{"id":995205,"date":"2023-02-16T17:29:25","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T17:29:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1648275"},"modified":"2023-02-16T17:29:25","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T17:29:25","slug":"syria-struggles-to-get-aid-to-earthquake-survivors-as-death-toll-passes-40000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2023\/02\/16\/syria-struggles-to-get-aid-to-earthquake-survivors-as-death-toll-passes-40000\/","title":{"rendered":"Syria struggles to get aid to earthquake survivors as death toll passes 40,000"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rescue teams have begun winding down the search for survivors as the focus switched to tackling a dire humanitarian disaster caused by the earthquake that has left more than 40,000 people dead<\/a> in Turkey<\/a> and Syria<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Syria, already wracked by 12 years of civil war, is of particular concern. The United Nations (UN) held an emergency meeting on Monday 13 February on how to boost aid to rebel-held areas. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, isolated and subject to Western sanctions, called for international assistance to help rebuild infrastructure in the country. The UN estimates that more than five million people have been made homeless.<\/p>\n

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Assad has agreed to open two more border crossings for aid. One is in Bab Al-Salam and another in Al Raee, both between T\u00fcrkey to northwest Syria. More than four million people live in these rebel-controlled areas of northwestern Syria. But before the earthquake struck, almost all of the crucial humanitarian aid for the region was delivered through a single conduit – the Bab al-Hawa crossing. Guterres said:<\/p>\n

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Opening these crossing points – along with facilitating humanitarian access, accelerating visa approvals and easing travel between hubs – will allow more aid to go in, faster.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Are sanctions to blame?<\/h2>\n

However, the situation is very complex. The United States and the UK have led the way in sanctioning Syria<\/a> after concerns that the state was a “sponsor of terrorism”. But sanctions aren’t the only barrier to aid being delivered to survivors.<\/p>\n

In the face of a steadily rising death toll, both the US<\/a> and UK<\/a> have announced a temporary easing of sanctions. While these exemptions may ease the pressure, as the Guardian\u00a0<\/em>reported<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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analysts say the demands of the Assad government and the effects of the war are the main factors complicating aid deliveries into the already tense north-west, and the US move is more about reassuring banks and other institutions that they will not be punished for rendering assistance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Assad’s government has demanded that it be able to control aid coming into the country. When asked if Syria would let the UN deliver aid from crossing points not accessed via Turkey, Syrian ambassador to the UN Bassam Sabbagh avoided answering directly. Instead, he said that the government would aid deliveries:<\/a><\/p>\n

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to all Syrians in all territory of Syria.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The director of the Middle East Institute’s Syria programme pointed a finger at Assad’s government. Charles Lister said Assad’s insistence on controlling deliveries across Syria hampered aid efforts<\/a>, and this insistence:<\/p>\n

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appears to have virtually crippled the United Nations\u2019 willingness, not ability, but willingness to essentially act forthright and in a bold way, and just provide earthquake recovery anyway, across the border.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Lister contended that whilst sanctions may impact aid entering the borders of Syria, the distribution of aid within Syria is a broader issue<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Sanctions is a complete side point, virtually irrelevant in terms of the flow of humanitarian assistance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Desperation for aid grows<\/h2>\n

Of course, anger has grown over the sluggish international response to aid. Sanctions are still likely to be an ongoing problem for aid routes, as Declassified<\/em> explained:<\/p>\n

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\"\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7\" \"\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfe\" Last November the UN called on states to lift "catastrophic" sanctions on #Syria<\/a> which are "perpetuating and exacerbating the destruction and trauma suffered by the Syrian people since 2011".<\/p>\n

Yesterday, the UK government confirmed its sanctions will remain in place. pic.twitter.com\/i44fNmScH4<\/a><\/p>\n

— Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) February 16, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n