EU promises to ‘stand by the side’ of Syrians on 12th anniversary of war
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – In a commemoration for the 12th anniversary of Syria’s war, the European Commission outlined its aid activities in Syria, particularly current efforts for relief after the February 6 earthquakes, and promised Syrians that the “EU is by their side”.
The magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes killed over 7,259 Syrians, particularly in the country’s northwest. Around 5.3 million people have been affected.
According to the statement, the EU sent “tents, blankets, hygiene and cooking items.” “Because we are used to repeating crises in Syria, our partners can easily redirect fund to respond to emergencies; that is exactly what many did immediately after the quake,” explains Luigi Pandolfi, the head of EU Humanitarian Aid Operations in Syria.
The European Commission says that the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated two days after the quake. An air bridge to Syria “will deliver 420 tonnes of assistance, including 225 tonnes from the EU’s own humanitarian stockpiles worth €1.1 million,” another statement reads.
Yet critics, particularly in opposition-held areas of Syria, say that the EU’s response to the crisis has left much to be desired. For over a week after the earthquake, little EU aid reached the opposition-controlled northwest of the country. While multi-national European rescue teams were flown to Turkey within days, not such experts arrived in Syria.
The first European aid ship (an Italian vessel) docked in a Syrian port over two weeks after the earthquakes. The first European aid plane landed at Damascus airport on February 22. By February 18, 147 international planes had already reached Syria. For many in Syria, the EU’s promise to ‘stand by their side’ rings hollow.