European Union: We have received a request for assistance from Damascus

With the death toll escalating in northern Syria from the devastating earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey at dawn on Monday, the European Commission’s crisis management official revealed that Syria has activated the mechanism of civil protection of the European Union.

Janiz Lenarcic added in a press conference today, Wednesday, that the commission “this morning received a request for assistance from the Syrian government through the civil protection mechanism”.

He also indicated that member states of the bloc are eager to help provide assistance in response to the request.

Furthermore, he stressed that “the Commission encourages EU Member States to respond to Syria’s request for medical equipment and food, while monitoring to ensure that any aid is not used for other purposes” by the government of the Syrian regime subject to sanctions.