Egypt Delivers Humanitarian Aid to Syria
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Damascus, January 5 (NationPress) - Egypt has sent a relief aircraft to the capital of Syria, Damascus, representing the inaugural flight since the recent overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government last month.
The civilian aircraft from EgyptAir was loaded with 15 tonnes of humanitarian supplies, comprising food and medicine, facilitated by the Egyptian Red Crescent and handed over to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, as stated by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The aid was received at the airport by the charge d'affaires of the Egyptian embassy in Damascus, according to the announcement.
This initiative is part of Egypt's commitment to assist the Syrian populace, reflecting the longstanding ties between the two nations, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
In a related development, Ashhad al-Salibi, chairman of the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, revealed that Damascus International Airport will commence accepting international flights starting Tuesday.
On Saturday, Al-Salibi informed SANA, Syria's state news agency, that efforts are underway to fully restore the airports in both Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo to support international travel.
Operations at these airports were halted after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's administration last month.
Qatar Airways announced on Thursday its plan to resume flights to Damascus as of Tuesday.
The airline will be offering three weekly flights to the city, which it regards as possessing significant historical and cultural value.
Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, the CEO of Qatar Airways Group, emphasized in a statement that this decision highlights the airline's dedication to enhancing connectivity and promoting travel opportunities for passengers.
Moreover, Qatar reestablished its embassy in Damascus on December 21, 2024, following the change in government on December 8. The embassy had remained closed since 2011, coinciding with the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.
On December 30, the first direct aid flight from Qatar landed at Damascus International Airport.
