DAA affirms readiness to provide support in extinguishing coastal fires

The fires have destroyed large areas of vegetation in the coastal regions. In this context, the Environment Authority of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria issued a statement today via its official Facebook page, clarifying that “the forests in the coastal areas are facing a worsening environmental disaster due to these recurring fires, which have caused extensive damage to the natural environment and intensified the ongoing climate and economic crises the country has been suffering from for over a decade.”

The statement pointed out that “the Syrian crisis, which erupted in 2011, has had devastating effects on the environment. Military operations and indiscriminate shelling have led to the clearing of large forested areas, while the war conditions and lack of material and technical resources have significantly weakened the ecological system.”

The Authority also noted that the deliberate fires consuming coastal forests are not merely natural disasters but amount to an environmental war no less destructive than armed conflict, directly impacting social life by displacing people from their villages and homes, in addition to causing severe harm to the environment and natural life.

The Environment Authority reaffirmed its full solidarity with those affected by this tragedy, expressing its willingness to provide all forms of support and assistance to extinguish the fires and contain the environmental disaster within the limits of its available capacities.

In conclusion, the Authority called on the international community and environmental organizations to intervene and help protect the forests and prevent such fires from recurring, emphasizing that “preserving the environment is no longer a luxury, but a vital necessity linked to human health and the future of coming generations.”

A-H 

ANHA