UN WFP calls on Int'l community to lift 'some' sanctions on Syria

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Feb 22:58
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The organization reportedly assisted over 40,000 people in Syria with ready-to-eat rations and hot means following the first 36 hours that followed Monday's devastating earthquake.

Volunteers carry food boxes to distribute to displaced people following a devastating earthquake, in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

UN World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Corinne Fleischer said on Friday that 'certain' sanctions on Syria must be lifted in order for the international community to deliver essential goods to address peoples' urgent needs in the aftermath of Monday's earthquake.

Fleischer told reporters that the WFP is teaming up with partners in order to get essential goods, particularly food, fertilizers, and other equipment, into Syria - and to do so, it is necessary to lift some sanctions.

Yesterday, the WFP issued a statement calling for $46 million to be dispensed to support 500,000 Turks and Syrians that were affected by the earthquake.

"To meet the urgent food needs, WFP is appealing for US$46 million to support a total of 500,000 people in Turkiye and Syria. This includes hot meals and food rations to 200,000 newly displaced people in Syria and 300,000 people in Turkiye, including 70,000 refugees," the statement read.

The organization reportedly assisted over 40,000 people in Syria with ready-to-eat rations and hot means following the first 36 hours after the earthquake struck, the statement says.

An upcoming cross-border shipment of food to Syria is expected to take place on February 15, the WFP states.

🆘"People have to eat."

WFP and our partners are on the ground in some of the most difficult-to-reach areas, distributing immediate food relief to families impacted by the earthquakes in #Türkiye and #Syria.

⬇️WFP's Kenn Crossley explains⬇️ pic.twitter.com/54eQqsfnKR
— World Food Programme (@WFP) February 9, 2023

Monday's massive earthquake flattened entire sections of major cities in Turkey and Syria, killing more than 20,000 people in both countries according to the latest estimates.

The earthquake has so far left over 3,500 Syrians dead and thousands of others injured, in addition to leveling down thousands of homes, leaving civilians in the cold weather with no shelter, while the government, due to western unilateral sanctions and blockade, is unable to fully respond to the crisis and offer disaster relief to its nation.

Earlier today, it was reported that France maintained its policy toward the Syrian government and will not provide Damascus with relief aid following the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey which.

"Our political approach is not changing and contrary to Bashar al-Assad we are working in favor of the Syrian population," French Deputy Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Francois Delmas stated in a press conference.

"Only a political process defined by United Nations Security Council 2254 can lead to an exit of the crisis," in reference to providing aid to non-governmental organizations, notoriously known to have implemented the western agenda to destabilize Syria and promote the narrative of the West-backed terrorist proxies.

On another note, the US Treasury announced Friday it will relief Syria from some of its sanctions in order to allow certain relief-intended transactions for relief efforts to go through - though it is unclear which organizations were the recipients of the money transfers.