cc. “The EU states have extended their sanctions against the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad for another year until 1 June 2018.” This was reported by the Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten on 29 May. The continuation of the measures were based on the line of action of the country’s leadership against the civilian population, without regard to the fact that the sanctions have effectively undermined the economy of Syria and have therefore “a devastating effect on the civilian population”.
A year ago the representatives of the Christian religion had once again turned to the EU and asked for the sanctions to be lifted.
Now a few months ago, a UN report showed that the sanctions are actually against the civilian population. Relief supplies for the civilian population would be theoretically possible, but would be severely hampered by the sanctions. The UN report states that “aid organisations are constantly reporting that the nature of prohibitions, licenses and export regulations are difficult to understand, and often require expensive legal advice and function as an obstacle to a quick handling of humanitarian aid.” The Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten adds: “The same applies to reconstruction: Construction companies could not act, the infrastructure could not be restored. Also, the financing of construction projects is virtually impossible. By this also those regions are being punished in which it was possible to end the fighting.”
The UN concludes that maintaining the regime of sanctions impedes an effective aid to the civilian population of Syria in the long term: The combined effects of the comprehensive, unilateral sanctions, concerns about terror and the taut security situation have created enormous obstacles for those who wish to provide humanitarian aid. […] In cases where aids are permitted, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) report of significant delays in the processing of payments or delivery of goods.” •
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