Two planes carrying aid have landed in the capital Damascus as part of a humanitarian airlift for Syria. Among other things, they delivered winter-proof tents, equipment for accommodation and heaters, as the EU Commission announced on Sunday.

These are the first flights of this type to land in Damascus, and more are to follow. They deliver aid from EU camps in Dubai and Brindisi in Italy to the populations in both government-controlled and non-government-controlled areas.

Material and humanitarian aid

According to the information, a total of 420 tons of relief supplies will be delivered via this airlift. 225 tons of it worth 1.1 million euros come from EU stocks. In addition, Germany and 14 other European countries offered help after Syria activated the EU civil protection mechanism.

Overall, the EU has so far responded to the aftermath of the earthquake in Syria with humanitarian aid worth 10 million euros. More than 6 million euros of this have been rededicated as part of ongoing humanitarian projects.

1,650 rescuers and 110 search dogs were sent to support the work in Turkey. The rescue teams have now stopped their work. Five medical teams from Albania, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain are still on site and have already treated more than 4000 people. 20 EU countries would have provided accommodation, medical equipment, food and clothing.

The EU has provided 5.7 million euros in humanitarian aid to support the people affected in Turkey. An international donor conference for the victims of the earthquake catastrophe that killed more than 50,000 people is planned for mid-March.