JAKARTA - The United States' sanctions against Syria will not hinder the rescue of lives after the earthquake that rocked Syria and Turkey, the US Treasury Department pledged while easing restrictions to allow new aid efforts and pledged $85 million in humanitarian aid.
It comes after several people in Syria claimed US sanctions hindered relief efforts after the earthquake.
It is known that the death toll from the earthquake reached 21,000 on Friday morning, as hopes of finding more people alive in collapsed building debris faded.
The announcement of aid came after Foreign Minister Antony Blinken spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday by telephone to discuss the needs of the NATO ally.
"We are proud to join global efforts to help Turkey as Turkey has often donated its own humanitarian rescue experts to many other countries in the past," State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
The Treasury Department later announced the temporary lifting of several sanctions related to Syria.
"Our deepest condolences extend to the Turkish and Syrian people for the tragic loss of life and destruction after the devastating earthquake," said Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Minister of Finance.
"As international allies and humanitarian partners move to help those affected, I want to make it clear that US sanctions in Syria will not hinder efforts to save the lives of the Syrian people," he said.
"While the US sanctions program already contains strong exceptions to humanitarian efforts, today the Treasury has issued a Public License to approve earthquake relief efforts so that those who provide assistance can focus on what is most needed: saving lives and rebuilding," he said.
The US Treasury Department's Syrian General License, authorized earthquake relief efforts that were banned by sanctions regulations for 180 days.
In addition, the US sanctions program is not intended for legal humanitarian aid, including earthquake disaster relief efforts, the Treasury said.
Previously, the US had sent rescue teams to Turkey and had donated concrete solvers, generators, water purification systems, and helicopters, officials said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, US aid packages will be managed by the US International Development Agency (USAID) and sent to partners in the country.
"USAID provides emergency food and shelter for refugees and newly displaced people, winter supplies to help families fight the cold, critical health services to provide trauma support, safe drinking water to prevent disease, and cleaning and sanitation assistance to keep people safe and sound," the agency said.
Earlier aid convoys on Thursday reached rebel-controlled northwest Syria for the first time since the quake, through its only open border crossing, Bab Al Eve on the Turkish side.
USAID said rescue teams were focused on the heavily affected Adiyaman, a city in Turkey's southeast, looking for survivors with dogs, cameras, and listeners.
Following heavy damage to roads and bridges, the US military has sent Black Hawk helicopters and FIREs to transfer supplies, he said.
On Tuesday, Syria's Red Crescent Moon President urged the US to lift economic sanctions that it said hindered rescue and aid operations in the country.
However, the US Government said some of the existing general permits allowed most of the activities to support humanitarian aid, including in regime-controlled territory, by the United Nations, US governments, and some NGOs.
"While sanctions relief alone cannot reverse the longstanding structural challenges and the brutal tactics of the (President Bashar al-) Assad regime, it can ensure that sanctions do not hinder the necessary life-saving aid following this disaster," the Treasury said.
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