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Azerbaijan’s 200-Ton Humanitarian Aid Reaches Syria

By Ilham Karimli January 6, 2025

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A convoy of 10 trucks with 200 tons of food and essential supplies, including children’s clothing and other necessities, crossed the Türkiye-Syria border checkpoint on January 5, 2024 / Courtesy

The humanitarian aid dispatched by Azerbaijan on December 30, under the instruction of the President Ilham Aliyev, has reached Syria.

A convoy of 10 trucks with 200 tons of food and essential supplies, including children’s clothing and other necessities, crossed the Türkiye-Syria border checkpoint and unloaded the cargo at the logistics warehouses of Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

The humanitarian supplies will be stored in AFAD warehouses for delivery to vulnerable families, including primarily the residents of Idlib province and communities in Syrian territories cleared of terrorist groups during Türkiye’s “Euphrates Shield," "Peace Spring," and "Olive Branch" military operations.

Following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, Azerbaijan has voiced its firm commitment to supporting Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Baku has called for unified efforts to restore long-lost peace and stability and end the ongoing Syrian civil conflict.

The Azerbaijani authorities, including President Aliyev, announced strong willingness to partner with Türkiye and other like-minded actors to resolve the humanitarian issue in Syria.

On December 29, a delegation headed by Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev visited Damascus to hold bilateral discussions with Assad Hassan Al-Shibani, the Foreign Minister of Syria's caretaker government.

During the meeting, the Azerbaijani side reaffirmed Baku’s recognition of the assumption of power by representatives of the Syrian people, simultaneously expressing its readiness to provide humanitarian and diplomatic aid in Syria’s post-Assad revival.

Deputy Minister Rafiyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s experience in post-conflict reconstruction and development after liberating its territories from occupation, emphasizing its potential contribution to Syria’s recovery efforts.

Both sides expressed a shared vision of opening a new chapter in bilateral relations, aiming for cooperation and friendship between Azerbaijan and Syria, which had long been deadlocked. In this regard, the Azerbaijani side announced plans to reopen its embassy in Damascus after a 12-year hiatus.

On December 8, 2024, a coalition of Syrian opposition forces seized control of the capital, Damascus, ending more than 60 years of Baath Party rule in the country. Equally significant, this event marked the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, who had assumed the presidency in 2000 following the tenure of his father, Hafez al-Assad.

Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, took control following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, who fled the country.

Sharaa told a group of foreign journalists that his top priority was rebuilding Syria, which would require the removal of international sanctions.

Referring to Assad, Sharaa stated that the economic sanctions had been imposed on the “executioner” of the Syrian people.

“We Syrians, the victims, are being punished for the acts of our executioner, who is no longer with us,” FRANCE 24 quoted him as saying. “We ask for the international community's help in prosecuting the Assad regime criminals and recovering the money stolen from Syrians.”