In spite of the worst of times that Syrians have been living through, they continue to impress those who are paying attention with their resiliency and their ability to come together and help each other in times of crisis.
Syrians reflected their resiliency, the goodness of their hearts, and their innate positivity that Assad has not been able to destroy, no matter how hard he tries
The earthquake in Turkey and Syria earlier this month came at a time when many Syrians who have been suffering for close to 12 years under the unrelenting brutality of the Assad regime and its allies were feeling very much forgotten by the rest of the world. The earthquake seemed to be adding insult to more than a decade of injury. But once again Syrians reflected their resiliency, the goodness of their hearts, and their innate positivity that Assad has not been able to destroy, no matter how hard he tries.
While the Assad regime viewed the natural disaster as an opportunity to issue ultimatums to the UN and other organizations about how all aid coming into Syria must be approved and regulated by entities such as “The Syrian Trust for Development“ (under the supervision of the dictator’s wife, Asma Assad), and the “Syrian Red Crescent” (which is under the control of the regime’s notorious Air Force Intelligence), aid workers already present in northwest Syria and The White Helmets, the Syria Civil Defense, operating in the liberated areas of the country, went into action immediately as they always have.
Syrians who were there took the initiative as they have always done and began digging people out of the rubble with what they had, even if it was just their bare hands
While many people chose to focus on the international community’s failure to respond quickly to those in northwest Syria who were affected by the recent earthquake, Syrians who were there took the initiative as they have always done and began digging people out of the rubble with what they had, even if it was just their bare hands.
But for those who have been paying attention since the revolution began in 2011, this is nothing new. From the start, we saw young men selflessly running to the aid of their friends who had been targeted by regime snipers during the peaceful demonstrations held every Friday to protest the regime’s brutality and corruption.
When the Assad regime forbid medical facilities to treat their victims, Syrians under siege created their own mobile clinics for treating the wounded
In spite of the regime’s best efforts to divide and conquer its opponents, the Syrian people stood strong. When the Assad regime forbid medical facilities to treat their victims, Syrians under siege created their own mobile clinics for treating the wounded. When women and children were left without an income due to their husbands being targeted by the regime, local councils were formed to provide them support. When people from targeted areas fled their homes looking for safer places to live, rural villages expanded and welcomed the newcomers with open arms.
In spite of the international community’s failure to provide emergency assistance and aid in a timely manner, the people in northern Syria showed great heroic efforts represented by the White Helmets with their simple equipment and tools which were able to make a difference. Also, the popular solidarity expressed by individuals and the tribal clans of eastern Syria is one of the best examples of solidarity among Syrians, especially after a huge convoy of trailers from Dier Azzour managed to deliver much-needed aid to northwest Syria a few days ago in defiance of the regime’s best efforts to stop it.
Free Syrians in northwest Syria sent a strong message to the United Nations last week in a way that they have become known for in the past 12 years
In addition, the aid coming from Syrian organizations outside of the country has far exceeded all aid coming from the United Nations for more than a decade. Free Syrians in northwest Syria sent a strong message to the United Nations last week in a way that they have become known for in the past 12 years. They punctuated a verbal message on social media saying that they did not want any aid coming by way of the regime with more than a twist of ironic humor by posting a photo of a donation box labeled “Donation Box for distressed United Nations.”
