In response to a request from the Government of the Syria for emergency humanitarian assistance, India is gifting 2000 MT of rice to strengthen food security in Syria.
The Ministry of External Affairs in a press release informed that the first consignment of 1000 MT of rice was handed over by Ambassador of India to Syria Dr. Hifzur Rahman to the Minister of Local Administration and Head of Supreme Relief Committee Mr. Hussain Makhlouf yesterday at Latakia Port.
The remaining 1000 MT of rice is expected to reach Syria on February 18, 2021.
Continued Assistance to Syria
India has aided Syrians on multiple occasions in the recent past as the country continues to be ravaged by war torn strife.
Earlier, India had gifted 10 MT of medicines in July 2020 to Syria as part of Covid assistance.
Over 500 Syrians benefited from the artificial limbs (Jaipur foot) fitment camp organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) in Damascus during January 2020.
During the 2018-20 period, 1000 scholarships were extended to Syrian students for pursuing bachelors, masters and post-doctoral programmes in Indian universities under ‘Study in India’ initiative.
The Indian MEA has informed that India is also establishing a NextGen Centre for Information Technology in Damascus, for which preparatory work have commenced.
Sourabh Shetty 
Viswapramod C 
Aayush Pal