United Nations Coordinator in Syria: Sanctions impede humanitarian action in the country

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Syria El-Mostafa Benlamlih has stressed that the sanctions imposed on Syria hamper humanitarian work in the country. He said that the situation is now very difficult, the needs are great as a result of the earthquake and the humanitarian situation must not be politicized.

Interview by SANA, Benlamlih affirmed that the aim of the United Nations organizations is to convey a message about the suffering of the Syrians as a result of the sanctions imposed on their country and the damage these sanctions have caused to humanitarian work.

They blocked millions of dollars in financial assistance to those affected by the earthquake, he said.

He explained that Syria today experiences a double crisis due to the war since 2011 and the earthquake, which made the situation even more difficult. He noted that before the earthquake there were 15 million Syrians in need of assistance, 4 million of them needed almost daily assistance, but today, and due to tge earthquake the number of people in need as a result of catastrophic earthquake has increased.

Benlamlih called on all foreign parties not to politicize the humanitarian situation in Syria so that humanitarian aid can reach those affected, noting that Syria’s needs are significant and the country should be assisted.

Amal Farhat