Bashar Al Assad (left) meets with UAE's Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (right) in Damascus, Syria February 12, 2023. REUTERS

Al Assad thanks UAE for responses and aid

Syria's President Bashar Al Assad expressed his gratitude to UAE for its emergency responses and financial aid given to the quake-hit country. During the meeting in Damascus on Sunday (February 12) with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Al Assad said that UAE was among the first countries to help Syria that sent "huge relief and humanitarian aid" and search and rescue teams. The UAE has donated $63.6 million and sent off emergency aid, food, medical supplies, and rescue teams to Syria. " 16 Emirati planes have arrived in Syria since the earthquake hit. They have been providing an air bridge for those affected by the earthquake," said Suleiman Khalil, an official at Syria's transport ministry. The Emirati search and rescue team has been working at several locations since Friday (February 10) in the Syrian coastal city of Jableh in search of survivors and remains of the dead. Sheikh Abdullah, in his first senior Gulf official visit to Syria, expressed the condolences and solace of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to Al Assad, the Syrian people, and families of the victims. As of Sunday (February 12), the death toll in Turkey and Syria reached more than 33,000, including 3,500 in Syria alone. RZSP/Expat Media
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