Latest news with #EmergencyandDisasterManagement
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Syria reports progress in battle against devastating wildfires
dpa Damascus Firefighters have halted the spread of wildfires, which have ravaged Syria's north and forced hundreds to flee their homes in recent days, according to a government official. 'Firefighting teams are intensively working to extinguish remaining hotspots and cool the areas already put out,' Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed al-Saleh said over the weekend. Al-Saleh, in a post on the social media platform X late on Saturday, said Syrian firefighters, who said the situation now is the best it's been in 10 days. Firefighters, aided by helpers from Turkey and Arab countries, have taken a major step toward bringing blazes in the countryside of the northern province of Latakia under control. The wildfires have displaced hundreds of individuals, destroyed agricultural land, and severely disrupted the livelihoods of communities in the coastal region, according to the United Nations. On Thursday, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, said $625,000 would be allocated to support emergency response efforts for people affected by the wildfires. The fires, fuelled by strong winds exceeding 60 kilometres per hour and persistent drought, have scorched over 100 square kilometres, which amounted to more than 3% of Syria's total forest cover, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said earlier this week. Firefighting efforts have faced hardships also due to rugged terrain and the presence of unexploded ordnance from Syria's war of more than a decade. Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Qatar have dispatched teams to assist Syria in battling the fires. While there has been no official announcement about the cause of the wildfires, some online commentators accused loyalists of former president Bashar al-Assad, toppled in December, of igniting the blazes.
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
Syria brings massive wildfires under control after 10-day battle in Latakia
DAMASCUS — Authorities in Syria announced Sunday that some of the country's worst wildfires in years have been brought under control following 10 days of intense firefighting in the heavily forested mountains of Latakia province. The fires, fueled by high winds, scorching summer temperatures, and unexploded ordnance left from Syria's 13-year conflict, scorched more than 15,000 hectares of forest. No civilian casualties were reported, although several firefighters sustained injuries due to road conditions and extreme heat, according to the Civil Defense. The blazes began in early July and spread rapidly through mountainous terrain, prompting a coordinated response involving ground crews, aerial firefighting units, and engineering teams who worked to carve out firebreaks. Syrian helicopters, including aircraft flown by former military defectors now rejoining government service, conducted continuous water drops over affected ridgelines. By Saturday evening, crews had successfully contained the fires on all fronts, according to Col. Ameen al-Ameen, who said teams worked 'day and night' for 10 consecutive days. Cooling and monitoring operations continue on the ground to prevent of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh described the situation as 'promising' and praised the efforts of local and international firefighting units, including support from Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Qatar. He vowed that 'not a single spark will be left behind.'The United Nations also pledged $625,000 from the Syria Humanitarian Fund to support affected communities. Initial UN assessments suggest thousands have been displaced, with widespread damage to farmland and local infrastructure.U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator Adam Abdelmoula warned of long-term consequences, emphasizing the need for urgent international support. 'The wildfires have had catastrophic consequences on the local communities and require our immediate attention,' he note that climate change and below-average winter rainfall have worsened wildfire conditions across the eastern Mediterranean, contributing to severe water shortages in Syria this summer.
Roya News
3 days ago
- Climate
- Roya News
Latakia wildfires contained as Syria thanks regional support
After 10 days of relentless wildfires tearing through the forested countryside of northern Latakia, Syria's Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed Al-Saleh, announced that civil defense and firefighting crews have successfully halted the fires' expansion on all major fronts. In a statement posted on X, Saleh said, 'After intensive efforts from our civil defense teams, firefighting brigades, and supporting Turkish and Arab units, we have reached a promising milestone. The spread of the fires has been stopped across all axes — a critical step toward full containment.' بعد جهود كبيرة ومستمرة من فرق الإطفاء في الدفاع المدني وأفواج الإطفاء والفرق التركية والعربية المساندة في إخماد حرائق الغابات في اللاذقية وصلت الأعمال مساء اليوم السبت 12 تموز لمرحلة مبشرة، إذ تمكنت الفرق من وقف امتداد النار على كافة المحاور وهي الخطوة الأهم باتجاه السيطرة على… — Raed Al Saleh ( رائد الصالح ) (@RaedAlSaleh3) July 12, 2025 He added that visible improvements are now apparent, with smoke beginning to lift and crews continuing to extinguish remaining hotspots and cool the areas already brought under control. 'According to current data, we are moving toward full control of the situation,' he said. 'Next comes the comprehensive cooling phase.' Saleh emphasized that the progress achieved would not have been possible without joint efforts and regional solidarity. 'Today's outcome is the result of divine favor, strong coordination, unified efforts, widespread public support, and the assistance of firefighting teams from Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Qatar,' he said. Despite improving conditions, officials remain cautious. Winds continue to pose a threat of reigniting fires, and dangerous terrain, including minefields and unexploded ordnance, has made firefighting operations perilous. For the past 10 days, Syrian firefighting units and allied teams have worked tirelessly to prevent the wildfires from reaching ecologically sensitive areas, including the Fronlok and Kesab forests. Flames had reached the outskirts of these regions in recent days. Fire crews successfully established strategic firebreaks that have so far prevented the blaze from entering those zones, a major victory under extremely difficult circumstances. As the country now shifts toward full containment and cooling operations, officials say the focus will remain on preventing flare-ups and ensuring the protection of what remains of Syria's northern green belt.
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Climate
- Shafaq News
Firefighting crews contain most Lattakia wildfires
Shafaq News – Lattakia On Thursday, Syrian emergency teams gained near-total control over wildfires raging in northern Lattakia province, with only two inaccessible hotspots remaining in the mountainous Turkmen region. Syria's Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed al-Saleh, reported that cooling operations began at 4 am after the main fire centers were brought under control. However, strong winds reignited flames in several areas. One fire zone lies in an isolated valley reachable only by air, while the second is on a landmine-contaminated mountainside that witnessed several explosions earlier today, though no injuries were reported among firefighting personnel. The minister confirmed ongoing coordination with European countries and Iraq for aerial support, noting that Turkiye responded most swiftly, deploying 12 firefighting planes, specialized vehicles, and ground crews.
Ammon
6 days ago
- Climate
- Ammon
With Jordanian and international support, most of Latakia fires under control
Ammon News - Syria announced on Thursday that the firefighting teams have achieved near-complete control over most of the fire sites, except for two points in Turkmen Mountain (Jabal Turkmen) that are difficult to access. Syria's Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed al-Saleh said, in a statement, that cooling operations began at 4:00 a.m. after the outbreak was extinguished, but strong winds led to the resurgence of fires in some areas. Al-Saleh explained, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), that the first point is located in a valley that can only be reached by air, while the second is located on the slope of a mountain planted with mines. It experienced scattered explosions this morning, with no injuries reported among the team members. In the same context, the minister indicated ongoing coordination with European countries and Iraq to activate air intervention, pointing out that Turkey sent 12 firefighting planes and specialized vehicles and ground teams, as well as teams and aircraft from Jordan and Lebanon. These also participated, along with air support from the Syrian Ministry of Defense. Minister al-Saleh said that a member of the Civil Defense team was seriously injured as a result of some personnel being trapped in the flames, adding that the remaining teams are continuing their work with full readiness, including forestry, firefighting, civil defense, and international teams. The minister concluded by emphasizing that the situation remains under control in most areas, and that efforts are continuing to fully control the fires, despite the significant challenges posed by the rugged terrain and weather fluctuations.
