After the terrible earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, international solidarity with the Anatolian country began immediately, from the European Union to the USA and NATO. In the case of Damascus, however, things progressed much more slowly, despite more than 1,700 victims. The difference also stems from the fact that international sanctions against the country led by Bashar Assad are still pending. That is why various associations and NGOs have asked Brussels and Washington to suspend them to allow the flow of aid to quickly reach where it is needed most.
For example, the Society of Sant’Egidio said, “We believe it is time to suspend sanctions to allow relief supplies to arrive in abundance and as soon as possible to help the population exhausted by war and earthquakes.” It mobilized to help the people of the country, which was already the scene of a bloody war that lasted more than 11 years. The Syrian Red Crescent also called on Western countries to lift sanctions and provide assistance.
But sanctions may not be responsible for the lack of aid, and Brussels returned the charges to the sender, explaining that the European Union “is providing assistance to partner humanitarian organizations working on the ground”. Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said, “The request for the activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism was made by Turkey, not by Syria. It can be done by the UN if desired, but it has not been done so far.”
Another said, “Rescue teams need not only authorization but also the support of the authorities on the ground in order to work effectively in the field, otherwise it is not possible to operate effectively and safely. Therefore, we work at the request of the state.” Spokesperson Eric Mamer reminds that “the EU is Syria’s main donor, donating 27 billion euros since 2011, 500 million of which was just last year”.
Currently, seventy countries from all over the world have taken action for Turkey; The EU mobilized 28 search and rescue teams from 21 countries for a total of around 1,200 rescuers and 79 search dogs. The United States provided “all necessary assistance”, meanwhile sending two teams (more than 150 experts). NATO is ready to mobilize the civil solidarity mechanism to stand by the ally at this difficult moment when more than 3,500 people lost their lives due to the devastating earthquake.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
