Western selective humanitarianism, Syria earthquake falls on deaf ears
Western sanctions on Syria are only making things worse.
US President Joe Biden on Monday said he was "deeply saddened" and promised his country's assistance after a major 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, killing more than 2,300 people.
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria. I have directed my team to continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye and provide any and all needed assistance," Biden tweeted.
"Our teams are deploying quickly to begin to support Turkish search and rescue efforts and address the needs of those injured and displaced by the earthquake," he indicated in a statement later released by the White House.
The statement said Biden had called on US officials to reach out to their Turkish counterparts to coordinate assistance.
Selective humanitarianism
Following the earthquakes, several Western countries mobilized rapidly to send aid and rescue workers to Turkey but decided to exclude Syria and neglect it, by only offering condolences and expressing their readiness to support the affected Syrians, in a clear act of hypocrisy and double standards.
The following countries and blocs ignored Syria's appeal for international aid to help face the devastating earthquake, leaving thousands of Syrians alone to face their fate:
European Union
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and EU crisis management commissioner Janez Lenarcic said the European Union has mobilized 10 search and rescue teams for Turkey after Ankara requested EU assistance, claiming that the bloc was ready to support those affected in Syria too, if asked, knowing that Syria did call on the international community for help.
EU humanitarian aid Spokesperson Balazs Ujvari claimed the bloc is ready to assist Syria's quake relief efforts if needed.
"When we are talking about the civil protection mechanism, we are able to provide this help because Turkey has come to us for assistance. Turkey has activated the mechanism for now. We don't have such a request from the Syrian side. However, if this occur, we will do our utmost to mobilize assistance in that direction as well," Ujvari told reporters in Brussels.
Germany
Germany will "mobilize all the assistance we can activate," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said.
Faeser said Germany's Federal Agency for Technical Relief is coordinating closely with the Turkish civil defense and "can set up camps to provide shelter as well as water treatment units."
She said Turkey activated the EU civil protection procedure and requested salvage and rescue teams adding that Berlin is coordinating closely and will help with any means at its disposal that are most needed now.
Greece
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Turkey's historic rival Greece, whose relations with Ankara have suffered from a spate of border and cultural disputes, pledged to make "every force available" to aid its neighbor.
Mitsotakis on Monday telephoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to offer "immediate assistance" after the deadly earthquake, his office said.
Erdogan "thanked" Mitsotakis for the support and the immediate dispatch of rescuers and supplies on board a C-130 military plane, the Greek Prime Minister's office said.
NATO
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg voiced "full solidarity" with ally Turkey, saying he was in touch with Turkey's top leadership and "NATO allies are mobilizing support now."
Sweden
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden, whose bid to join NATO is meeting Turkish resistance, sent his "deepest condolences" to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "We stand ready to offer our support," Kristersson tweeted.
Poland
Polish firefighters flew from Warsaw to the Turkish city of Gaziantep. "Our team will be working non-stop, 24 hours a day, in two locations," said Andrzej Bartkowiak, chief commandant of the state fire service.
Britain
Foreign Minister James Cleverly said the UK was sending Turkey a team of 76 search and rescue specialists, equipment, and rescue dogs. Britain was also sending an emergency medical team to assess the situation on the ground.
Japan
The government in Japan -- which frequently suffers earthquakes -- is dispatching the Japan Disaster Relief Rescue Team to Turkey.
Qatar
Qatar said it would send 120 rescue workers to Turkey, alongside "a field hospital, relief aid, tents and winter supplies."
Meanwhile, the UN, Ukraine, and Canada have so far expressed readiness to provide assistance but have not sent humanitarian aid to Syria:
United Nations
The UN General Assembly observed a minute of silence in tribute to the victims of the earthquakes.
"Our teams are on the ground assessing the needs and providing assistance. We count on the international community to help the thousands of families hit by this disaster, many of whom were already in dire need of humanitarian aid in areas where access is a challenge," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was "ready to provide the necessary assistance to overcome the consequences of the disaster."
Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: "Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones. Canada stands ready to provide assistance."
Syrian government
Earlier, the Syrian government urged the international community to come to its aid after more than 850 people died in the country following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey.
"Syria appeals to member states of the United Nations... the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian" groups to support "efforts to face the devastating earthquake," the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said the Syrian government was ready "to provide all the required facilities to international organizations so they can give Syrians humanitarian aid", after meeting with UN representatives and aid groups.
Due to the war that weakened the infrastructure in Syria, the draconian Western sanctions imposed on the country, the US occupation of some Syrian land, as well as the looting of billions of dollars of its resources, Syria is unable to fully respond to the tragic catastrophe. As a result, the number of victims of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake is on the rise.
It is noteworthy that in 2020, then-US President Donald Trump signed into law the so-called Caesar Act, under which Congress authorized severe economic sanctions against Syria. In accordance with the sanctions, anyone doing business with the Syrian authorities is potentially exposed to travel restrictions and financial sanctions.
The US claims that "the Caesar Act and other U.S. Syria sanctions do not target humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people" and that Washington will continue sending its alleged humanitarian assistance to Syrians. However, this was not the case following the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and was not clear in Biden's remarks.
As a result, the following countries have responded to Syria's urgent request fro humanitarian aid:
Lebanon
The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates offered its deepest condolences to the government and people of Syria and to the families of the victims, expressing Lebanon’s readiness to extend a helping hand to Syria in facing the repercussions of the earthquake.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also informed his Syrian counterpart Hussein Arnous of placing Lebanon's logistical capabilities at the service of the ongoing relief efforts in Syria.
Algeria
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered its sincere condolences to the Syrian government and people and to the families of the victims.
In a statement, the ministry indicated that Algeria affirms its full solidarity and expresses its aspiration to overcome this ordeal with much determination and steadfastness.
China
China expressed its readiness to send urgent humanitarian assistance to Syria to face the effects of the earthquake.
"Beijing is ready to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to Syria according to the needs," Xinhua news agency quoted a spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency, Xu Wei, as saying.
Iran
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi affirmed that Iran is ready to provide "immediate relief aid" to Syria and Turkey, offering condolences on the "heartbreaking incident."
Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to send Russian teams to Syria and Turkey in telephone calls with his Syrian and Turkish counterparts.
"In the nearest hours, rescuers from the Russian emergency ministry will take off for Syria," the Kremlin said. The Russian Defense ministry also noted that 300 military personnel deployed in Syria were helping with the clear-up effort.
Cuba
On Twitter, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed his condolence to the people and government of Syria "as well as our solidarity and readiness to cooperate in providing assistance to those affected."
India
India's Foreign Ministry said two of India's National Disaster Response Force teams comprising 100 personnel with dog squads and equipment were ready to be flown to the affected area. Doctors and paramedics with medicines were also being readied.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "anguished" and "deeply pained" by the deaths in Turkey and Syria.
UAE
Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan offered "assistance" in telephone calls with his Syrian and Turkish counterparts, the official WAM news agency reported.
On his part, Emirati Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum "directed urgent humanitarian aid to those affected in Syria", the official news agency WAM said, pledging humanitarian assistance worth around $13.6 million to Syria.
Golan
Elsewhere, the citizens of the occupied Syrian Golan have expressed their sympathy to the people of their homeland, Syria.
"Our people are along the squares of the homeland with hearts that believe in God’s will and destiny. We share the painful affliction of our dear homeland, Syria, following the earthquake that hit the country’s provinces, and its results were catastrophic on the humanitarian and economic levels, asking God to rest the victims in peace and to heal the injured," citizens of the Golan said in a statement.
France
On his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said France stood ready to provide emergency aid to Turkey and Syria. "Our thoughts are with the bereaved families," he tweeted.
Read more: Int'l, Arab leaders offer Syria condolences over losses in earthquake