UN Warns 'Very Little' Earthquake Aid Reaching Syria Amid US Sanctions

US-imposed Caesar Act sanctions against the Syrian government have impeded humanitarian efforts in the country following the devastating 6 February earthquake, the UN Resident Coordinator for Syria, Mostafa Benlamlih, said on 8 February.

Benlamlih also warned against the “politicization” of humanitarian efforts in Syria, referring to claims by western media outlets and certain aid groups that the government ‘prohibits’ aid from reaching opposition-held territory.

“The goal of UN organizations is to deliver a message about the suffering of the Syrians as a result of the sanctions imposed on their country … These sanctions have … prevented the arrival of millions of dollars to those affected by the earthquake,” Benlamlih told Syrian news agency SANA in an interview.

“Syria today is suffering from a ‘double crisis’ as a result of the ongoing war since 2011, as well as the earthquake, which made the situation more difficult … before the earthquake, there were 15 million Syrians in dire need of assistance,” he said, adding that now, the numbers have increased significantly.

One day later, UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pederson, warned against the politicization of earthquake aid.