EU Promises Aid to Syrians Affected by Earthquake
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Josep Borrell, the European Unions’ High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said on Monday that nothing is stopping the EU from providing aid to Syrian’s affected by the earthquake, and that they “will do everything we can in order to support the affected part of the Syrian citizens.”
The remarks were made at a press conference in the wake of a meeting between the EU representative; the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit; and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Faisal Bin Farhan al-Saud.
In response to a question by a journalist, Borrell clarified that “It has been said that it is our sanctions that prevent us from supporting Syria – that is not the case, these sanctions do not cover humanitarian aid, food and medical assistance.”
“We are the biggest donor [to Syria],” he added. “Our sanctions were imposed on the Syrian regime – to the Assad regime and its supporters – and we will do everything we can in order to support the affected part of the Syrian citizens … We are doing that, and we will continue doing that.”
Despite the Representative’s remarks, until now, the only EU country to have sent aid to Syria has been Italy. While multi-national teams of European rescue workers were sent to Turkey in the aftermath of the February 6 earthquake, the EU’s response to the disaster in Syria – including in opposition-held territory – has been meek.
The February 6 earthquake has so far claimed over 36.000 lives across southern Turkey and northwest Syria, with more than 3.500 dead in Syria alone.