French and Russian humanitarian aid to Syria

MENA

Published: 2018-07-21 11:17

Last Updated: 2024-03-26 09:13


Francs to provide medical aid for Syria
Francs to provide medical aid for Syria

France and Russia will deliver humanitarian aid to the government-controlled Eastern Ghouta on Friday, following a joint deal between President, Emmanuel Macron, and Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, as the two countries announced in a joint statement.

A Russian cargo plane arrived late on July 20 in Chateauroux in central France to load fifty tons of French medical equipment and essential goods, to be transported to Ghouta.

Once in Syria, the cargo will be distributed by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

“This operation is very significant because it shows a willingness from the Russians to work with us on a matter of priority,” said the French diplomatic source. “This area is crying out for help.”

Little aid has entered eastern Ghouta, where about 500,000 people live, since April, although (OCHA) was able to deliver food and nutritional aid for some 25,000 people in early July.

The French aid that worth about 400,000 euros (357,197.3 pounds) is part of a 50 million euro commitment by Paris that has so far predominantly been used in the Raqqa region of northeastern Syria, where France has a military presence along with the US.