Jordanian and Turkish firefighters support Syria

Jordanian firefighting teams have joined Syrian crews battling intense wildfires that have scorched around 10,000 hectares of forest and farmland in Syria’s coastal Latakia province.

The fires, ongoing for four days, have forced the evacuation of several villages and destroyed hundreds of thousands of trees across 28 areas, according to Syria’s emergency minister, Raed al-Saleh.

The blaze is fueled by extreme heat, strong winds, and rugged terrain, made worse by the presence of unexploded remnants from years of conflict. 

Jordan sent advanced firefighting equipment and personnel across the border on Sunday, with planes expected to follow, according to Jordanian authorities.

Turkey had already dispatched two aircraft and eight fire trucks on Saturday to assist. The UN has also deployed teams on the ground to assess the humanitarian impact. Deputy UN envoy Najat Rochdi called for more international support.

The disaster comes as Syria struggles with the effects of climate change and years of war. The FAO recently noted that Syria is experiencing its worst climate conditions in 60 years, with severe droughts and record wildfires increasing in intensity.