US temporarily lifts sanctions on Syria to allow earthquake relief aid

The sanctions imposed on Syria by the United States (US) have been lifted temporarily in order to help people impacted by the destructive earthquakes in the country. 

The US Treasury lifted sanctions temporarily to allow new earthquake relief efforts in Syria after Monday’s earthquake in Syria and Turkey killed thousands of people and injured others. The US Treasury also said that the US sanctions on Syria “will not stand in the way” of saving lives.

The Treasury’s Syria General Licence authorised earthquake relief efforts for Syria in order to help earthquake victims and mitigate the impact of earthquakes in the country.

Wally Adeyemo, United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, sent condolences to the people of Turkey and Syria for the tragic loss of life and destruction due to devastating earthquakes. Adeyemo said, “I want to make very clear that the US sanctions in Syria will not stand in the way of lifesaving efforts for the Syrian people.” He further said that the US Treasury issued a blanket General Licence to authorise earthquake relief efforts in order to provide assistance to the Syrian people.

According to the US Treasury, the sanctions programmes of the US do not target legitimate humanitarian assistance. The Treasury reportedly said, “The sanctions do not inhibit the life-saving assistance needed following this disaster.”

On Tuesday, Khaled Hboubati, the president of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), urged the US to lift economic sanctions on Syria in order to allow rescue and relief operations in the country. 

Recently, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also urged the United States to lift its sanctions on Syria. During a press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, urged the US to "unlock the doors for humanitarian aid" to Syria. 

The US-based Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee also urged the US to drop the sanctions in order to help earthquake victims.