STORY: U.S. sanctions impede wildfire fighting in Syria
DATELINE: July 31, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:52
LOCATION: Damascus
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ENVIRONMENT
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of the wildfires in Latakia
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED HASSAN QATANA, Syrian Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (ARABIC): Mohammed Hassan Qatana, Syrian Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform
 
STORYLINE:
 
U.S. sanctions have impeded the ongoing firefighting efforts in the northwestern Syrian province of Latakia, where wildfires are devouring swathes of forest land and firefighting supplies are in urgent need.
 
Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Mohammed Hassan Qatana said on Saturday that the embargo on Syria poses the "biggest challenge for us."
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED HASSAN QATANA, Syrian Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform
"The international embargo on Syria poses the biggest challenge for us because we need energy sources and fuel as well as machinery, water tanks, and planes. We are in need of heavy machinery, in need of tanks, firefighting planes, and firefighting supplies for firefighting workers. Practically, correct firefighting is not possible unless early warning systems and devices are available. In the place where they are located, there is a problem with communications. There is a problem with the four-wheel drive tanks, which are essential in firefighting operations. We have many workers who need specialized firefighting clothing, and this is a very important issue. We also need spare parts for bulldozers, cars, and water tanks."
 
Earlier this month, massive wildfires broke out in several Syrian provinces, including Hama, Latakia and Idlib. Firefighters managed to control most of the fires but in Latakia, fires restarted on Tuesday. Fire crews have been battling numerous blazes in the region.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (ARABIC): Mohammed Hassan Qatana, Syrian Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform
"This is the fifth day during which we continue to fight fires that have erupted in the Latakia governorate. There are many places that were affected by the blazes, which spread to large swathes of land and different areas. The wind speed was the key factor behind the spread of the fire in addition to the nature of these mountains which are connected with one another. There are several mountain chains and a thick and vast plant cover."
 
Fortunately, most of the fires in the countryside of Latakia have been well controlled, and no injuries were reported, he added.
 
According to Bassem Douba, director of agriculture and agrarian reform in Latakia, preliminary estimation indicated that over 5 square km were burned entirely.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Damascus.
(XHTV)