On Saturday, the General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA) announced that a new convoy of humanitarian food and medical aid left Benina Airport in Benghazi for Syria to help victims of the still-unfolding earthquake tragedy that left 24,000 people dead in Syria and Turkey last Monday.
This was the instruction of the LNA General Commander, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who directed the relevant authorities to operate an air bridge to provide various aid to help the earthquake victims in Syria.
On Thursday, another Libyan aid shipment arrived in Syria, carrying more than 40 tons of relief, medical, and food supplies provided by the LNA.
The Syrian News Agency Sana quoted the Director of the LNA’s Media Office, Malik Bahodha as saying, “Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar offers his sympathy and solidarity with the Syrian people. As a result of the earthquake, and based on his instructions, an air bridge was opened to deliver and provide aid.”
The shipment, which arrived at Latakia International Airport on Wednesday, is loaded with foodstuffs and medicines, in addition to three ambulances.
Haftar confirmed that they are open to transporting more shipments of aid to the affected areas.
The Director of Latakia International Airport indicated that “all preparations and arrangements have been taken to facilitate the process of receiving aid coming through the airport.”
On Tuesday, the LNA operated the first air bridge to transport relief shipments and various aid to Syria, in order 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 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 from the Turkey-Syria earthquakes has passed 16,000.
