Cairo, SANA- Activities of the 14th Mediterranean Conference of the Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies kicked off on Tuesday in Cairo, with the participation of President of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Organization (SARC), Eng. Khaled Hboubati.

The conference aims to enhance dialogue, strengthen cooperation and synergy, and achieve a better humanitarian response.

During the conference, Hboubati briefed the participants on the humanitarian and economic situation in Syria after years of war and the earthquake disaster that struck the country last February, calling for extending assistance to the Syrian people to be able to recover.

Hboubati pointed out that Syria was subjected to the earthquake disaster, and in order to be able to rehabilitate its infrastructure, the economic sanctions must be lifted because they impede this.

The climate changes pose additional burdens on societies and threaten their safety, food security and activity, he added.

Hboubati appreciated the efforts exerted by the volunteers of the SARC to alleviate the suffering of people and protect them in different crises and disasters, but the lack of funding forced the organization to exclude 1.5 million people from the circle of assistance, calling for solidarity with the Syria in facing the crisis.

Representatives of 26 National Societies in the Mediterranean region will discuss over the four-day conference the main humanitarian challenges in the region for the next four years.