While Damascus wants New Delhi to send rescue teams to that war-torn nation, India plans to send more aid to Syria, where devastating earthquakes have caused a major humanitarian crisis.
India plans to send more aid to Syria
Similar to Turkey, Syria has experienced aftershocks and tremors in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, and Latakia, the earthquake-affected provinces. The death toll is rising. Humanitarian aid has, however, moved much more slowly in Syria than it did in Turkey since these regions are sandwiched between territories under government control and those held by the opposition.
Also Read: Ashwini Vaishnaw: Digital Credit System will be fully implemented by 2023
Syrian Government writes to India seeking more aid
The Syrian government sent a letter to India on Thursday asking for further assistance and, most crucially, for the deployment of rescue teams in Syria, just as New Delhi had done in Turkey.
In accordance with the sources, India intends to send another military aircraft to Syria along with supplies such as medical equipment, protective clothing, and medications. However, according to the sources, New Delhi could not be sending rescue teams right now.
India despatched a C-130J Super Hercules airlifter earlier this week with six tonnes of relief supplies, including three truckloads of clothing and protective gear, as well as emergency medications, syringes, and equipment like ECG machines and monitors and other crucial medical supplies.
The number of fatalities and injuries in Syria has now reached 3,450 as a result of ongoing tremors. Over a hundred structures have fallen. The nation is experiencing an increase in fatalities as well as worsening issues with a lack of food, housing, and clothing.
With order to conduct rescue and search operations and to assist in the distribution of supplies, the Syrian government has thus requested that India send NDRF teams.
More than 40 tonnes of assistance have already been delivered to Syria by Pakistan. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, and Belarus are additional nations that have contributed aid.
Breather: US lifts sanctions from Syria for 6 months
The US has granted temporary relaxation from the economic sanctions for a period of six months in addition to funding a $85 million aid package for both Turkey and Syria, while help has been streaming into that country primarily from the neighbouring states.
US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo,
The US has granted temporary relaxation from the economic sanctions for a period of six months in addition to funding a $85 million aid package for both Turkey and Syria, while help has been streaming into that country primarily from the neighbouring states.
He also stayed,
“As international allies and humanitarian partners mobilize to help those affected, I want to make very clear that U.S. sanctions in Syria will not stand in the way of life-saving efforts for the Syrian people. While U.S. sanctions programs already contain robust exemptions for humanitarian efforts, today Treasury is issuing a blanket General License to authorize earthquake relief efforts so that those providing assistance can focus on what’s needed most: saving lives and rebuilding.”
According to Adeyemo, legitimate humanitarian assistance, such as relief operations for earthquake disasters, is not a target of US sanctions programmes.
Waiel Awwad, Senior Syrian Analyst based in India stated
“Now that the US has lifted the sanctions it will ease the pressure on aid agencies and individuals, those Syrians living abroad who want to send money to their families back in Syria. But we need more help,”
Awwad added that the European Union’s sanctions should be lifted as well. “It is a humanitarian situation, after all.”
Also Read: ISRO to launch new rocket SSLV-D2 today
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.
