The General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA), operated an air bridge to transport relief shipments and various aid to Syria. This is to help the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the northwestern regions of the country.
The Military Information Division stated that the air bridge and the aid convoy came with direct instructions from the LNA’s Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. A video posted showed food and relief items being loaded onto a cargo plane.
Meanwhile, the Libyan Parliament-designated government, headed by Fathi Bashagha, expressed its “sincere condolences and sympathy to the peoples and governments of Syria, Turkey, and Lebanon for the victims of the catastrophic earthquake that struck the Mediterranean region.”
The government also expressed its solidarity and support during this catastrophe, and hopes for a speedy recovery for the injured.
A devastating earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck southern Turkey, and northern Syria at dawn on Monday. The death toll jumped to more than 9,800 people as rescuers worked against time, according to Al-Arabiya news.
As the scale of the disaster became ever more apparent, the death toll looked likely to rise considerably. One UN official said thousands of children may have died. This is the deadliest earthquake to hit Turkey since 1999.
Turkish President, Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces. But residents in several damaged Turkish cities voiced anger and despair at what they said was a slow and inadequate response from the authorities.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Libyan plane arrived at Aleppo International Airport on Tuesday evening.
“The Libyan plane is carrying 40 tons of humanitarian aid, consisting of foodstuffs, medical supplies, blankets, and an ambulance,” a member of the executive office concerned with Aleppo Governorate Council, Dr. Abdel-Qader Dawalibi, stated in a statement to SANA reporter.
Dawalibi added that the aid aims to support the shelters located in Aleppo, and to complement the relief support efforts provided by some friendly and brotherly countries.
