Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the humanitarian situation
in Syria; and what steps they are taking to initiate the lifting
of sanctions on that country.
The Question was considered in a Virtual Proceeding via video
call.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and
Department for International Development () (Con)
My Lords, after years of conflict, Covid-19 poses a particularly
significant threat in Syria. The United Kingdom is working
closely with the United Nations and partners to adapt our
humanitarian response. We are also supporting the UN-led
political process, which the Syrian regime must engage with
seriously for sanctions to be lifted. EU sanctions, which we
continue to apply during the transition period, are carefully
targeted on specific sectors and individuals—[Inaudible].
(CB)
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Does he
acknowledge that UK-backed sanctions make it impossible for many
civilians to obtain food, medicines and life-saving medical
equipment, causing widespread avoidable suffering and death,
gravely exacerbated by coronavirus? As the UN’s special
rapporteur emphasises, it is undisputed that sanctions do
“contribute to a worsening of the humanitarian situation”.
Will the Minister therefore agree to accept advice from UN
experts, who emphasise that it is now
“a matter of humanitarian and practical urgency to lift …
economic sanctions immediately”?
The United Kingdom ranks among the leading donors to the
humanitarian aid to Syria. The noble Baroness mentioned
sanctions—[Inaudible]—specifically targeted on the Assad regime
and businesspeople related to it. Importantly, on the issue of
supporting ordinary Syrians, food and medical supplies used for
humanitarian purposes are not subject to these particular
sanctions, as the noble Baroness will know.
(Non-Afl)
My Lords, nearly 10 years on since the Syrian conflict started,
hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives and their
loved ones. Some 8 million are internally displaced and 6 million
are languishing mostly in refugee camps. The Conscience Movement,
a women-led organisation based in Istanbul, says that 10,000
women remain imprisoned by the Syrian Government. While I
acknowledge that sanctions cause humanitarian catastrophe, what
representation can the Minister and our Government make to the
international community to ensure the urgent release of these
women, who often face rape and torture, prior to any
consideration of lifting sanctions?
The noble Baroness raises an important point on the issue of
sanctions and that during conflict that women—[Inaudible]. We are
appalled by the acts of the Syrian regime, often at the cost of
its own citizens. I assure the noble Baroness that we are
talking—[Inaudible]—ensuring that the advice—[Inaudible]—Syrian
regime to act.
(Con)
My Lords, only this week, Amnesty International published a
report outlining the attacks the Assad regime and its allies have
unleashed on humanitarian and non-military targets in Idlib since
May last year until February this year. Surely this underlines
why sanctions must continue until there is an agreed political
settlement and requires us to ensure that our humanitarian aid
continues to be funnelled through NGOs in Syria.
My Lords, I agree with my noble friend. The situation in Idlib is
desperate, but, again, the UK has been at the forefront,
providing £118 million of support to the suffering people in
Idlib. Most recently, an RAF jet delivered more than 37,000
tonnes of aid. We are prioritising Idlib, but I agree with my
noble friend that the sanctions must still apply until such
time—[Inaudible.]
(CB)
The Minister will know that I was in Syria each year from 2015 to
2017. Does he agree that, even then, sanctions were doing more
harm to ordinary Syrians than to their Government? Will he now
argue for their removal, first, on health and medical goods;
secondly, on food; and, thirdly, on reconstruction materials?
The noble Lords asks about sanctions; I believe that I have
answered this in part already. The sanctions do not apply
to—[Inaudible.]
The Lord Speaker ()
Minister, there is something seriously wrong with your sound
production, but we will go on.
(Lab)
I agree with the Minister that no one should be able to act with
impunity, and that includes agents of the Assad regime.
Certainly, the NGO experience of distributing through a Damascus
hub suggests that lifting sanctions would not change the
situation for millions of Syrians in the north. Can the Minister
update us on what his efforts are achieving in keeping aid
corridors open through renewal of UN Resolution 2504?
The noble Lord raises an important point on Resolution 2504. Most
recently, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary had a
call with the Minister about the importance of keeping those
corridors open. We hope that not only will this happen but that
we will be able to open up additional humanitarian corridors.
(LD)
Will the Government consider time-limited sanctions relief for
Syria to permit international transactions and supplies and to
make the health of the civilian population a priority?
I have already made clear the Government’s position on sanctions,
which is taken together with our EU colleagues. These will not be
lifted until such time as we see meaningful engagement from the
Assad regime.
(Con)
My Lords, I understand that Turkey and Turkish-backed forces have
cut water supplies several times to some 460,000 people in the
Al-Hasakah Governorate in north-east Syria, exacerbating the
situation there and putting many people, especially children, at
enormous risk. Can my noble friend the Minister encourage the
Government to use all available means to persuade the Turkish
Government that water flow must be restored?
Turkey is an ally and a member of NATO. I assure my noble friend
that we continue to make representations about the
importance—[Inaudible.]
(CB)
My Lords, this is not a question about sanctions as a whole, but
their application to food and medicine. The Minister said—if I
understood him correctly on this line—that sanctions do not apply
to food and medicine. However, in practice, financial sanctions
are impeding the purchase of food and medicine. Will the Minister
undertake to look into that and make sure that they are not
accidently preventing supply of such materials to ordinary
Syrians?
As I have already made clear, our sanctions regime applies
specifically to ensure that humanitarian support—[Inaudible]—can
be taken forward and ordinary citizens receive this. I take note
of what the noble Lord has said, but we are very
clear—[Inaudible].
(Lab)
My Lords, civil wars are very bloody and unpleasant. There is no
doubt that, as they come towards the end game, they get more
bloody and unpleasant. There are no good guys in terms of the
fighting in these wars; both sides always behave appallingly. Do
the UK Government really think that a future with the bulk of
Syria run by the Assad Government, with a tiny enclave run by
disparate groups of jihadis—many of whom are as bad as
Daesh—would be stable moving forward? Would it not be better to
stop sanctions and try to come alongside the Assad Government and
influence it in a way that we wish to influence it?
We have been very clear on the issue of the Assad regime; it is
now very much a matter—[Inaudible].
