India is providing food grains to Syria to meet its emergency needs

In response to a request from the Syrian government for emergency humanitarian assistance, India gifted 2000 MT of rice to strengthen food security in this West Asian country on Thursday.

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 Hussain Makhlouf at Latakia Port.

The remaining 1000 MT of rice is expected to reach Syria on February 18, 2021.

India has always stood in solidarity with the people of Syria, and our bilateral engagement has continued apace even during the years of internal conflict there through a number of development and capacity building projects.

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 academic years 2018-19 and 2019-20, 1000 scholarships were extended to Syrian students for pursuing bachelors, masters and post-doctoral programmes in Indian universities under 'Study in India' initiative.

India is also establishing a NextGen Centre for Information Technology in Damascus, for which preparatory work has commenced.