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Russia urges international community to aid Syria’s infrastructure recovery

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin noted that currently, over two million Syrian children do not go to school, while 15.5 mln Syrians have issues with water supply

MOSCOW, March 15. /TASS/. Moscow urges all members of the international community to follow Russia’s example and to start aiding the recovery of Syrian infrastructure, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin stated during the "Supporting the future of Syria and the region" conference in Brussels. The Russian Foreign Ministry published the transcript of his speech on Friday.

According to him, Russia continues to support Damascus in such areas as the recovery of its infrastructure and humanitarian aid delivery. "Since July of last year, 800 education facilities and 150 medical institutions have been constructed, over 1,000 kilometers of roads have been repaired, about 1,000 kilometers of power lines have been built, and 130 water supply facilities have become operational," the senior diplomat noted. "Besides, we have held over 2,000 humanitarian actions, during which we have redistributed 3,300 tonnes of food, water and basic necessities."

"Russian medical professionals have provided help to 105,000 of those in need. We urge all members of the international community to follow our example," Vershinin said.

The diplomat noted that currently, over two million Syrian children do not go to school, while 15.5 mln Syrians have issues with water supply. "It is baffling and concerning why the responsible international community cannot help these people now, without piling on preliminary conditions and artificial demands," the deputy foreign minister stated.

Vershinin reminded that the necessity for humanitarian cooperation was highlighted in the joint statement of the Russian, Turkish, French and German leaders on the outcomes of the Istanbul summit in October 2018.

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Syria Maria Zakharova

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