Latvia to support Syria's civilians with EUR 70,000 quake aid

RIGA - Latvia will support quake victims in Syria with EUR 70,000, the government decided on Tuesday.

The Foreign Ministry indicated that 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes shook northwestern Syria and southeastern Turkey on February 6, causing major destruction and killing scores of people. According to UN data, the number of fatalities from the two quakes has already exceeded 37,000.

The Foreign Ministry notes that Latvia has already assessed its possibilities of providing support to Turkey which has reported the highest death toll. 

Citing UN data, the ministry said that in Syria the number of quake fatalities has grown to nearly 6,000 people but that rescue works are ongoing and the actual number of fatalities is likely to be significantly higher. Furthermore, rescue works in Syria are hampered by the civil war, which has been going on in this country since 2011. 

Latvia will transfer the quake aid to the account of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to support civilians in Syria.

Latvia has already provided assistance to Turkey worth at least EUR 200,000.