Action For Humanity/Syria Relief are welcoming the UK government’s decision to lift some sanctions on Syria, an important step in addressing the barriers that have hindered humanitarian and development efforts. However, without further action—including the full removal of restrictions that obstruct aid and a coordinated international response to recent funding shortfalls—Syria’s humanitarian infrastructure still faces the risk of being pushed to the brink of collapsing.
Charles Lawley, Director of Communications and Advocacy at Action For Humanity/Syria Relief, says:
“The situation in Syria is already dire. Huge swathes of the country’s buildings are damaged or destroyed, entire towns, villages and suburbs still lie in ruin. Millions of Syrians remain displaced, and the presence of unexploded ordnance continues to make daily life perilous. At the same time, the recent USAID foreign aid freeze threatens to exacerbate an already critical situation. This decision risks closing healthcare centres, leaving people without life-saving medical care. The funding for the camps which house the millions of internally displaced Syrians is under threat. Water services are also at risk, increasing the risk of another cholera outbreak in Syria. Families could be turned away from hospitals because there is simply no funding to keep them running. Let me be clear: this is not just a decision to save money, it’s a decision to stop saving lives.
“The UK government’s decision to lift some sanctions is a huge step in the right direction which we welcome whole-heartedly, but it must not stop here. Overcompliance of sanctions by financial services continue to obstruct the transfer of humanitarian funds, trade restrictions delay aid deliveries, and compliance concerns deter donors from supporting critical projects, despite these activities exempt. Overcompliance of sanctions will always happen as long as there are any sanctions on Syria.
“We congratulate the UK government on this decision and urge this to be a moment for all governments to step up—to not only remove the remaining barriers caused by sanctions but to also fill the gaps left by the USAID freeze, ensuring that the most vulnerable Syrians do not bear the cost of political decisions made far from their reach.
"Sanctions were imposed to punish a now departed, oppressive regime, but are now punishing the very victims of the said deposed regime. The aid sector in Syria is already operating under impossible conditions—crippled by banking restrictions, supply chain disruptions, and donor hesitancy. Now, with USAID withdrawing funding, we are at real risk of seeing the entire humanitarian infrastructure pushed to the brink of collapse. We urge the UK and other governments to not only remove all restrictions on aid operations but to step in and provide the funding that has been lost, ensuring that Syrians are not abandoned at their most desperate hour.
“Action For Humanity/Syria Relief remains committed to working with the UK government and international partners to ensure that humanitarian organisations can operate without restriction, that unexploded ordnance clearance is prioritised, and that Syria receives the long-term support it needs to recover and rebuild.”
ENDS
Notes to editor
Charles Lawley and other representatives of Action For Humanity/Syria Relief are available for interview, please contact Charles.lawley@actionforhumanity.org or call +447535415060