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US sanctions hamper relief and rescue work in Syria
Over 5,000 people have been reported dead so far and thousands more injured in Turkey and Syria in a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on Monday
Earthquake survivors arrive yesterday at the camp setup by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) in Kharamanmaras, south-eastern Turkey

THE head of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Khaled Hboubati, demanded on Tuesday that Western countries, specifically the US and its allies, lift their siege and sanctions on Syria so that rescue and relief work can proceed unimpeded, after the country was devastated by a powerful earthquake the day before.

“We need heavy equipment, ambulances and fire fighting vehicles to continue to rescue and remove the rubble, and this entails lifting sanctions on Syria as soon as possible,” Hboubati said at a press conference on Tuesday, as reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

A powerful earthquake registering a magnitude of 7.8 (out of max 10) on the Moment Magnitude Scale struck Turkey and Syria on Monday. Over 22,765 people have been reported dead so far.

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