European Union Suspends Syria Sanctions For Six Months To Speed ​​Up Delivery Of Earthquake Aid

The handover of humanitarian aid from Indonesia to earthquake victims in Syria. (Source: Indonesian Embassy in Damascus)

JAKARTA - The sanctions imposed on Syria have been temporarily relaxed by the European Union, in order to speed up the delivery of aid to the country, two weeks after the devastating earthquake.

European Union member states will no longer need to give permission to aid organizations before delivering supplies and services to entities hit by sanctions in Syria, the Council of Europe has said.

This decision was made "given the gravity of the humanitarian crisis in Syria exacerbated by the earthquake". This suspension will last for six months.

The European Union says its member states are the main donors of humanitarian aid to conflict-torn Syria, having donated 27.4 billion euros to it and to neighboring countries hosting refugees, such as Turkey, since 2011.

After the earthquake, the European Union provided 3.5 million euros for the urgent humanitarian needs in Syria.

It is known that the Syrian government and businesses associated with it are under European Union sanctions due to the ruthless repression by Damascus, so the contribution of European aid is complicated.

European Union sanctions were imposed in 2011, against 291 people and 70 entities for asset freezes and travel bans.

"The European Union has removed the requirement for humanitarian organizations to seek prior permission from the national competent authorities of EU member states, to transfer or provide goods and services intended for humanitarian purposes to registered persons and entities," said the European Council, launching The National News February 24.

Meanwhile, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday it was taking advantage of the post-earthquake lull to move urgently needed medical supplies and equipment to Syria.

However, activists and emergency teams in northwestern Syria have criticized the UN's slow response to the quake in rebel-held areas, comparing it to humanitarian aid that has been delivered to government-controlled airports.