Weeks after quake, EU says temporarily lifting sanctions on Syria

Two weeks after the devastating earthquake in Syria that had already been contending with harsh US and European sanctions, the EU has decided to temporarily ease the sanctions in order to supposedly speed up aid delivery.

According to a statement issued by the European Council, during the coming six months only, aid organizations do not need to ask permission from the EU member states' governments before sending supplies and services to sanctioned entities in Syria.

“The EU has waived the need for humanitarian organizations to seek prior permission from EU member states' national competent authorities to make transfers or provide goods and services intended for humanitarian purposes to listed persons and entities", the statement said.

According to the statement, the measure was taken "in view of the gravity of the humanitarian crisis in Syria exacerbated by the earthquake."

On February 13, the International Movement for a Just World (JUST) as well as other local and international NGOs urged the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Switzerland and some European Union and Arab allies of the US to lift the unjust, immoral sanctions against Syria in order to lessen the immense sufferings caused by the massive earthquake.

Earlier in February, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad criticized western sanctions which he said have “exacerbated the tragedy and catastrophe” of the devastating earthquake which struck parts of Syria and neighboring Turkey on February 6.

“The catastrophe of the earthquake that struck Syria is great, and what has increased its depth is the difficult circumstances that the country has been going through for the past 12 years as it is fighting terrorism and its supporters,” Mekdad explained.

A report published by the Asia Times in February said that the US and EU suspension of their sanctions temporarily is not enough, because it means that they can be re-imposed at any time.

“The sanctions should be terminated once and for all, because there were no justifications for them in the first instance,” the report said.

On February 10, the US announced a 180-day exemption to Syria sanctions for disaster aid, however, analysts say that the move is of no value.

Delaney Simon, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group’s US program said he does not think this exemption will suddenly open the floodgates and allow for unhindered humanitarian access and delivery in Syria,

 “There are just too many other access issues,” he said.  

Syria has been in the throes of foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. While the Daesh terrorist group was crushed by the Syrian government, the militant groups continue to hold sway in some parts of the country under the patronage of Western powers.

Numerous reports have pointed to Washington's role in transferring Daesh terrorists to the war-ravaged country and even airlifting supplies to the group. Also, the United States invaded Syria in 2014 at the head of scores of its allies under the pretext of fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

The US government has also imposed sweeping economic sanctions against Syria amid the Arab nation’s uphill battle for reconstruction and recovery.

The restrictive measures have blocked imports of essential goods, affecting the Syrian people’s access to medical equipment, food, heating, gas, and electricity.

The sanctions have effectively cut Syria off from the global economy, leaving it dependent on a handful of allied states like Russia and Iran.

The UN says over 5 million people in Syria have been affected by the earthquake and need shelter, food, and medicine. The disaster has multiplied the suffering of Syrians who have endured years of foreign-backed war and western sanctions that left millions dead, displaced, and impoverished.

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