Khaberni -The Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed Saleh, announced the end of the firefighting operations that recently erupted in the mountains of Latakia province, affirming that what was achieved is a result of wide national and popular solidarity, and joint field cooperation between state institutions, voluntary teams, and international groups.
Saleh explained during a joint press conference with the Governor of Latakia, Mohammed Osman, on Tuesday, that the field challenges faced by the firefighting teams were significant, most notably mines and war remnants, in addition to strong shifting winds, rough terrain, and the absence of fire separation lines due to long-term forest neglect, warning that the real disaster lies not only in what we lost, but also in its future repercussions, including the risk of erosion, soil loss, and vegetation cover, amidst a drought wave and climate change, the worst in decades.
Saleh pointed out that the ministry relied on the Early Warning Center for weather conditions which monitored wind speeds and directions at the fire sites regularly, resulting in the preparation of precise intervention strategies from the operation room, in addition to using satellite images and thermal and regular drones to pinpoint fire hotspots, which directly contributed to speeding up the control of the fires.
Saleh highlighted that the ministry will soon begin installing an early warning system for fires as part of an integrated plan, which includes creating a national system for forest protection and enhancing community participation, emphasizing that "the fire has ended, but the task has not, and from today our real mission begins to restore life to these mountains."
The Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management thanked the teams coming from Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Qatar, and all the volunteer teams that played an important role in logistical support, and the state ministries and institutions that worked in harmony and responsibility, saying, "You all have created a historic saga that will remain eternal in the memory of this nation and were a bright image of solidarity and cooperation."
In turn, the Governor of Latakia, Mohammed Osman, noted that the full coordination between the firefighting teams and civil defense from various Syrian provinces, along with support from brotherly countries, contributed to controlling the fires, explaining that during the 12 days of the fire, the province worked on securing all field and humanitarian needs, including setting up a field kitchen that served over 2500 meals daily, and securing firefighting equipment in cooperation with the Ministries of Interior and Defense.
Osman clarified that the fires destroyed more than 16,000 hectares of forest lands, including 2200 hectares of agricultural land, and affected 45 villages, while the number of affected families reached about 1200. He mentioned that ministerial delegations visited the affected areas and began developing a comprehensive plan for assessing damages and compensating the affected, adding that the province will work on implementing a rehabilitation plan in coordination with the concerned ministries.
