During his meeting with the heads of the European missions in Syria, Bader Jamous, Chairman of the Syria Negotiation Committee, warned that the Syrian regime will exploit the earthquake tragedy financially and politically.
Jamous evaluated the urgent humanitarian needs and deteriorating living conditions of Syrians in the north following the earthquake disaster, emphasizing the need for international action to find a political solution in Syria.
Jim Risch, a senior Republican on the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it was “disgusting” that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used the earthquake tragedy as an opportunity to rejoin the international community.
In a tweet on “Twitter”, Rish added that Assad is a “war criminal” and that Syrians still suffer from his regime, stressing that the sanctions should not be eased as they do not actually affect humanitarian aid.
The Washington Post accused Bashar Assad, the head of the Syrian regime, of blackmailing the world and pressing for his narrow interests and lifting sanctions against him.
According to the report, “The Assad regime uses the disaster caused by the earthquake to demand the lifting of the sanctions imposed by the West on Damascus. These sanctions prevent the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria.”
The news, which includes sources from the Syrian opposition who are skeptical of the regime’s claims, confirms that the exceptions aimed at facilitating the access of humanitarian aid have been in effect for a long time.
Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Program Director Lina Al-Khatib said that Assad is trying to take advantage of the earthquakes to get out of international isolation and his regime has called for easing tensions in Syria. The sanctions are a de facto attempt at normalization with the international community.
