Western selective humanitarianism, Syria earthquake falls on deaf ears

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The devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria and the suffering of the two nations that are still struggling to search for survivors as the toll of deaths is rising by the hour took the whole world by surprise.

In these defining moments and amid this humanitarian catastrophe, it was expected that all political rifts and rivalries would be brought aside for a short while at least, mainly because the destructive event has directly affected civilians.

The international community, along with its organizations and institutions, should have declared a moment of "silence" to help facilitate access to basic needs and supplies by all countries impacted by this event in order to help them respond to their citizens' dire need of help.

However, this was not the case.

Following the earthquakes, several Western countries mobilized rapidly to send aid and rescue workers to Turkey but decided to exclude Syria and neglect it, by only offering condolences and merely expressing readiness to support the affected Syrians, with nothing done on the ground, in a clear act of hypocrisy and double standards.

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US President Joe Biden on Monday said he was "deeply saddened" and promised his country's assistance after a major 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, killing more than 2,300 people.

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria. I have directed my team to continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye and provide any and all needed assistance," Biden tweeted.

"Our teams are deploying quickly to begin to support Turkish search and rescue efforts and address the needs of those injured and displaced by the earthquake," he indicated in a statement later released by the White House.

The statement said Biden had called on US officials to reach out to their Turkish counterparts to coordinate assistance.

With regard to Syria, Biden hinted at what he called US-supported "humanitarian groups" responding to the destruction in Syria, possibly in reference to NGOs operating in areas outside the control of the Syrian state, which perhaps excludes the rest of the country from any such aid, knowing that some of these organization are infamous for staging false attacks to implicate the Syrian government in crimes it has not committed.

What is feared the most is that other Western countries are most likely to follow in the US' footsteps of depriving Syria of its much-needed aid.

Selective humanitarianism

Following the earthquakes, several Western countries mobilized rapidly to send aid and rescue workers to Turkey but decided to exclude Syria and neglect it, by only offering condolences and merely expressing readiness to support the affected Syrians, with nothing done on the ground, in a clear act of hypocrisy and double standards.

The following countries and blocs ignored Syria's appeal for international aid to help face the devastating earthquake, leaving thousands of Syrians alone to face their fate:

European Union offers Syria "preconditioned" help

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and EU crisis management commissioner Janez Lenarcic said the European Union has mobilized 10 search and rescue teams for Turkey after Ankara requested EU assistance, claiming that the bloc was ready to support those affected in Syria too, if asked, knowing that Syria did call on the international community for help.

EU humanitarian aid Spokesperson Balazs Ujvari claimed the bloc is ready to assist Syria's quake relief efforts if needed.

"When we are talking about the civil protection mechanism, we are able to provide this help because Turkey has come to us for assistance. Turkey has activated the mechanism for now. We don't have such a request from the Syrian side. However, if this occurs, we will do our utmost to mobilize assistance in that direction as well," Ujvari told reporters in Brussels.

Germany to help a NATO ally

Germany will "mobilize all the assistance we can activate," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said.

Faeser said Germany's Federal Agency for Technical Relief is coordinating closely with the Turkish civil defense and "can set up camps to provide shelter as well as water treatment units."

Hinting only at Turkey, she said the country activated the EU civil protection procedure and requested salvage and rescue teams, adding that Berlin is coordinating closely and will help with any means at its disposal that are most needed now. 

Greece

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Turkey's historic rival Greece, whose relations with Ankara have suffered from a spate of border and cultural disputes, pledged to make "every force available" to aid its neighbor.

Mitsotakis on Monday telephoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to offer "immediate assistance" after the deadly earthquake, his office said.

Erdogan "thanked" Mitsotakis for the support and the immediate dispatch of rescuers and supplies on board a C-130 military plane, the Greek Prime Minister's office said.

Syria was not mentioned in the Greek Minister's vow of help.

NATO

NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg voiced "full solidarity" with ally Turkey, saying he was in touch with Turkey's top leadership and "NATO allies are mobilizing support now," completely leaving Syria out.

Poland

Polish firefighters flew from Warsaw to the Turkish city of Gaziantep. "Our team will be working non-stop, 24 hours a day, in two locations," said Andrzej Bartkowiak, chief commandant of the state fire service.

Unlike Gaziantep, Hama, Aleppo, and Lattakia are just cities that are not meant to be helped despite the devastating destruction. 

Britain

Foreign Minister James Cleverly said the UK was sending Turkey a team of 76 search and rescue specialists, equipment, and rescue dogs. Britain was also sending an emergency medical team to assess the situation on the ground. Cleverly, the UK FM left Syria out, just like other Western allies. 

Japan

The government in Japan -- which frequently suffers earthquakes -- is dispatching the Japan Disaster Relief Rescue Team to Turkey.

Qatar

Qatar said it would send 120 rescue workers to Turkey, alongside "a field hospital, relief aid, tents, and winter supplies."

Meanwhile, the UN, Ukraine, and Canada have so far expressed readiness to provide assistance but have not sent humanitarian aid to Syria. 

Countries that paid tribute, did not specify a side

United Nations

The UN General Assembly observed a minute of silence in tribute to the victims of the earthquakes.

"Our teams are on the ground assessing the needs and providing assistance. We count on the international community to help the thousands of families hit by this disaster, many of whom were already in dire need of humanitarian aid in areas where access is a challenge," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was "ready to provide the necessary assistance to overcome the consequences of the disaster."

Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: "Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones. Canada stands ready to provide assistance."

Syrian government

Earlier, the Syrian government urged the international community to come to its aid after more than 850 people died in the country following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey.

"Syria appeals to member states of the United Nations... the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian" groups to support "efforts to face the devastating earthquake," the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said the Syrian government was ready "to provide all the required facilities to international organizations so they can give Syrians humanitarian aid" after meeting with UN representatives and aid groups.

This comes as the death toll from the earthquake that struck areas in Syria has risen, with more than 1,400 people killed and at least more than 2,400 others injured.

Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that the number of collapsed buildings reached 60. Likewise, the death toll in Aleppo governorate has reached 161 with 512 injuries. 18 centers were opened to shelter those affected by the earthquake in the governorate.

In Hama, 4 buildings collapsed, and the death toll reached 37, with a total of 80 injured, and 4 shelters were opened to the public.

In Lattakia, the number of collapsed buildings reached 75 and the death toll rose to 232 victims, also recording the highest rate of injuries, close to 700. 12 shelters were opened in the area.

Due to the war that weakened the infrastructure in Syria, the draconian Western sanctions imposed on the country, the US occupation of some Syrian land, as well as the looting of billions of dollars of its resources, Syria is unable to fully respond to the tragic catastrophe. As a result, the number of victims of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake is rising.

It is noteworthy that in 2020, then-US President Donald Trump signed into law the so-called Caesar Act, under which Congress authorized severe economic sanctions against Syria. In accordance with the sanctions, anyone doing business with the Syrian authorities is potentially exposed to travel restrictions and financial sanctions.

The US claims that "the Caesar Act and other U.S. Syria sanctions do not target humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people" and that Washington will continue sending its alleged humanitarian assistance to Syrians. However, this was not the case following the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and was not mentioned anywhere in Biden's remarks.

To add salt to injury, Damascus International Airport is still undergoing repairs and maintenance following the most Israeli airstrike on the facility on January 2. The airport is the target of repeated Israeli occupation assaults and airstrikes that put it out of service. This fact cannot be ignored as any humanitarian aid to land in the country will definitely be hindered. 

Nevertheless, the following countries have responded to Syria's urgent request for humanitarian aid:

Lebanon

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates offered its deepest condolences to the government and people of Syria and to the families of the victims, expressing Lebanon’s readiness to extend a helping hand to Syria in facing the repercussions of the earthquake.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also informed his Syrian counterpart Hussein Arnous of placing Lebanon's logistical capabilities at the service of the ongoing relief efforts in Syria.

Algeria

The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered its sincere condolences to the Syrian government and people and to the families of the victims.

In a statement, the Ministry indicated that Algeria affirms its full solidarity and expresses its aspiration to overcome this ordeal with much determination and steadfastness.

China

China expressed its readiness to send urgent humanitarian assistance to Syria to face the effects of the earthquake.

"Beijing is ready to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to Syria according to the needs," Xinhua news agency quoted a spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency, Xu Wei, as saying.

Iran

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi affirmed that Iran is ready to provide "immediate relief aid" to Syria and Turkey, offering condolences on the "heartbreaking incident."

Al Mayadeen correspondent in Damascus reported that an Iranian aid plane will arrive this evening at Damascus International Airport.

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to send Russian teams to Syria and Turkey in telephone calls with his Syrian and Turkish counterparts.

"In the nearest hours, rescuers from the Russian emergency ministry will take off for Syria," the Kremlin said. The Russian Defense Ministry also noted that 300 military personnel deployed in Syria were helping with the clear-up effort.

Cuba

On Twitter, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed his condolences to the people and government of Syria "as well as our solidarity and readiness to cooperate in providing assistance to those affected."

India

India's Foreign Ministry said two of India's National Disaster Response Force teams comprising 100 personnel with dog squads and equipment were ready to be flown to the affected area. Doctors and paramedics with medicines were also being readied.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "anguished" and "deeply pained" by the deaths in Turkey and Syria.

UAE

Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan offered "assistance" in telephone calls with his Syrian and Turkish counterparts, the official WAM news agency reported.

On his part, Emirati Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum "directed urgent humanitarian aid to those affected in Syria", the official news agency WAM said, pledging humanitarian assistance worth around $13.6 million to Syria.

Occupied Golan

Elsewhere, the citizens of the occupied Syrian Golan have expressed their sympathy to the people of their homeland, Syria.

"Our people are along the squares of the homeland with hearts that believe in God’s will and destiny. We share the painful affliction of our dear homeland, Syria, following the earthquake that hit the country’s provinces, and its results were catastrophic on the humanitarian and economic levels, asking God to rest the victims in peace and to heal the injured," citizens of the Golan said in a statement.

Read more: Int'l, Arab leaders offer Syria condolences over losses in earthquake