Statement of the General Federation of Trade Unions in the Syrian Arab Republic
Dear comrades, brothers, and sisters
Our country, Syria, has been exposed on Monday, February 6th, 2023, to a devastating earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, which had led to an initial death toll of thousands of martyrs, tens of thousands of wounded, the collapse of hundreds of residential buildings, other cracks, and severe damage to infrastructure, services, and vital facilities. Immediately, the Syrian state, led by President Bashar al-Assad, has mobilized the state’s capabilities to face the effects of this earthquake and its repercussions, which are still continuing to the present time.
We appeal to the United Nations, International Labor Organization and all labor organizations around the world to stand sincerely with this humanitarian catastrophe, which requires relentless pressure on all Western countries that impose the unjust economic blockade on Syrian people to lift this unjust siege that prevents the entry of heavy equipment, rescue equipment and hospital supplies that contribute in removing the rubble to save thousands of innocent people who are stuck under the rubble of buildings.
We call on all the free people in this world to stand up for their humanity,to stand with the Syrian people with support and solidarity in these exceptional circumstances…
We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to all trade union organizations in the Arab world and the entire world that have expressed their sincere solidarity with the suffering of our people, as a result of the devastating earthquake. We thank everyone who has expressed their willingness to provide assistance to the Syrian people in these difficult circumstances.
Damascus, Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Executive Bureau Members of the General Federation of Trade Unions in the Syrian Arab Republic
