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Earthquake disaster: Baerbock demands opening of the border between Turkey and Syria

2023-02-07T18:49:57.636Z


Germany's Foreign Minister is calling on all international actors to use their influence to help the Syrian earthquake victims. Calls for an end to the sanctions are coming from Damascus itself.


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After the earthquake, less aid is arriving in Syria than in Turkey

Photo:

STRINGER / EPO

Helpers are making their way to the earthquake area from all parts of the world - but access to Turkey is much easier than to Syria.

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is therefore calling for all border crossings between the two countries to be opened in order to enable rapid humanitarian aid in Syria as well.

There is currently only one open border crossing, which was damaged in the earthquake, said the Greens politician in Berlin.

"That's why opening the border crossings is so important." It is "the absolute imperative now that humanitarian aid gets to where it is needed."

In north-west Syria, it is already difficult to provide for the people.

"That's why all international actors - including Russia - should use their influence on the Syrian regime to ensure that humanitarian aid for the victims can also arrive there," said Baerbock.

No additional hurdles should be set up, because every minute counts here.

Red Crescent calls for end of sanctions

In addition to requests for help, there are also calls from Syria itself for an end to the international sanctions against the regime of ruler Bashar al-Assad.

The head of the Syrian Red Crescent said on state television: "The time has come after this earthquake." He appealed to "all EU countries to lift the economic sanctions against Syria".

He also called on the US development agency USAID to "provide assistance to the Syrian people".

The call is similar to that of Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.

He said Monday that Damascus is ready to facilitate all procedures "necessary for international organizations to provide humanitarian assistance."

In his own words, SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich sees a duty in Russia.

"If Russia is really willing to help, it should also ensure that the border region, where a large number of border stations are still closed, is opened up for the benefit of humanitarian goods and medical care for those trapped," said Mützenich in Berlin.

Russia is said to have a significant influence on the regime in Syria.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the area on the border between Turkey and Syria early Monday morning.

Another 7.5 magnitude tremor followed in the same area at noon.

Thousands of people died in the disaster.

svs/dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2023-02-07

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