Iraq sends aid to earthquake-affected areas in Syria

The Iraqi government sent medical and food supplies to earthquake-affected areas of Syria on Saturday, where the need for humanitarian relief remains dire. Several Arab countries have sent aid shipments to government-held areas of Syria, including Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Algeria.

Iraq's foreign aid coordinator for Syria and Türkiye Usama al Rifai said three planes were loaded with food and relief supplies, headed for the Syrian city of Latakia. He added aid deliveries on land were continuing, as well as aid being sent to rebel-held city of Aleppo, which was heavily affected by the quake. The death toll from the magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes that struck nine hours apart on February 6 in southeastern Türkiye and northern Syria reached 43,360 on Friday.