Opposition's lack of support ends role of Local Councils

Translation by Yusra Ahmed

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Lack of logistic and financial support by the opposition Local Administration Ministry led to halt the activities of the local council of Latakia’s countryside, official said.

In his statement to Zaman al-Wasl, Fadi Ibrahim, National Coalition’s member, attributed the delay of support to Latakia’s Local council to personal reasons. He confirmed that even other organizations inside Syria do not deal with Council, as a result of promoting it badly by Mohammed Hasno, the Head of Projects’s office in the Assistance Coordination Unit “ACU” claiming that it did not provide any service on ground.

“Hasno was an activist within the council and worked there for a year,” the Coalition’s member wondered.

He mentioned that the Ministry of Local Administration had demanded many times carrying on the support of services target the Syrian people inside Syria. Ibrahim warned of the consequence of ceasing transportation of essential materials from Bab al-Hawa to Latakia’s countryside, as a result of fuel shortage because of ceasing financial support. “That could affect the cleaning process which could result in spreading of disease and epidemics”

Ibrahim mentioned that bad condition of roads which were damaged by Syrian regime's shelling and bombing, harden movement for people and fighters.

Fadi Ibrahim detailed that Latakia’s Local Council worked for a year and a half and gave many civil services to people like cleaning, roads' maintenance, support teaching and schools, distributing relief and aid equal to $.800 thousand. He added that the Medical office was given $.900 thousand, where the civil defence received $.175 thousand and provided with some vehicles and equipments, and bought buses to facilitate people’s movement between villages, and paying some families in need in Turkey some cash money.

Ibrahim expressed his sorry to be forced to close the Latakia Local Council and its branches besides other Local Councils, as a result of fund shortage.