247 cases of mass poisoning in Deir ez-Zor... and suspicions about floods

A Lebanese ministerial delegation to Damascus, on Monday, is carrying files in which security and border concerns overlap with the burdens of displacement and prison issues. It aims to evaluate the cooperation achieved between the two countries and determine the next steps. Starting from organizing the Syrian presence in Lebanon, to facilitating the return of displaced people, and pursuing drug and extremist networks.

The delegation is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mitri, and includes the Ministers of Interior Ahmed Al-Hajjar, Minister of Labor Muhammad Haidar, Minister of Education Rima Karami, and Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Al-Sayyid. The visit allows for expanded meetings with Syrian officials, and bilateral meetings between ministers and their counterparts, to discuss the files that fall within the jurisdiction of each of them, allowing procedural details to be discussed in addition to the general topics of cooperation.

The talks tend to address issues that require joint action and follow-up beyond official meetings. Mitri said in a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat that the visit “will focus in particular on the situation of the Syrians in Lebanon, whether those who entered secretly during the recent period, or those who obtain legal residency,” explaining that the delegation “will conduct an evaluation of everything that has been achieved so far, and will inform the Syrian side of the measures taken by the Lebanese state in this field.”

An encounter with Shara

Despite the priority of security and technical files, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is likely to receive the Lebanese delegation, and Mitri did not rule out the possibility of “dealing with political matters that concern the two countries,” stressing that “communication and cooperation with the Syrian side are ongoing and ongoing at various levels.”

The issue of organizing the Syrian presence and ways of cooperation to facilitate the return is of utmost importance in the talks, according to the assessment of the Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister, who spoke about “going to review the measures taken and evaluate their results, in addition to discussing the conditions of different categories of Syrians present on Lebanese territory, and the related administrative issues that need coordination between the two countries.”

The agenda extends to facilitating movement through border crossings, a file in which the regulation of crossing intersects with the requirements of control and auditing. Mitri stressed that the meetings “will be predominantly artistic, technical, and joint cooperation, reflecting a focus on addressing the details that directly affect the movement of people and the work of the relevant departments on both sides of the border.”

Students and prisoners

In this context, the issue of Syrian students registered in Lebanese schools will be raised, in addition to new Syrian births in Lebanon, and verifying the possibility of registering them with the Syrian state. These issues emerge, according to Mitri’s assessment, as “part of the administrative follow-up of the Syrian presence.” It relates to education, official documents and records, and requires clarification of the required procedures and mechanisms for completing them.”

As for the file of Syrian prisoners, it will be present from two angles: examining the possibility of them benefiting from the general amnesty law issued in Lebanon, and completing the transfer of those sentenced to Syria. Mitri explained that the talks “will address the two issues, placing the conditions of these prisoners among the files that need judicial and administrative follow-up, while distinguishing between benefiting from amnesty provisions and procedures for transferring convicts.”

Security files

An important part of the visit's schedule will be allocated to security files, and Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmed Al-Hajjar spoke about expanded meetings that will be held between the Lebanese ministers and their Syrian counterparts to discuss all issues of common interest between the two countries, most notably the issue of displaced persons and facilitating procedures between the two countries. He did not rule out holding a bilateral meeting with his Syrian counterpart.

Al-Hajjar confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that he will discuss with his Syrian counterpart “common security matters, including the issue of borders, security coordination at the highest levels, combating drugs and criminal crimes, and exchanging information.” The Lebanese Interior Minister stressed “the importance of coordination with the Syrian side in combating extremist networks that extend between the two countries.”

Seek practical steps

The multiplicity of these files puts two sides in front of us; Lebanese and Syrian, the task of transforming the talks into practical, applicable steps, and the positions of Mitri and Al-Hajjar show that the discussion of the border file will be divided between facilitating movement through the crossings and discussing common security issues. This overlap makes coordination between departments and agencies an essential element in the talks, especially since procedures related to residence, transit, and return intersect with multiple security and judicial responsibilities.

Mass poisoning cases in the city of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria exceeded 247 cases; According to government sources, they confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the cases are more than the announced number, and said that the causes of the poisoning have not yet been confirmed, while local media reported the possibility that the poisoning was caused by water pollution as a result of the floods and torrents that struck the governorate in the last three days, after the concerned authorities in the city closed two restaurants on Saturday on suspicion of causing cases of poisoning.

A public relations official in Deir ez-Zor told Asharq Al-Awsat, “Since Friday night, cases of poisoning began arriving at Deir ez-Zor hospitals, and the required interventions were provided.” According to the Health Directorate, the cases were described as “moderate and mild... diarrhea, nausea, and headache.”

Deir ez-Zor Health Director, Nasr al-Khalaf, had previously stated that the cases were distributed among two hospitals; “Deir ez-Zor National” and “Martyr Ahmed Huwaidi,” pointing out that medical personnel continue to provide first aid and treatment to the injured, according to the official “Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).”

On Saturday, 111 people arrived at the “National Hospital” in Deir ez-Zor, and 55 children arrived at the “Al-Huwaidi Hospital” for children and obstetrics, due to symptoms of food poisoning appearing on them. Some cases reported during medical interrogation in the two hospitals that they had eaten meals from two restaurants in the city. The Directorate of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection immediately closed the two suspected restaurants and sealed them with red wax.

Local media sources in Deir ez-Zor said that poisoning cases continued to rise, despite the closure of the two restaurants, including cases who did not eat food from restaurants and markets, indicating that the large number of infections ruled out the possibility of them occurring as a result of eating in two small restaurants.

Local sources reported that drinking water became turbid due to torrents and floods. Citizens in Deir ez-Zor, through social media, appealed to the relevant government agencies to ensure the safety of drinking water as cases of poisoning rose on Sunday. A picture was circulated of a cup of drinking water that they said was from the public water network and appeared turbid.

The epidemiological investigation team at the Deir ez-Zor Health Directorate took samples from patients, from the suspicious food served in the two closed restaurants, from their water sources, and from the public network. Then they were sent to the “central laboratory” in Damascus, and to the public health laboratory at the Deir ez-Zor Health Directorate, with the results to appear within 48 hours.

Poisoning cases increased rapidly, reaching 40 cases on Saturday at the National Hospital, then rising to 70, then 90, reaching 227 on Sunday morning at the National Hospital and Al-Huwaidi Hospital, designated for children, gynecology and obstetrics. According to the Health Directorate, at the end of the day on Sunday, it exceeded 247 cases, with the number expected to continue to increase.

Deir ez-Zor Governorate and a number of Syrian governorates witnessed heavy rains and torrential rains on the 28th, 29th and 30th of last October, which led to the death of 7 civilians, including 5 children who drowned in pools of water formed as a result of the torrential rains. Mostly in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor.

Egyptian support continues to solve the bread crisis and disrupt bakeries in the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Egyptian Red Crescent distributed more than 1,897 tons of flour and food baskets to the Gaza Strip as part of the “Sanabel Al-Ataa from Zad Al-Izza” campaign.

The Red Crescent also announced, on Sunday, the launch of the “Zad al-Izza... from Egypt to Gaza” convoy No. 306, loaded with humanitarian and relief aid heading to Gaza, as part of its continuing efforts to support the Palestinian brothers and meet their basic needs, especially with the approaching winter.

(Convoy 306) included more than 3,802 tons of various humanitarian aid, consisting of “flour, food baskets, relief and medical supplies, and therapeutic medicines,” in addition to the petroleum materials needed to operate bakeries, hospitals, and vital facilities in the Strip.

According to a statement from the Red Crescent on Sunday, it continues to deliver basic winter supplies to Gaza, which included more than 820 tents and more than 1,896 blankets. He confirms that he has been on the border since the beginning of the crisis, with the continued readiness of his logistical centers and the intensification of his efforts to prepare and bring humanitarian and relief aid into the Gaza Strip, the total of which exceeded one million tons with the participation of more than 75,000 volunteers in the association.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said, on Friday evening, during talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar at the headquarters of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest, “His country looks forward to concerted international efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip, ensure the unhindered access of humanitarian aid, and create conditions for the resumption of a serious political path that will put an end to the protracted conflict and open the way to achieving just and lasting peace.”

He pointed out at the time that “achieving sustainable peace in the Middle East will not be possible without reaching a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the (two-state solution) that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside the State of Israel, so that they live side by side in peace and security.”

Last Thursday, the Egyptian Red Crescent Regiment sent more than 1,255 tons of flour and food baskets to the Gaza Strip. It also launched the “Zad al-Izza... from Egypt to Gaza” convoy No. 305, which included more than 3,380 tons of various humanitarian aid.

Last Thursday, the Egyptian Red Crescent also received the 94th batch of Palestinian brothers coming for treatment through the Rafah crossing, and also bid farewell to those recovering during their departure after completing their medical journey in cooperation and coordination with the Ministries of Health and Social Solidarity. The Red Crescent teams, located inside the humanitarian services centers in the arrival and departure halls, accompanied the Palestinian brothers during the various stages of transit to provide them with the necessary support from arrival to departure.

According to Al-Hilal, the services provided varied between psychological support, especially for children, and services to restore family links, in addition to distributing meals and drinks, and providing clothes and personal care supplies, in a way that meets the basic needs of the wounded, sick, and their companions.