Damascus-SANA
The Council of Ministers decided, during its weekly session today, chaired by Eng. Hussein Arnous, to move from an emergency emergency action plan to deal with the repercussions of the devastating earthquake that hit a number of Syrian governorates, to an organized action plan that includes all aspects of work related to relief, aid distribution, and studying possible options to secure suitable accommodation centers for families. the affected areas, and the rehabilitation of the affected areas and their infrastructure, and the need to quickly complete the preparation of a detailed database of the reality of damage to housing and services, in order to enable the preparation of plans and strategies to address them according to appropriate scenarios.
The Council assigned the competent ministerial committees to prepare studies on how to deal with all files related to the affected areas, and to rehabilitate and develop them in terms of urban, construction and service aspects. capable of being strengthened and rehabilitated.
Eng. Arnous pointed out that government action in these circumstances requires rapid dealing with the repercussions of the earthquake in parallel with implementing the ministries' plans and redoubling efforts to accomplish the tasks involved. He expressed appreciation for the humanitarian response, aid, and dispatch of special teams to search for survivors and remove rubble provided by a number of brotherly and friendly countries. He also praised the initiatives launched by the activities of the national business sector, organizations, unions, civil associations and community events.
The Council was briefed by the Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Eng. Hussein Makhlouf, Chairman of the Higher Committee for Relief, on the reality of organizing the process of receiving and distributing aid and ensuring that it reaches those affected.
The decisions and procedures taken by the relevant ministries and government agencies were also reviewed to deal flexibly with the management of the file of aid and subsidies, starting from its sources until reaching its destination in an appropriate manner.
On the other hand, the Council studied a draft legislative instrument to exempt imported raw materials as inputs for the local industry that are subject to a customs fee of 1 percent of customs duties and all other taxes and fees imposed on imports for a period of one year, as part of the government’s direction to support the local industry, advance industrial production and reduce the costs of local products. This contributes to providing locally produced commodities and reducing their prices.
The Council also discussed the draft legislative instrument for establishing the Ministry of Information, given the development witnessed by the media sector and the need to develop the tasks and powers entrusted to the Ministry.
The Council listened to the Ministry of Transport's presentation on the results of implementing Law No. 16 of 2021, which includes an electronic application for passenger transportation, in exchange for a fare, in terms of examining the effectiveness of the application and its role in alleviating the problem of passenger transportation and creating new job opportunities.
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