EU Eases Sanctions on Syria to Speed up Aid to Quake Victims

Syrian artists draw on the rubble of damaged buildings from the earthquake in Syria. (Reuters)
Syrian artists draw on the rubble of damaged buildings from the earthquake in Syria. (Reuters)
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EU Eases Sanctions on Syria to Speed up Aid to Quake Victims

Syrian artists draw on the rubble of damaged buildings from the earthquake in Syria. (Reuters)
Syrian artists draw on the rubble of damaged buildings from the earthquake in Syria. (Reuters)

The European Union said on Thursday it was temporarily easing sanctions on Syria to speed up aid deliveries to the country two weeks after the devastating earthquake.

The change made Thursday means "the EU has waived the need for humanitarian organizations to seek prior permission from EU member states' national competent authorities to make transfers or provide goods and services intended for humanitarian purposes to listed persons and entities", the European Council said in a statement.

The measure will last six months and was taken "in view of the seriousness of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, exacerbated by the earthquakes".

The devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake on February 6 killed over 43,000 people in Türkiye and over 3,600 in Syria.

The EU and its member states are leading donors of humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict in Syria. Since 2011, the European Union and its member states have dedicated €27.4 billion ($29 billion) of humanitarian funding to Syria and neighboring countries in tackling the crisis.

Since the devastating earthquake, the EU and its member states have provided €3.5 million ($3.7 million) in humanitarian assistance to cover the most urgent needs.

The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its affiliates are subject to European sanctions because of their repression of the people during the years of the conflict.

The EU sanctions, imposed in 2011, target 291 individuals and 70 entities for asset freezes and a travel ban.



UN: Lifelines Keeping People Alive in Gaza Are Collapsing

21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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UN: Lifelines Keeping People Alive in Gaza Are Collapsing

21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is appalled by an accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions in Gaza "where the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing," his spokesperson said on Monday.

"He deplores the growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

"Israel has the obligation to allow and facilitate by all the means at its disposal the humanitarian relief provided by the United Nations and by other humanitarian organizations."

Israeli ground troops for the first time Monday pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors.

Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war, leading to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. The main group representing hostages’ families said it was “shocked and alarmed” by the incursion, which was confirmed by an Israeli military official, and demanded answers from Israeli leaders.

Israel says the seizure of territory in Gaza is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages, but it is a major point of contention in ongoing ceasefire talks.

The UN food agency, meanwhile, accused Israeli forces of firing on a crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid over the weekend. Gaza's Health Ministry called it one of the deadliest attacks on aid-seekers in the war that has driven the territory to the brink of famine.