Free Syrian Army fighters have, in their words on the video below, “liberated” ICARDA. Our thoughts are with the international staff, still working from different locations around the region (most of the genebank personnel are in Tunisia), and especially the local staff, trying to survive in and around Aleppo.
@AgroBioDiverse Luigi, don't get shocked. ICARDA facility has been looted. Cars are with FSA now. Watch this http://t.co/qB85xJhw #ICARDA
— Dr. Joshka Wessels (@joshkawessels) December 1, 2012
Just to be absolutely clear: the genebank accessions and research data are safe. Here’s a long piece from Nature Middle East Conflict in Syria forces international research centre to move staff that sets out the situation as it was in September. I am assured by people on the ground that as far as ICARDA is concerned nothing has changed since then.
Dear Dr. Luigi ,Mr.Jeremy
I hope this new army don’t to destroy ICARDA or do like gang reckless killing.
ICARDA for the world not for Syria.