Germany calls for cross-border aid into quake-hit Syria

BERLIN, Feb 7 (KUNA) -- Germany on Tuesday called for more routes to open along the Turkiye-Syria border in a bid to ensure that Damascus gets its fair share of aid following a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that rattled both countries.
"It's important that weapons are now set aside and all efforts in the region are focused on humanitarian aid and on recovering and protecting victims," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told a press conference, stressing that "every minute counted." Berlin will provide the Malteser International aid group with an additional million euros in a bid to get urgent aid flowing into the affected regions, added the minister. (end) anj.nam