Switzerland eases sanctions on Syria after earthquake Moscow and Kiev are outraged by attacks – the nightly update without photos

After the severe earthquake in early February, Switzerland has in some cases relaxed the sanctions regime against Syria.

This should make the work of humanitarian actors easier, the Federal Council wrote in its decision on Friday. Because it is currently prohibited to provide funds or economic resources to sanctioned individuals, organizations or companies. However, there are exceptions for financial transactions necessary to provide humanitarian aid or support the civilian population.

With the latest decision, the Federal Council extends the humanitarian exception to allow humanitarian activities in Syria. This concerns in particular humanitarian measures related to the earthquake of February 6, 2023, the statement said.

Only for humanitarian actors

As of Friday evening at 6 p.m., the Federal Council specifically allows humanitarian actors to directly and indirectly provide funds and economic resources to sanctioned individuals, organizations or companies, who in return receive contributions from the federal government. Exceptional recognitions are possible under certain conditions for humanitarian actors who do not receive any contribution from the federal government.

In other words, the point is that people and organizations with a humanitarian role close to the Assad regime can temporarily receive money from Switzerland. Goods such as food, technical equipment or blankets can also be exported to these persons and organizations, even if they are on the sanctions list. The provision of such funds or goods must be made through a humanitarian actor.

profession of the WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has long called for a substantial increase in aid to earthquake victims in Syria. Human rights organizations such as Christian Solidarity International (CSI) have called on Switzerland, among others, to quickly lift economic sanctions against Syria.

The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have claimed tens of thousands of lives and hundreds of thousands of injuries. According to aid organizations, millions of people have become homeless. The quake exposed the dire shortage of goods caused by the sanctions, CSI wrote. (sda/oee)