Syria’s ports working normally as Ukraine looks to supply staple foods

LONDON: Syria’s main ports are working normally after days of disruptions, maritime officials said on Monday, and Ukraine said it was in touch with the interim government about delivering staple foods.
President Bashar Assad was ousted on Dec. 8 by militant forces led by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. Since then, Israel has carried out airstrikes around Syria’s main port Latakia, and shipping sources also said ports had been short of workers.
On Monday, port official Hasan Jablawi told Reuters that Latakia was functioning normally and cargo ships that had been waiting for several days were unloading.
The Turkish-flagged Med Urla general cargo vessel was among the first ships to discharge and sail from Latakia on Monday, according to LSEG ship tracking data.
Shipping sources said Syria’s other main port Tartous was also operating, although there was a backlog to clear.
Russian and Syrian sources said on Friday that Russian wheat supplies to Syria had been suspended after two vessels carrying Russian wheat had failed to reach their destinations in Syria.
Russia, the world’s largest wheat exporter, had dominated wheat sales to Syria, according to shipping and trade sources, using complex financial and logistical arrangements to circumvent Western sanctions. Figures on Syria’s needs or stock levels were not readily available, however.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday his government would set up mechanisms to deliver food to Syria together with international organizations and partners.
“We can help Syrians with Ukrainian wheat, flour, and oil,” he added in his daily wartime address on Sunday.
A Ukrainian industry source confirmed there was active communication with the Syrian administration over food shipments.