Syria says inhuman sanctions amid coronavirus pandemic contradict UN Charter

Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad has censured the United States and its European allies for taking ‘unilateral and coercive’ measures against his country, particularly at the time of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mekdad made the remarks in a meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al-Mandhari and the body’s Representative to Syria Akjemal Magtymova in Damascus on Sunday.

Emphasizing that Western bans imposed on Syria contradict the UN Charter, the Syrian official said the UN bodies and international organizations active in the humanitarian sector, the WHO in particular, should demonstrate the reality of the restrictive measures against Syria and their impact on securing the basic needs of the Syrian people.

The Syrian official emphasized that the UN health body is required to adhere to real humanitarian work and avoid all forms of politicization.

Mekdad noted that the Syrian government has adopted comprehensive precautionary measures which have contributed greatly to limiting the spread of the coronavirus.

Syria’s Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar al-Ja’afari said in May that unilateral sanctions imposed by the West are hampering the government’s efforts to import medicine and other medical supplies to fight the virus outbreak.

Unilateral sanctions hamper Syria’s fight against coronavirus pandemic: UN envoy

Syria’s UN Ambassador says Western sanctions are hampering the government’s efforts in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

“Unilateral coercive economic measures hinder Syria’s ability to meet the basic needs of its people and confront the epidemic of the novel coronavirus,” Ja'afari said.

His remarks came a few days after the United Nations food agency said a record 9.3 million people were food insecure in Syria, which has endured almost a decade of foreign-backed militancy.

Millions of Syrians food insecure amid coronavirus pandemic: WFP

The United Nations food agency says a record 9.3 million people are now food insecure in Syria.

The World Food Program added that spiraling prices and the pandemic have compounded the damage of the nine-year war.

"Record high food prices & now COVID-19 have pushed families in Syria beyond their limits," the WFP wrote on Twitter. "WFP estimates that a record 9.3 million people are now food insecure."

Since 1979, Syria has been under arrays of unilateral and crippling economic sanctions by the United States. The country has also been battling foreign-backed militancy and sabotage since 2011.

Mandhari, for his part, hailed good cooperation between the WHO on one hand and the Syrian government and its institutions on the other.

He said the WHO is keen to strengthen cooperation with the Syrian government to serve the interest of the Syrians in facing health challenges.

He noted that Syria has always played a role in promoting health at the regional level.

Read more: 

• Syria UN envoy calls for lifting of sanctions amid COVID-19 outbreak

• US sanctions against Syria amid pandemic amount to medical terrorism: Ambassador

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