Sanctions from the U.S., EU, and UK hinder Syria’s recovery, worsened by the humanitarian crisis affecting millions. Human Rights Watch emphasizes the need to lift these sanctions to restore essential services and civilian rights. The prolonged conflict has left over 90 percent of Syrians in poverty, necessitating immediate action to allow humanitarian support and reconstruction efforts.
Human Rights Watch has reported that broad sanctions from the U.S., EU, and UK hinder the restoration of essential services in Syria, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. These sanctions, initially aimed at the Assad government, remain despite its fall, limiting reconstruction and essential rights access for millions of Syrians living in poverty.
Hiba Zayadin, a senior Syria researcher at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that with the Assad regime’s collapse, sanctions are a significant barrier to rebuilding critical services such as healthcare and education. The prolonged conflict has devastated Syria’s infrastructure, leaving much of the country uninhabitable and essential services barely functional.
Over 90 percent of Syrians are below the poverty line, suffering from food insecurity and dependency on humanitarian aid. Sanctions have previously hindered aid efforts, particularly after the February 2023 earthquakes. To prioritize civilian well-being, Human Rights Watch urges lifting sanctions that obstruct access to basic rights, such as restoring financial system access and ending trade restrictions on vital goods.
These sanctions have been in effect for over 45 years, intensifying since 2011 due to governmental war crimes. Measures include targeted asset freezes and general trading restrictions, especially affecting vital industries. Certain armed groups, like Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham, are under strict counterterrorism measures, limiting their financial resources further.
The U.S. imposes strict prohibitions against nearly all transactions with Syria, with limited exceptions for humanitarian needs. The Caesar Act imposes additional burdens on foreign companies, particularly in oil and trade sectors, while EU sanctions restrict the purchasing of Syrian oil and financial transactions. Such restrictions have severely impacted educational and healthcare access due to limitations on importing technology and necessary goods.
Recent adjustments to the sanctions by the U.S. and EU have been viewed as insufficient. While some minor concessions were made, such as permitting limited energy transactions, the overall impact on investment and economic recovery remains negative. Over $250 billion is needed for Syria’s reconstruction amidst a critical healthcare and educational crisis, with infrastructure heavily damaged.
The economic situation has worsened due to sanctions, fueling inflation and limiting essential goods availability. The complex web of sanctions and restrictions has created barriers for humanitarian and private sector engagement, leading to financial institutions avoiding Syria due to legal risks. Exemptions in sanctions often lack clarity and are not effective, impeding the delivery of aid.
Human Rights Watch advocates for a reevaluation of sanctions that disproportionately harm civilians, asserting that sanctions should promote human rights rather than penalize. Effective sanctions must be linked to clear removal conditions and regularly monitored for progress. The current broad sanctions risk harming civilians without achieving intended human rights objectives, calling for a more humane and constructive sanction framework.
Zayadin remarked, “Rather than using broad sectoral sanctions as leverage for shifting political objectives, Western governments should recognize their direct harm to civilians and take meaningful steps to lift restrictions that impede access to basic rights.”
The ongoing sanctions against Syria, initially aimed at the Assad regime, are adversely affecting the civilian population by obstructing the necessary restoration of essential services. With over 90 percent of the population living in poverty and significant infrastructural damage evident, lifting these sanctions is crucial to allow humanitarian aid and facilitate reconstruction efforts. Human Rights Watch stresses a reevaluation of these measures to prioritize Syrian civilians’ rights and well-being.
Original Source: www.miragenews.com
