DAMASCUS: Syria's minister of emergencies and disaster management on Tuesday requested support from the European Union to battle wildfires that have swept through a vast stretch of forested land. The fires have been burning for six days, with Syrian emergency crews struggling to bring them under control amid strong winds and severe drought.
Neighbouring countries Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye have already dispatched firefighting teams to assist in the response. "We asked the European Union for help in extinguishing the fires," Minister Raed al Saleh said on X, adding Cyprus was expected to send aid on Tuesday. "Fear of the fires spreading due to strong winds last night prompted us to evacuate 25 families to ensure their safety without any human casualties," he added.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) office in Syria, the fires impacted "some 5,000 persons, including displacements, across 60 communities". An estimated 100 square kilometres (40 square miles) of forest and farmland — more than three per cent of Syria's forest cover — have burned, OCHA said. At least seven towns in Latakia province have been evacuated as a precaution. — AFP
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
