The flights that landed in Damascus are not the first European response to the disaster, but they are the first flights to form part of the European Union’s humanitarian airlift. More flights like this will follow. From European Union camps in Dubai and Brindisi in Italy, they will deliver aid to the population in government-controlled areas, as well as in areas not controlled by the government. 420 tons of relief supplies will be delivered along the air bridge: 225 tons, worth 1.1 million euros, will come from European humanitarian stocks.
Since the earthquake, more than 200 humanitarian aid flights have landed in areas controlled by the Syrian government, nearly half of them from the United Arab Emirates. In addition, 15 EU Member States have provided aid in the form of tents, beds, blankets, heaters, hygiene kits, food and medicines to Syria since the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated. Belgium is not part of that mechanism, but has released 4 million euros in humanitarian aid and 1 million for the International Red Cross in Turkey and Syria. Belgium has also sent medical teams.