UAE increases earthquake aid to Syria

The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday sent more aid supplies to Syria following the earthquake that devastated the country and neighboring Türkiye last week. Planes from the UAE carrying food, tents, clothing, and medical supplies have been landing in Damascus and Latakia almost daily since the earthquake.

The UAE on Tuesday delivered almost twice as many supplies in one day as it had in the previous six days. The increase came a day after Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi asked the UAE’s President to increase aid to Syria.

Aid agencies and governments are stepping up efforts to bring help to devastated parts of Türkiye and Syria, but a week after the earthquake, many of those left homeless were still struggling to meet basic needs, like finding shelter from the bitter cold. Almost 3,700 deaths have been confirmed in Syria. The combined toll in both countries is now over 39,000.