Damascus, Feb. 17 (SANA) — President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Kate Forbes said that coordinated and effective international support will be crucial to Syria’s recovery, stressing the central role played by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in humanitarian response efforts.
In an interview with SANA at the conclusion of her visit to Syria, Forbes described the humanitarian needs in the country as among the most severe she has encountered in her career. She said the visit aimed to review the Federation’s support for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and to better understand the challenges it faces.
Forbes noted that her meetings with Syrian officials focused on ways to advance support for the Syrian people, underscoring the Federation’s continued commitment to working with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and maintaining open dialogue with the Syrian government as part of the recovery process.
She explained that the Federation, which includes 191 national societies, is able to mobilize resources rapidly and provide technical expertise, including ambulances, mobile clinics and support in international humanitarian law, governance, and financial and human resources systems.
Forbes praised the resilience of the Syrian people, saying recovery efforts represent an opportunity to rebuild the country they aspire to. She also highlighted discussions held with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and representatives of diplomatic missions in Damascus.
“Syria is in a unique position to recover,” Forbes said, calling on the international community not to forget the country and stressing that coordinated humanitarian assistance will be decisive in restoring stability.
Forbes concluded a four-day official visit to Syria on Monday, which included tours of Syrian Arab Red Crescent facilities and meetings with volunteers, government officials and representatives of international humanitarian organizations operating in the country.
