​​​​​​​Amnesty International: Damascus and armed groups exploit people's misery to advance their own agendas

According to the Amnesty International report, between 9 and 22 February, the Damascus government prevented at least 100 trucks carrying essential aid such as food, medical supplies and tents from entering predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo city. During the same period, " Turkish-backed armed opposition groups" prevented at least 30 aid trucks from entering Afrin.

 After the earthquake occurred, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria tried to send humanitarian aid to all affected Syrian regions, but the Damascus government and the mercenaries of the Turkish occupation; prevented it.

Aya Majzoub, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said: "The earthquakes have exacerbated the poverty of tens of thousands of people in Aleppo who were already suffering due to the decade-long armed conflict. However, even in this moment of desperation, the Syrian government and armed opposition groups have employed political considerations and people’s misery to advance their own agendas."

The Organization said: The politicaly motivated obstruction of vital aid has had tragic repercussions, especially for search and rescue teams who need fuel to operate machinery. All parties to the conflict, including the Syrian government and Turkey-backed armed groups, must prioritize the needs of civilians whose lives have been upended by this devastating natural disaster, and ensure their unfettered access to aid".

Amnesty International quoted four people as saying that the so-called "National Army" didn't allow at least 30 fuel trucks and other trucks carrying humanitarian aid sent by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria to enter the areas under its control. during which the trucks waited at the border crossing between north and east Syria and northern Aleppo for seven days before being returned.

Three of those interviewed told Amnesty International that armed groups fired into the air to disperse crowds of people trying to get help from aid trucks.

The Syrian government has also impeded aid from reaching survivors. people in north and east Syria told Amnesty International that between 9 and 22 February, the Syrian government prevented the entry of 100 trucks loaded with fuel, tents, food, supplies and medical equipment provided by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and a local organization into the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of the Aleppo city.

According to the organization, since August 2022, the Syrian government has imposed a brutal siege on these two neighborhoods, preventing fuel, food, medical supplies and other essential aid from reaching the tens of thousands of civilians who live there.

In the conclusion of her speech, Aya Majzoub blamed the Turkish occupation, saying: "Turkey is the occupying power in Afrin, and therefore it is responsible for ensuring the safety of civilians and maintaining law and order.

ANHA