Havana, Feb 10 (RHC) Syrian Ambassador to Cuba, Ghassan Obeid, thanked Cuba for its solidarity after the devastating earthquake that affected Syria and Turkey and denounced that the blockade of the United States and European nations limits international aid to Damascus.

In statements to Cuban Television News, the diplomat revealed that a group of 27 Cuban doctors specialized in this type of catastrophe will soon leave for Syria to help the Syrian people and the Syrian health authorities.

He pointed out that in the first hours after the disaster, the Syrian government sent rapid response teams to the affected provinces, and President Bashar al-Assad together with his ministers evaluated the situation in the places most affected by the earthquake, among them Aleppo and the region of Hama.

Likewise, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Al-Mekdad held an emergency meeting with international organizations and ambassadors to summon all possible humanitarian aid.

However, the diplomat denounced, we are facing a blockade and sanctions from the United States and European countries which are fatal at the moment because they do not allow aid to arrive normally as it should.

He pointed out that these governments make false declarations according to which the sanctions do not affect the aid or the delivery of medicines when in reality Syria has not even received a plane with the necessary resources to face the serious situation.

Ghassan Obeid informed that so far about 12 countries have sent aid to Syria to face the effects of the earthquake while working in adverse conditions due to the winter and without electricity in many cases.

He added that between 300,000 and 400,000 people have been left homeless and the authorities are working to prepare premises to provide shelter for this population.

According to international media reports, as a result of the violent earthquake last Monday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and enormous material damage has been caused in Syria alone, worsening the situation of the country affected by years of war promoted from abroad to overthrow the government.