Sputnik collected about 25 tons of humanitarian aid for affected Syrians. With the support of the Russian military, the aid was delivered to Syria and handed over to a children's hospital in Hama. And Sputnik was not alone in this undertaking.
In an exclusive interview with Sputnik, Bashar Assad praised Russia's aid to Syria.
"I expressed my gratitude to President Putin and the Russian government for their help, because the Russian government started aiding in the first hours, and the Russian army participated in the rescue operations, and this assistance continues," Assad said.
Syrian President Bashar Assad gives an exclusive interview to Sputnik
© Sputnik
The Syrian president added that "there is another aspect of earthquake-related support…the reconstruction and return of displaced persons to their homes." Assad stresses that his nation must create a mechanism that will manage the post-earthquake clean-up and reconstuction process.
"Before asking for help from any other side on this vital matter, in the next stage, we need to establish mechanisms and structures in Syria responsible for the reconstruction process, and this is what we are working on," he stressed.
Assad added that he wouldn`t mind if other countries will "participate with us in the process of recovery."
When the earthquake hit, the West was not eager to help Syria because they have been gambling for a long time on jihadist proxies and terrorists. What should be pointed out is that the US-led Western sanctions against Syria prevented Good Samaritans, donors and humanitarians from sending aid to the disaster-stricken Syrian people, but Russia stepped up to the plate and provided help immediately.
Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu ordered Russian troops in Syria to assist in the post-quake disaster relief efforts and provide aid to the victims. On the first day, ten combined units were formed, equipped with specialized gear. Soldiers and rescue workers removed debris and searched for survivors, who receive medical and psychological care. In addition to the combined units at the Khmeimim Air Base, a mobile group of military doctors was set up.