Politics should
never get in the way of helping victims of a natural catastrophe. In fact,
victims of any form of mass destruction and carnage, be it natural or manmade,
should have immediate access to international aid and assistance. But the
devastating earthquake — which has so far claimed the lives of over 23,000
people — that hit
southwestern Turkey and northwestern Syria last Monday has
underlined the flawed political fissures that have differentiated between the
victims of the same natural calamity — separated only by an invisible
borderline.
اضافة اعلان
While aid and
rescue teams from over 70 countries were mobilized in the few hours following
the killer tremors destined for Turkey, geopolitical restraints and political
calculations prevented the same humanitarian assistance from heading to
beleaguered Idlib province, for years
under Syrian opposition groups, and to
territories under regime control such as Aleppo and Latakia.
For the
Damascus regime, the US Caesar Act of 2019 forced many countries to hesitate to
send much-needed and lifesaving aid. For the Idlib province, it was a
combination of logistical obstacles and political considerations that left
thousands of victims trapped under the rubble for days. Ironically the Caesar
Act's full title is Syria Civilian Protection Act, but little has been done
under the act to help the civilian population across the war-ravaged country.
The UN sent an urgent appeal to all countries to give Syria the same attention that is given to Turkey. The hesitation by many countries in delivering aid to Syria may have caused the death of hundreds. That alone magnifies the size of the catastrophe.
It was only on
Thursday, three days after the debacle, that the first convoy of aid managed to
get through the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing between southern Turkey and
northern Syria. And it was too little to start with. By Thursday night,
hundreds of victims were still trapped alive or dead in the sprawling Idlib
countryside.
Bad weather,
lack of heavy equipment, and acute shortages of tents, manpower, and medicines
worsened the situation. It was and remained a nightmare for the survivors and
rescue workers.
The same
applies to government-controlled areas. Years of biting sanctions and civil war
had weakened the central government, and it was apparent that it had few
resources to deal with mass destruction, let alone carry out an organized
search and rescue mission.
The UN sent an
urgent appeal to all countries to give
Syria the same attention given to
Turkey. The hesitation by many countries in delivering aid to Syria may have
caused the death of hundreds. That alone magnifies the size of the catastrophe.
Meanwhile, the
Arab response to the disaster has been different. Almost immediately, the UAE,
Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunis, Iraq, Kuwait, and Palestine announced
that they were sending aid and rescue teams to Damascus, Latakia, and Aleppo in
defiance of any political restraints. Their initiatives prompted western
countries to reconsider their positions.
The EU
announced, on Thursday, that they would be sending immediate aid to Syria. At
the same time, the US embassy in Damascus tweeted: “Our sanctions programs do
not target humanitarian assistance and permit activities in support of
humanitarian assistance, including in regime-held areas. The US is committed to
providing immediate, lifesaving humanitarian assistance to help all affected
communities recover.”
The whole sorry
and heartbreaking saga should open the eyes of the world to the validity of the
sanctions regime as a diplomatic tool. Probably the most searing indictment of
the blind sanctions system came about when the US TV program 60 Minutes
interviewed then-US ambassador to the UN Madeleine Albright in 1996 on the
catastrophic effect US sanctions imposed on Iraq had on the Iraqi population.
It was documented that millions were affected, and hundreds of thousands may
have died as a direct result of the sanctions.
The Arab response to the disaster has been different. Almost immediately, the UAE, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunis, Iraq, Kuwait and Palestine announced that they are sending aid and rescue teams to Damascus, Latakia, and Aleppo in defiance of any political restraints.
“We have heard
that half a million (Iraqi) children have died. I mean, that is more children
than died in Hiroshima,” asked the interviewer, “And, you know, is the price
worth it?”
“I think that
is a very hard choice,” Albright answered, “but the price, we think, the price
is worth it.” Nothing morally or politically justifies the price, and
Albright’s unsettling response is haunting.
The calamity
that has afflicted the Syrian people, especially those driven from their homes
due to 12 years of civil war, must transcend political calculations — for now.
The immediate goal of the international community is to save lives — all lives,
regardless of geopolitics.
That is not to
say that the past is forgotten or forgiven. The Syrian crisis remains a
complicated one with multifaceted political and humanitarian diversions. Once
the dust is cleared, there is time to address the political challenges. For
now, the world must do its best to save lives and address the impending
humanitarian crisis that will follow: More refugees in need of long-term help,
towering rebuilding challenges, and yes a political solution. Engaging the
Assad regime under such circumstances, may push the political process forward.
From
Cuba to Iraq and Syria to Iran, sanctions hurt hapless citizens more than their rulers.
The issue is complicated, but in the case of Syria’s most recent catastrophe,
it is crystal clear: the life of victims is the only priority today.
Osama Al Sharif
is a journalist and political commentator based in Amman.
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