Syria to send humanitarian aid to Sudan’s flood victims

July 18, 2007 (DAMASCUS) — Syria would send a batch of humanitarian aid to Sudan to help the people suffered from the floods which swept many areas in the country, the official SANA news agency reported Wednesday.

Upon the directives of President Bashar al-Assad, a Syrian humanitarian airplane, loaded with 40 tons of food, tents and blankets and many other materials, was scheduled to be headed to Sudan on Thursday.

Bashar al-Sha’ar, State Minister for Syrian Arab Red Crescent Affairs, was quoted as saying that Syria always seeks to extend help to the friendly and brotherly countries during ordeals.

Sudanese ambassador in Damascus Abdul-Rahamn Dhirar has expressed thanks to the Syrian help, saying the aid and support ” constitute a practical expression of the sisterly ties connecting the two countries and peoples which asserts Syria’s national commitment regarding the Arab brothers.”

Torrential rains in Sudan since the beginning of July have caused the Nile River and other seasonal rivers to overflow, resulting in extensive flooding which has reportedly killed at least 30 people and destroyed more than 25,000 houses.

(Xinhua)