Makhlouf: Establishing a specific mechanism for classifying and evaluating the damaged buildings, and expediting the completion of the reports of the concerned committees

Latakia - SANA

The Chairman of the Higher Committee for Relief, Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Eng. Hussein Makhlouf, stressed the need to establish a specific mechanism for classifying and evaluating damaged buildings and speeding up the completion of reports of technical and structural safety committees charged with examining buildings damaged by the earthquake and its aftermath.

Minister Makhlouf stressed, during his meeting today with the engineering committees that were formed in Lattakia Governorate to inspect the damaged buildings, the need to adhere to the appropriate engineering principles and conditions for the detection and characterization processes, including buildings that need to be evacuated and demolished, buildings that need to be strengthened, and others that allow the people to return to their homes and speed up their procedures.

Makhlouf pointed out that the work of the technical committees must be within a time-bound program in conjunction with setting up a program for tours in the areas to be inspected and according to the priority imposed by public safety, indicating that speeding up the completion of the inspection of buildings and assessing their condition enables us to provide a better service and reduce the burden on affected.

Makhlouf called for activating cooperation between the technical and structural safety committees to complete reports related to buildings that have been proven to be in need of reinforcement, and their number in the governorate has reached 3097 buildings so far, according to the reports of the committees that revealed the impact of 27 thousand buildings, and the need to increase the number of structural safety committees in administrative units.

The Governor of Lattakia, Engineer Amer Hilal, in turn, indicated that 91 committees were formed to inspect the buildings, each of which includes 3 to 5 engineers from the Engineers Syndicate, the General Company for Engineering Studies, Technical Services, and administrative units, in addition to the formation of 30 committees to assess the state of schools, pointing at the same time to an increase Requests of citizens wishing to inspect their buildings after the earthquake that affected the governorate on the 20th of February.

Minister Makhlouf listened to the interventions of the members of the engineering committees related to cracked, dangerous and collapsing buildings, the applicable work mechanism and proposals to develop the work methodology, and it was emphasized that the reports of the technical committees and construction safety be delivered on a daily basis to the governorate and the relief operations room to follow up on relief needs and take the necessary measures in their regard.

The meeting concluded that a timetable was set for inspecting and evaluating buildings and facilitating restoration procedures, and it was agreed that the deadline for obtaining restoration permits from the administrative unit should not exceed 24 hours, provided that the approval of the Engineers Association was obtained, and that the technical and public safety committees proved that they could be supported with Allowing for an additional week to register and follow-up the requests of citizens wishing to inspect their homes.

In a statement to reporters, Minister Makhlouf affirmed that all government measures are in the service of the people affected by the earthquake in various forms, starting with the carefully organized relief work through the operations rooms emanating from the relief sub-committees, which base their work on a database to ensure that rights reach the beneficiaries and those affected. .

Makhlouf indicated that the aim of these meetings is to set specific time frames for each procedure, with the aim of reaching deeper knowledge that will help implement plans aimed at compensating those affected, and employing the available resources to achieve this goal as soon as possible, referring to the government's interest in the issue of buildings damaged by the earthquake and the tireless efforts of the authorities. concerned with cooperation with engineering cadres in the Engineers Syndicate and administrative units in the governorates, including Lattakia governorate, to study the buildings accurately and classify them as safe, cracked, or intact, as this procedure falls within the efforts made to speed up the return of families who left their homes anxious and fearful of the repercussions of the earthquake.

He explained that securing alternative housing units is under study and that work is being done, whether by governmental efforts or in cooperation with friendly countries, stressing that the work is carried out according to an accurate database in the operations room, which includes representatives from the governorate and concerned directorates, the Syrian Trust for Development and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to organize data and develop related plans. needs or distribute resources to ensure access to all those affected.

Bassam Al-Ibrahim

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