ISLAMABAD: The first Pakistani cargo ship carrying large quantities of relief goods for Syria had reached its destination, state-run Radio Pakistan said on Monday.
An earthquake on Feb. 6 killed some 6,000 people in Syria, mostly in the northwest near the Turkish border. The death toll in neighbouring Turkey from last month's quakes has risen to 48,448, the country's interior ministry said on Monday.
In Syria, the disaster added to the misery of people suffering from the consequences of 12 years of civil war, with more than 4 million people reliant on aid before the earthquake struck.
“In continuation of humanitarian assistance to earthquake affected people of Turkiye and Syria, Pakistan's first sea cargo has reached Syria,” Radio Pakistan reported, saying the vessel would move onwards to Turkey after unloading goods meant for Syria.
The cargo ship set sail for Syria on Pakistan Navy Ship-NASR on February 28 and was received in Syria on Monday in a special ceremony attended by senior Syrian navy and government officials and Pakistan's ambassador to Syria Air Marshal Retired Shahid Akhtar.
“On the occasion, people sang anthems to express gratitude to Pakistani nation,” Radio Pakistan said. “The consignment contains blankets, generators, dry rations, medicines and clothing for the Quake-Hit Syria.”
