The European Union (EU), a political and economic union of
27 member states from Europe, has said it is temporarily easing sanctions on
Syria to speed up earthquake aid deliveries to the people affected by the
destructive earthquake in Syria.
The European Council representing the bloc’s countries said
in a statement that the international organisations will no longer need to seek
permission from the EU to send earthquake aid to Syria.
The EU said that they took the decision “in view of the
gravity of the humanitarian crisis in Syria exacerbated by the earthquake.” The
bloc has eased sanctions on Syria for six months in order to help earthquake
survivors in the country.
The EU said that the bloc contributed a total of 27.4
billion euros to Syria and to refugee-hosting neighbours such as Turkey since
2011. When the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Syria and Turkey on
February 6, the EU sent 3.5 million euros for urgent humanitarian needs to
Syria in order to help earthquake victims.
Earlier, the EU imposed sanctions against Syria’s government
and businesses linked to it due to Damascus’s violent repression of the
civilian population in Syria. In 2011, the Eu imposed sanctions on 291
individuals and 70 entities for asset freezes and a travel ban. In 2015, the EU
extended restrictive measures against the Syrian regime. The EU along with the
US sanctioned Bashar Assad’s regime over the deteriorating situation in Syria.
According to a statement by the EU, humanitarian
organisations do not need to seek prior permission from EU member states’
national competent authorities to provide aid to Syria.
Syria is controlled by different groups. However, most parts
of Syria are controlled by the Damascus government. The northern part of Syria
is affected due to conflict. Syria’s northeast is mostly controlled by
US-backed Kurdish-led groups.