⋯ The Lebanese Foreign Ministry paid tribute to the victims of the Syrian earthquake, expressing readiness to provide assistance.

Meawhile, a team from the Civil Defense, the Red Cross and the Beirut Fire Brigade will soon depart from Beirut to Turkey to assist in the relief work.

⋯ According to Turkish authorities, the death toll as a result of the recent earthquakes has risen to 1014.

⋯ Aftershocks are still occurring as a M5.5 earthquake hits the Turkish city of Sakarya.

While aftershock magnitude and frequency decrease exponentially with time, they still make situation dangerous for rescuers and any victims still trapped under debris.

⋯ Syrian Ministry of Health and relief teams: More than 780 people were killed and 2,280 injured throughout Syria as a result of the earthquake.

⋯ Video of Civil Defense personnel getting ready to leave for Turkey.

⋯ The Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamieh received the Syrian Minister of Health and a diplomatic delegation from the Syrian Embassy in the Salon of Honor at Beirut Airport.

The Syrian Minister of Health is on his way back to Syria.

⋯ Turkey: The Ministry of Health announces that the number of dead has risen to 1,762 and the number of injured to 12,068.

Syria: The earthquakes have resulted in approximately 1,293 dead and 2,911 injured so far.

The situation in both countries is still developing.

⋯ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs to LBCI: “Two members of the Lebanese community are still under the rubble in southern Turkey and have been unable to be contacted. The Lebanese ambassador to Turkey is following the matter closely.”

Update: Minister of Education Abbas Halabi announced the closure of all official and private schools, highschools, vocational schools, and higher education institutions until Wednesday due to the stormy weather and risk of accidents on icy and snowy roads.

After the judicial orders forcing Fransabank to return two peoples' deposits in USD and the bank's consequent refusal and closure, the Association of Banks announced a strike in solidarity.

All banks will be closed “until a solution is found for the judicial decisions.”

Current most trustworthy charities to support Syria in light of this tragedy, and despite sanctions.

Red Cross Syria Appeal (funds Syrian Red Cross):
donate.redcross.org.uk/ap…

SOS Chrétiens d'Orient:
jedonne.soschretiensdorie…

The UN crisis relief:
crisisrelief.un.org/t/syr…

⋯ As of this morning, the number of the dead so far is:
-3381 in Turkey, as reported by the Turkish government
-1597 in Syria, as reported by the UK-funded Syrian Observatory, while the Syrian government reported 812 dead in its areas of control.

⋯ How the Lebanese organize aid for Syria:

1. Personnel sent by the Army & Civil Defense

2. “The port of Tripoli, the airport and the port of Beirut are exempt from all fees and taxes for the delivery of any aid to Syria.” (Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamieh)

3. Air Transport Association: “On behalf of all our unions & workers in the aviation, we are placing ourselves as volunteers to facilitate relief work heading to Syria via Beirut Airport, around the clock.”

4. Personnel sent by the Lebanese Red Cross

5. Personnel sent by Hezbollah's Islamic Health Organization