Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday thanked his “Arab brothers” for the help provided after the deadly earthquake that prompted several countries in the region to break years of diplomatic silence with Damascus.
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The February 6 earthquake killed nearly 40,000 people in Turkey and neighboring Syria.
Mr. Assad has received calls from leaders of several Arab countries, some of which had severed ties with the Syrian regime more than a decade ago due to the suppression of the 2011 popular uprising which degenerated into civil war.
Some 120 planes loaded with aid also landed at the country’s airports, around half of them from the United Arab Emirates, the first Gulf country to restore relations with Damascus by reopening its embassy in 2018.
“We cannot fail to express our thanks to all the countries that have stood by our side since the first hours of the disaster among our Arab brothers and friends,” the Syrian president said in a televised speech on Thursday.
“Their assistance had a major impact on strengthening our ability to cope with the difficult conditions during these critical hours,” he continued.
At least 3,600 Syrians died in the earthquake that occurred almost twelve years after the start of the civil war which left nearly half a million dead, ravaged infrastructure and displaced millions of people.
“The scale of the disaster and the tasks before us far exceed the means available,” Mr. Assad said, adding that the country would still face enormous social and economic challenges.
Bashar al-Assad found himself diplomatically isolated after the start of the civil war, especially among Arab countries, and at the end of 2011, Syria was excluded from the Arab League.
Efforts to help this country have been led by Abu Dhabi, which has helped break its isolation. Several other Arab countries have outlined an opening towards Damascus after the earthquake.
Saudi Arabia has sent two planes carrying aid to Syria since Tuesday, after suspending flights for more than a decade.
Bashar al-Assad also met with the foreign ministers of the Emirates and Jordan in Damascus, and received calls from the leaders of Egypt, Bahrain and Jordan.