hamieh, the latter designated by the Lebanese cabinet as the main point of contact between Lebanon and Syria over relief efforts. Among other officials, they met Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

READ MORE

Turkey-Syria earthquake: War-weary Syrian refugees lose homes once more in devastation

Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar and officials from the Lebanese Health Ministry are also part of the team.

Since the outbreak of Syria's brutal civil war in 2011, the Lebanese government has maintained a policy of disassociation from the conflict. Political leaders did not undertake official visits to Syria for years, until a senior delegation — led by the deputy prime minister at the time — arrived in Damascus in September 2021.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he decided to form the latest delegation as an expression of support for Syria.

Mr Hamieh had earlier waived taxes and fees for any Syrian-bound humanitarian aid arriving at Lebanon’s ports and airports.

The brother of a survivor Gokhan Ugurlu, 35, who was pulled out of the rubble in Hatay, Turkey, reacts as a rescuer looks on. Reuters
The brother of a survivor Gokhan Ugurlu, 35, who was pulled out of the rubble in Hatay, Turkey, reacts as a rescuer looks on. Reuters
A woman walks past flattened buildings in a street in Hatay province, Turkey. Reuters
A woman walks past flattened buildings in a street in Hatay province, Turkey. Reuters
A member of the army stands amid rubble in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
A member of the army stands amid rubble in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
A man reacts while sitting outside a tent of a temporary accommodation centre set up on a football pitch in Gaziantep, Turkey. Reuters
A man reacts while sitting outside a tent of a temporary accommodation centre set up on a football pitch in Gaziantep, Turkey. Reuters
Earthquake survivors walk on a street in Hatay, Turkey. Reuters
Earthquake survivors walk on a street in Hatay, Turkey. Reuters
A White Helmets volunteer holds a rescued cat in the rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
A White Helmets volunteer holds a rescued cat in the rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
A Syrian boy, who lost his family in the deadly earthquake, stands amid the rubble of his family home in Jindayris. AFP
A Syrian boy, who lost his family in the deadly earthquake, stands amid the rubble of his family home in Jindayris. AFP
Rescuers sit by a bonfire in Hatay, Turkey. AFP
Rescuers sit by a bonfire in Hatay, Turkey. AFP
A Turkish soldier walks among destroyed buildings in Hatay. AFP
A Turkish soldier walks among destroyed buildings in Hatay. AFP
Relatives of Palestinian doctor Yusuf Darabeh, who died when the earthquake hit Turkey, comfort each other. AP Photo
Relatives of Palestinian doctor Yusuf Darabeh, who died when the earthquake hit Turkey, comfort each other. AP Photo
People stand by a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey. AP Photo
People stand by a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey. AP Photo
A child, injured in the earthquake, is treated at hospital in Bab Al Hawah, Syria. AP Photo
A child, injured in the earthquake, is treated at hospital in Bab Al Hawah, Syria. AP Photo
Vehicles containing aid from Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) on the Iraqi side of the Iraq-Syria border. Reuters
Vehicles containing aid from Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) on the Iraqi side of the Iraq-Syria border. Reuters
Rescuers carry Muhammed Alkanaas, 12, to an ambulance after five days under the rubble in Antakya, Turkey. AP
Rescuers carry Muhammed Alkanaas, 12, to an ambulance after five days under the rubble in Antakya, Turkey. AP
Romanian firefighters load a Turkey-bound train with emergency aid near Bucharest. AP
Romanian firefighters load a Turkey-bound train with emergency aid near Bucharest. AP
Collapsed buildings in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
Collapsed buildings in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
Abdulkerim Nano, 67, is rescued after five days under the rubble in in Kahramanmaras, Turkey
Abdulkerim Nano, 67, is rescued after five days under the rubble in in Kahramanmaras, Turkey
A Turkish rescue worker checks a collapsed building in Adiyaman. AP
A Turkish rescue worker checks a collapsed building in Adiyaman. AP
Rescuers in Adiyaman, Turkey. AP
Rescuers in Adiyaman, Turkey. AP
A resident in front of his collapsed building in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras. AFP
A resident in front of his collapsed building in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras. AFP
Syrian refugees shelter in a public market in the Islahiye district of Gaziantep, Turkey. AP
Syrian refugees shelter in a public market in the Islahiye district of Gaziantep, Turkey. AP
A family wait for the bodies of their relatives to be recovered in Antakya, Turkey. AP
A family wait for the bodies of their relatives to be recovered in Antakya, Turkey. AP
A woman plays with a sniffer dog in Antakya, Turkey. AP
A woman plays with a sniffer dog in Antakya, Turkey. AP
Collapsed buildings in Antakya, Turkey. AP
Collapsed buildings in Antakya, Turkey. AP
A Syrian woman takes care of her nephew Hasan Goayid, eight, in Islahiye district, Gaziantep. AP
A Syrian woman takes care of her nephew Hasan Goayid, eight, in Islahiye district, Gaziantep. AP
A Syrian child in a tent in the Islahiye district. AP
A Syrian child in a tent in the Islahiye district. AP
Collapsed buildings in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras. AFP
Collapsed buildings in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras. AFP
Emirati rescuers sift through the rubble of a collapsed building in the regime-controlled town of Jableh, northwest of the Syrian capital. AFP
Emirati rescuers sift through the rubble of a collapsed building in the regime-controlled town of Jableh, northwest of the Syrian capital. AFP
Volunteers at the Emirates Red Crescent 'Bridges of Goodness' campaign at the South Hall, Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City. Leslie Pableo for The National
Volunteers at the Emirates Red Crescent 'Bridges of Goodness' campaign at the South Hall, Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City. Leslie Pableo for The National
Martin Griffiths, UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, in Maras, Turkey. Reuters
Martin Griffiths, UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, in Maras, Turkey. Reuters
Rescuers give water to a dog after a rescue operation in Hatay, southern Turkey. AP
Rescuers give water to a dog after a rescue operation in Hatay, southern Turkey. AP
A deadly earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. EPA
A deadly earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. EPA
Fissures from the earthquake have crumpled the highway near Islahiyeh in Southern Turkey. Matt Kynaston / The National
Fissures from the earthquake have crumpled the highway near Islahiyeh in Southern Turkey. Matt Kynaston / The National
A Kurdish charity's aid convoy enters Syria through the Bab Al Salama crossing with Turkey, in the northern province of Aleppo. AFP
A Kurdish charity's aid convoy enters Syria through the Bab Al Salama crossing with Turkey, in the northern province of Aleppo. AFP
A rescuer with a sniffer dog searches in a destroyed building in Antakya, southern Turkey. AFP
A rescuer with a sniffer dog searches in a destroyed building in Antakya, southern Turkey. AFP
A makeshift camp erected in a stadium in the city of Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey. EPA
A makeshift camp erected in a stadium in the city of Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey. EPA
A woman mourns Turkish Cypriot victims of the earthquake, during a funeral procession in the Turkish occupied area in north-east coastal city of Famagusta, Cyprus. AP
A woman mourns Turkish Cypriot victims of the earthquake, during a funeral procession in the Turkish occupied area in north-east coastal city of Famagusta, Cyprus. AP
Rescuers carry survivor Rabia Ofkeli, 27, from the rubble in Hatay, southern Turkey. Reuters
Rescuers carry survivor Rabia Ofkeli, 27, from the rubble in Hatay, southern Turkey. Reuters
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad visits Aleppo university hospital. Reuters
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad visits Aleppo university hospital. Reuters
Members of the Swiss rescue team with a four-month-old girl, Abir, who was pulled out from the rubble in Antakya. AFP
Members of the Swiss rescue team with a four-month-old girl, Abir, who was pulled out from the rubble in Antakya. AFP
Survivors at a hospital in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
Survivors at a hospital in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
Members of the White Helmets during the fifth day of rescue operations in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
Members of the White Helmets during the fifth day of rescue operations in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
Indonesian Muslims perform a prayer for the victims at Istiqlal grand mosque in Jakarta. EPA
Indonesian Muslims perform a prayer for the victims at Istiqlal grand mosque in Jakarta. EPA
Emergency personnel conduct a rescue operation to save Melda, 16, from beneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Hatay, southern Turkey. AFP
Emergency personnel conduct a rescue operation to save Melda, 16, from beneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Hatay, southern Turkey. AFP
The earthquake caused a railbed overpass to collapse in Nurdagi, Turkey. AFP
The earthquake caused a railbed overpass to collapse in Nurdagi, Turkey. AFP
A framed picture on the cracked wall of a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, south-eastern Turkey. EPA
A framed picture on the cracked wall of a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, south-eastern Turkey. EPA
A coastal area of Iskenderun, Turkey, was flooded after the quake. Reuters
A coastal area of Iskenderun, Turkey, was flooded after the quake. Reuters
A sheet of paper lies among the rubble in Elbistan. AP
A sheet of paper lies among the rubble in Elbistan. AP
Relief supplies destined for earthquake survivors in Turkey, at a warehouse in Schoenefeld, near Berlin, Germany. AP
Relief supplies destined for earthquake survivors in Turkey, at a warehouse in Schoenefeld, near Berlin, Germany. AP
Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, three days after the earthquake struck. AFP
Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, three days after the earthquake struck. AFP
Rescuers with a child pulled out from under the rubble. Reuters
Rescuers with a child pulled out from under the rubble. Reuters
Rescuers rest on top of rubble as an aircraft drops water over a fire at the port in the quake-stricken town of Iskenderun. Reuters
Rescuers rest on top of rubble as an aircraft drops water over a fire at the port in the quake-stricken town of Iskenderun. Reuters
A rescue worker in Kahramanmaras, three days after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck south-east Turkey. AFP
A rescue worker in Kahramanmaras, three days after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck south-east Turkey. AFP
People try to pull out a dog trapped beneath the rubble in Iskenderun, Turkey. Reuters
People try to pull out a dog trapped beneath the rubble in Iskenderun, Turkey. Reuters
Lorries carrying humanitarian aid wait at Bab Al Hawa crossing on the Turkey-Syria border. Reuters
Lorries carrying humanitarian aid wait at Bab Al Hawa crossing on the Turkey-Syria border. Reuters
Syrians warm up by a fire outside a makeshift tent near the rebel-held town of Jindayris in Syria. AFP
Syrians warm up by a fire outside a makeshift tent near the rebel-held town of Jindayris in Syria. AFP
A dam on the Orontes river in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province collapsed after the quake, flooding the neighbourhood. AFP
A dam on the Orontes river in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province collapsed after the quake, flooding the neighbourhood. AFP
The sails of the Sydney Opera House lit with a black ribbon in remembrance and mourning of the earthquake victims. Getty
The sails of the Sydney Opera House lit with a black ribbon in remembrance and mourning of the earthquake victims. Getty
Smoke billows amid an expanse of collapsed and damaged buildings in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
Smoke billows amid an expanse of collapsed and damaged buildings in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
Dogs of the German International Search and Rescue team rest between operations in Kirikhan, Turkey. Reuters
Dogs of the German International Search and Rescue team rest between operations in Kirikhan, Turkey. Reuters
White Helmets volunteers rescue a child trapped beneath the rubble in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
White Helmets volunteers rescue a child trapped beneath the rubble in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
People gather to collect food and humanitarian aid in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, south-east Turkey. EPA
People gather to collect food and humanitarian aid in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, south-east Turkey. EPA
The statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, is surrounded by damaged buildings in Adiyaman province. AP
The statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, is surrounded by damaged buildings in Adiyaman province. AP
A plane carrying humanitarian air sent for earthquake survivors lands in Damascus. Mahmoud Rida / The National
A plane carrying humanitarian air sent for earthquake survivors lands in Damascus. Mahmoud Rida / The National
Motorway fractured by earthquake causes car crash near Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Matt Kynaston / The National
Motorway fractured by earthquake causes car crash near Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Matt Kynaston / The National
A tent camp has been set up at a stadium in south-eastern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras to shelter families whose homes were destroyed in the quake. AFP
A tent camp has been set up at a stadium in south-eastern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras to shelter families whose homes were destroyed in the quake. AFP
A displaced Syrian woman rests under a tree in a field on the outskirts of the rebel-held town of Jindayris. AFP
A displaced Syrian woman rests under a tree in a field on the outskirts of the rebel-held town of Jindayris. AFP

Dozens of soldiers and members of the Civil Defence, which carries out search and rescue operations as well as fighting fires, have arrived in Turkey and Syria to assist relief efforts.

According to the Beirut municipality, a joint team consisting of the Lebanese Army, Civil Defence and the Lebanese Red Cross, rescued a pregnant Turkish woman and her child who had been trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building for 48 hours.

While some people in Lebanon were shaken from their sleep in the early hours of Monday, the earthquake has had minimal damage on the country so far.

At least six Lebanese citizens are believed to have died in Turkey and Syria because of the earthquake and its aftershocks. A few more remain missing.

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Updated: February 08, 2023, 5:59 PM`
LebanonBeirutTurkeySyria