A UN rapporteur calls on the international community to lift sanctions on Syria

Nov. 10 (EUROPA PRESS) –

A United Nations rapporteur has called on the international community to lift “unilateral” sanctions on Syria, as they only perpetuate and exacerbate both the destruction and trauma suffered by the Syrian people since 2011.

The UN special rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights, Belarusian Alena Douhan, has stated that 90 percent of the population in the country currently lives below the poverty line.

“With more than half of vital infrastructure completely destroyed or severely damaged, the imposition of unilateral sanctions on key economic sectors, such as oil, gas, electricity, trade, construction and engineering, has wiped out national revenue “, has indicated, according to a statement from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The restrictions, Douhan argued, undermine “economic recovery and reconstruction efforts” in a country “whose people are struggling to rebuild a life with dignity, after a decade-long war.”

These words have been pronounced after a twelve-day trip through Syria in which he has been able to verify the “catastrophic” effects that the sanctions have on the daily life of the Syrians. Specifically, he has highlighted that the blocking of payments, together with limited foreign exchange reserves, have caused a “serious shortage of medicines and specialized medical equipment” for chronic diseases.

Likewise, the “devastating” effects of the restrictions have caused difficulties in international cooperation in areas such as science, the arts, sports, the preservation of national cultural heritage, access to new technologies or security cooperation, among others.

“No reference to good objectives of unilateral sanctions justifies the violation of fundamental Human Rights. The international community has an obligation of solidarity and assistance to the Syrian people,” he settled.