Cairo, Feb. 10, (dpa/GNA) - The United States Treasury Department issued a six-month licence to allow earthquake relief to Syria, which would otherwise be prohibited due to the sanctions on the country.
“As international allies and humanitarian partners mobilize to help those affected, I want to make very clear that US sanctions in Syria will not stand in the way of life-saving efforts for the Syrian people,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo.
The licence expands humanitarian authorizations already in place, “so that those providing assistance can focus on what’s needed most: saving lives and rebuilding.”
Syria has been gripped by civil war for 12 years, and sanctions imposed by the US and EU make exports to the country difficult.
Since Monday, Syrian government officials have calling on the international community to lift the sanctions, which they blame for the lack of resources and heavy equipment to move debris during rescue efforts.
Following the devastating earthquake and aftershocks along the Turkish-Syrian border this week, the total death toll in Syria stood at 3,384 in both government-controlled and rebel-held north-western areas.
GNA