“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,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo, adding that Washington’s sanctions on Syria “will not stand in the way of life-saving efforts for the Syrian people.”
A catastrophic 7.5 magnitude earthquake followed a 7.8 quake in southern Turkey on Monday, killing over 21,000 people and injuring more than 80,000 in Turkey and Syria. Areas in Syria’s northwest controlled by rebels and Turkey-backed groups were hardest hit.
Little aid has reached these war-torn areas. Regime-controlled Syria is under heavy sanctions, which renders sending aid to the country difficult. Aid to areas outside of regime control has traditionally been delivered from Turkey through the Bab al-Hawa crossing but the routes used have been heavily damaged by the earthquake, hampering delivery efforts.
The Treasury said the authorization reflects Washington’s commitment to support the people of Syria through the earthquake crisis.
The general license authorizes the transfer of funds to or from Syria related to earthquake relief, according to the Treasury. The import of Syrian petroleum products into the US and transactions involving parties blocked by sanctions remain unauthorized.
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