Iraq donates 60,000 tons of high-sulfur fuel oil to Syria

 Iraq donates 60,000 tons of high-sulfur fuel oil to Syria

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, chairing a cabinet meeting. Photo: Prime Minister’s press office

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Council of Ministers decided to grant Syria 60,000 tons of fuel oil to help it overcome the effects of the devastating earthquake, according to a press statement issued by the Prime Minister’s press office.

The Iraqi Council of Ministers, in a session chaired by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, on Tuesday, decided to grant Syria 60,000 tons of high-sulfur fuel oil, and to grant Turkey 30,000 tons of high-sulfur fuel oil, to help both countries hit by the massive earthquake overcome its impact, the statement mentioned.

According to the directives of the Prime Minister to assist the Iraqi citizens in Turkey and Syria, and wish to return to Iraq, the Council of Ministers approved that the Iraqi Ministry of Transport will operate urgent flights to evacuate and transport the Iraqis who wish to return from Syria and Turkey, the statement explained.

The Ministry of Migration and Displaced will bear the transportation costs and will provide support and relief, and the Ministry of Transport will prepare buses for land transport, the statement added.

High-sulfur fuel oil is used to power different types of engines, lamps, heaters, stoves, emergency generators and lanterns.

A devastating earthquake measuring a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Turkey near the city of Gaziantep last week, affected areas in northern Syria, and was felt by residents in Iraq and Lebanon.

Thousands of people were killed, thousands were injured and thousands of buildings collapsed in Turkey and Syria, officials from both countries mentioned.