QRCS Intensifies Early Recovery Efforts in Northern Syria

Doha, February 15 (QNA) - Director of Relief and International Development Division at Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) Dr. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, has met with President of the Turkish Red Crescent Dr. Kerem Kinik, at the Gaziantep chapter, to discuss the urgent needs of earthquake-affected people in Syria and Turkiye and the contributions by both National Societies to the ongoing humanitarian response.
The meeting was attended by head of QRCS's representation mission in Turkiye Mazin Abdullah Salloom, and Director of the Turkish Red Crescent's Gaziantep chapter Fatih Gokhan.
QRCS allocated USD 2 million for emergency response, and a medical delegation was deployed from Doha, consisting of physicians and nurses in several specialties (general surgery and trauma, vascular surgery, operating nurses, psychiatric consultant, emergency medicine specialist, hand surgeon consultant, pediatric cardiologist, and anesthesiologist). So far, the medical delegation have completed 60 surgeries, 186 medical examinations, and 42 mental health consultations at Idlib Specialized Surgical Hospital.
Later, another medical delegation was deployed to Turkiye, and then to northern Syria, to help perform critical surgeries for earthquake victims. The second delegation comprises 13 volunteer doctors with various medical and surgical specialties, as well as considerable experience in dealing with complex cases.
The second team joined the first team of eight doctors, and they are currently performing major surgeries at the hospitals of northern Syria, in addition to informative and training sessions for the medical personnel working there.
Wednesday morning, the latest delegation was deployed to the disaster zone, comprising two volunteer doctors who joined the previous medical professionals to help Syrians and alleviate their suffering.
Meanwhile, there have been four mobile medical clinics in the specialties of internal medicine, pediatrics, mental health, and nutrition. They are providing health, psychological, and nutritional services across northwestern Syria.
QRCS's field personnel are mobilized to provide relief for affected people in northwest Syria. Their interventions cover several sectors, such as shelter, food supply, and nonfood items (NFIs).
There are plans to construct a new residential village in northern Syria, consisting of 300 two-bedroom apartments with 60 m2 area, with all infrastructure (roads, gardens, service facilities, mosque, school, clinic, and shops). The new residential unit will protect the privacy, security, and dignity of the displaced families whose homes were damaged in Jindires and Harem, Idlib Governorate.
The airlift shipments continue to be deployed from Qatar to Gaziantep Airport in Turkiye, and subsequently into Syria. Seven trucks loaded with various forms of aid have recently arrived, including four shipments of medical equipment/consumables. More field personnel are being deployed into the disaster zone, to take part in the relief operations, setting up tents and distributing aid to the earthquake survivors. (QNA)