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China demands an end to US sanctions against Syria following the deadly earthquakes

The Assad Family. Clearly. Middle East is full of such despots, but sooner and later they always get what they deserve: a most disgraceful end.
Do you prefer IS?

Syria unstabilization is consequence of Iraq unstabilization.

I think it's easy the right behavior: basic humanitarian supplies should enter easily in the country. And keep bombing weapons smuggling.

You can treat a state like a enemy without punish civilian people.
 
You can treat a state like a enemy without punish civilian people.

Let the State fulfill its responsibility of treating its citizenry humanely first. Then it deserves to be treated like a State. Taking care of a population while their dictators run amok is not really the correct way to help anyone.
 
Let the State fulfill its responsibility of treating its citizenry humanely first. Then it deserves to be treated like a State. Taking care of a population while their dictators run amok is not really the correct way to help anyone.
Give basic supplies, no money, and the dictator can do in his palace whatever he wants.

No weapons allowed.

Food and medicines allowed, free for all.

Weapons shipment destroyed.

Food and medicines allowed.

That's the correct way of treat a enemy state. Something else is a criminal behavior, specially in this case after a Earthquake.
 
Surely China has more than enough money and resources to help Syria through this crisis. Why does China care so much about US sanctions?
 


Treasury Issues Syria General License 23 To Aid In Earthquake Disaster Relief Efforts
February 9, 2023

WASHINGTON – Today, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License (GL) 23, which authorizes for 180 days all transactions related to earthquake relief that would be otherwise prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR).

“Our deepest condolences go out to the people of Türkiye and Syria for the tragic loss of life and destruction in the wake of devastating earthquakes,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “As international allies and humanitarian partners mobilize to help those affected, I want to make very clear that U.S. sanctions in Syria will not stand in the way of life-saving efforts for the Syrian people. While U.S. sanctions programs already contain robust exemptions for humanitarian efforts, today Treasury is issuing a blanket General License to authorize earthquake relief efforts so that those providing assistance can focus on what’s needed most: saving lives and rebuilding.”

U.S. sanctions programs do not target legitimate humanitarian assistance, including earthquake disaster relief efforts. The U.S. government has long had several general licenses in place under the SySR that permit most activities in support of humanitarian assistance, including in regime-held areas, by the United Nations, the U.S. government, or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) engaging in transactions in support of certain not-for-profit activities. This new authorization expands upon these broad humanitarian authorizations already in effect under the SySR for NGOs, international organizations (IOs), and the U.S. government. This GL reflects the United States’ commitment to support the people of Syria through their ongoing earthquake crisis. While sanctions relief alone cannot reverse longstanding structural challenges and the brutal tactics of the Assad regime, it can ensure that sanctions do not inhibit the life-saving assistance needed following this disaster.

OFAC’s GL 23 provides the broad authorization necessary to support immediate disaster relief efforts in Syria. The Department of the Treasury will continue to monitor the situation in Syria and engage with key humanitarian and disaster assistance stakeholders, including NGOs, IOs, and key partners and allies, to understand emerging challenges they may face in delivery of services. U.S. and intermediary financial institutions should have what they need in GL23 to immediately process all earthquake relief transactions. If persons, including financial institutions, are engaged in disaster relief activities for Syria, but they believe their activities are not covered by existing authorizations or exemptions, those persons are encouraged to contact OFAC directly to seek specific licenses or guidance at OFAC_feedback@treasury.gov or by calling +1 202-622-2480. OFAC will prioritize any such requests.

***
 
Surely China has more than enough money and resources to help Syria through this crisis. Why does China care so much about US sanctions?

Indeed, without hypocritically politicizing the earthquake, countries which seems to oppose the sanctions can provide assistance to Syria.

If they can provide weapons and spare parts to Russia, they can provide disaster help to Syria. I

Not that the US will stop if a country dispatches rescue workers or send food and tents.

I think the greatest challenge here is the fact that the affected regions are adjacent to Turkish and under rebel (FSA) or Kurdish control. Syrian government opposes any activities, including disaster relief, in those areas that go without its approval first.
 
That is not your or American calls for that matter. It is between Assad and the citizens of Syria. Outsiders have no right to interfere.

No problem. They can also take care of themselves, then.
 
Treasury Issues Syria General License 23 To Aid In Earthquake Disaster Relief Efforts
February 9, 2023
Too late, the golden window to save lives had closed, lots of lives in Syria could have been saved.

China's 1st shipment of medical aid arrives in Damascus; US urged to lift sanctions to quicken humanitarian assistance to Syria
By Global Times
Published: Feb 10, 2023 01:46 PM


China’s first batch of medical assistance arrived at Damascus around 7:30 pm on Thursday with medicines and supplies for the use of 5000 personnel and more supplies and medical equipment are on the road to the earthquake-hit country. Photo: Xue Dan

China’s first batch of medical assistance arrived at Damascus around 7:30 pm on Thursday with medicines and supplies for the use of 5000 personnel and more supplies and medical equipment are on the road to the earthquake-hit country. Photo: Xue Dan

China's first shipment of medical assistance arrived in Damascus around 7:30 pm local time on Thursday with more supplies and medical equipment on their way to the earthquake-hit country, the Global Times has learned.

Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei and senior officials from Syrian Ministry of Local Administration and Environment and Syrian Arab Red Crescent welcomed the plane carrying with Chinese assistance at the airport on Thursday.

Guo Yang, assistant general-secretary from Chinese Red Cross Foundation who arrived at Syria with the plane told media that the first shipment of assistance included medical supplies and medicines for 5,000 personnel and more materials for medical use will arrive to be delivered to Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

The Chinese government has attached importance in developing friendly relations with Syria and we believe under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad and joint efforts by the Syrian people , Syria will overcome this disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date, Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei told media.

Syrian officials thanked China for offering help and said China and Syria are friends in deed. They will transfer the goods offered by China to the disaster-stricken area.

The death toll from a string of earthquakes, with the largest two of 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude that struck Turkey and Syria earlier this week rose to more than 21,000, with at least 17,674 confirmed deaths in Turkey and another 3,377 in Syria, Aljazeera reported.

Soon after the earthquakes the Chinese government immediately activated its emergency humanitarian assistance mechanism and the first shipment of 40 million-yuan worth of emergency aid was dispatched to Turkey, including heavy urban search and rescue teams, medical teams, and urgently needed disaster relief supplies.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing on Wednesday that China will provide emergency humanitarian aid worth 30 million yuan to Syria, which includes cash assistance of 2 million US dollars and relief materials urgently needed. It is speeding up the implementation of an ongoing food aid program.

While death toll in the two countries continues to climb, rescuers scrambled for survivors trapped beneath the rubble in freezing winter conditions. And the World Health Organization warned on Thursday that survivors could face "a secondary disaster" as cold and snow lead to "worsening and horrific conditions."

However, years of conflict, humanitarian crisis and unilateral sanctions from the US have brought extra difficulties in helping survivors in Syria, where international aid has been slow to arrive. Media reported that it was until Thursday, the first United Nations aid convoy finally crossed from Turkey into northwest Syria.

In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Mohammed Hasanein Khaddam, Syrian Ambassador to China, said that the roots of Syria's suffering - the US' long-arm jurisdiction - are further exacerbated by the disaster.

Syria has faced US sanctions since 1979, which have got worse since then. "Many people are still under the rubble," he said. Buildings and infrastructure have been hit hard. Tens of thousands became homeless because large numbers of buildings are dilapidated and uninhabitable due to the first quake and the aftershocks, so the number of deaths is in the thousands and on the rise, with hospitals and medical centers overstretched.

Some aid organizations, including the Damascus-based Syrian Arab Red Crescent, have called for sanctions to be lifted.

American and EU officials have made clear the quake won't change the sanctions. Emergency workers say delays could cost lives, as local rescue crews struggle to pull families and children from the rubble and find housing for survivors amid brutal winter weather, the Associated Press reported.

 
Syria says U.S. move to waive sanctions for earthquake relief 'misleading'
08:58, 11-Feb-2023

The latest U.S. move to ease the sanctions imposed on Syria to support earthquake relief efforts is "misleading and aims to give a false humanitarian impression," the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury Department issued what it called a "six-month sanctions exemption" for Syria-bound humanitarian aid, saying the U.S. sanctions in Syria "will not stand in the way" of life-saving efforts.

The Syrian ministry responded in the statement that the U.S. decision "stipulates alleged exemptions for humanitarian purposes, and the facts on the ground proved its falsehood."

U.S. coercive measures and policies have deprived the Syrian people of their natural wealth, the ministry added, before urging the United States to end immediately, without hesitation, conditions or exceptions, the sanctions and to stop its cruel practices and violations of international law and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter.

The Syrian government has repeatedly said that the sanctions were unjust and targeted the livelihoods and the well-being of the Syrian people, particularly after the earthquake that hit the country on Monday.

According to figures released by the Syrian Health Ministry on Friday, Syria's death toll from the Monday earthquakes rose to 1,387 and injuries to 2,326.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said that the earthquake in Syrian government and rebel-held areas had killed 4,500 people.

 
Too late, the golden window to save lives had closed, lots of lives in Syria could have been saved.

China's 1st shipment of medical aid arrives in Damascus; US urged to lift sanctions to quicken humanitarian assistance to Syria
By Global Times
Published: Feb 10, 2023 01:46 PM


China’s first batch of medical assistance arrived at Damascus around 7:30 pm on Thursday with medicines and supplies for the use of 5000 personnel and more supplies and medical equipment are on the road to the earthquake-hit country. Photo: Xue Dan

China’s first batch of medical assistance arrived at Damascus around 7:30 pm on Thursday with medicines and supplies for the use of 5000 personnel and more supplies and medical equipment are on the road to the earthquake-hit country. Photo: Xue Dan

China's first shipment of medical assistance arrived in Damascus around 7:30 pm local time on Thursday with more supplies and medical equipment on their way to the earthquake-hit country, the Global Times has learned.

Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei and senior officials from Syrian Ministry of Local Administration and Environment and Syrian Arab Red Crescent welcomed the plane carrying with Chinese assistance at the airport on Thursday.

Guo Yang, assistant general-secretary from Chinese Red Cross Foundation who arrived at Syria with the plane told media that the first shipment of assistance included medical supplies and medicines for 5,000 personnel and more materials for medical use will arrive to be delivered to Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

The Chinese government has attached importance in developing friendly relations with Syria and we believe under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad and joint efforts by the Syrian people , Syria will overcome this disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date, Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei told media.

Syrian officials thanked China for offering help and said China and Syria are friends in deed. They will transfer the goods offered by China to the disaster-stricken area.

The death toll from a string of earthquakes, with the largest two of 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude that struck Turkey and Syria earlier this week rose to more than 21,000, with at least 17,674 confirmed deaths in Turkey and another 3,377 in Syria, Aljazeera reported.

Soon after the earthquakes the Chinese government immediately activated its emergency humanitarian assistance mechanism and the first shipment of 40 million-yuan worth of emergency aid was dispatched to Turkey, including heavy urban search and rescue teams, medical teams, and urgently needed disaster relief supplies.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing on Wednesday that China will provide emergency humanitarian aid worth 30 million yuan to Syria, which includes cash assistance of 2 million US dollars and relief materials urgently needed. It is speeding up the implementation of an ongoing food aid program.

While death toll in the two countries continues to climb, rescuers scrambled for survivors trapped beneath the rubble in freezing winter conditions. And the World Health Organization warned on Thursday that survivors could face "a secondary disaster" as cold and snow lead to "worsening and horrific conditions."

However, years of conflict, humanitarian crisis and unilateral sanctions from the US have brought extra difficulties in helping survivors in Syria, where international aid has been slow to arrive. Media reported that it was until Thursday, the first United Nations aid convoy finally crossed from Turkey into northwest Syria.

In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Mohammed Hasanein Khaddam, Syrian Ambassador to China, said that the roots of Syria's suffering - the US' long-arm jurisdiction - are further exacerbated by the disaster.

Syria has faced US sanctions since 1979, which have got worse since then. "Many people are still under the rubble," he said. Buildings and infrastructure have been hit hard. Tens of thousands became homeless because large numbers of buildings are dilapidated and uninhabitable due to the first quake and the aftershocks, so the number of deaths is in the thousands and on the rise, with hospitals and medical centers overstretched.

Some aid organizations, including the Damascus-based Syrian Arab Red Crescent, have called for sanctions to be lifted.

American and EU officials have made clear the quake won't change the sanctions. Emergency workers say delays could cost lives, as local rescue crews struggle to pull families and children from the rubble and find housing for survivors amid brutal winter weather, the Associated Press reported.


"While U.S. sanctions programs already contain robust exemptions for humanitarian efforts..."

I think there was nothing preventing governments to deploy aid and rescue teams to Syria.

The problem is complicated because the affected region is not Syrian state control, mostly. And, many governments, including US, Turkey, Qatar, etc. recognize FSA and White Helmets as legitimate while Syrian government considers them as terrorists.

Hence the slower response by many governments.




U.S.-funded humanitarian partners are providing assistance throughout all areas of Syria, including health services, shelter support, food assistance, and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Those partners include the White Helmets, who have pulled more than 1,000 survivors from the rubble and U.S.-supported Syrian medics who have been treating survivors across Idlib, Aleppo, and other affected areas.


Yesterday, to underscore that U.S. sanctions will not prevent or inhibit providing humanitarian assistance in Syria, the Department of the Treasury issued a broad General License to provide additional authorizations for disaster relief assistance to the Syrian people. This license will be in effect for six months. U.S. humanitarian assistance is delivered directly to the Syrian people, no matter where they live.
 
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