EU slaps sanctions on 200 Syrians, 70 entities

The European Union has extended its sanctions against Syria for another year as the humanitarian situation in the country continues to suffer from over four years of foreign-backed militancy.

“Over 200 persons and 70 entities are targeted by EU sanctions” which include travel bans and asset freezes, read a statement issued by the Council of the European Union on Thursday.

According to the statement, “a high-ranking military official” has been added to the bloc’s sanctions list over his alleged employment of “repression and violence against the civilian population in Damascus and Damascus countryside.”

‘Syria in grave humanitarian situation’

This comes as UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos said later in the day in a briefing at the Security Council that the situation in Syria is “extremely grave and deteriorating by the day,” adding, “The international community more broadly needs to do more to protect civilians and ensure greater accountability for violations of international humanitarian law.”

She urged the Security Council member states to set aside their political differences and find a way to end the “intractable” crisis fueled by foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists in Syria.

Amos also urged the Council “to demonstrate its leadership and uphold its responsibility” toward the Syrian civilians, saying that over 400,000 are currently besieged due to the conflict in the Arab country.

“I know that there are no easy answers or quick fixes … But I also know that we cannot let the difficult prevent us from upholding our responsibility to act on behalf of the people of Syria. We cannot leave Syrians abandoned to hopelessness and further despair,” she went on to say.

The UN official also touched upon the worsening humanitarian crisis in Syria, warning that “people are trying to survive by the day, without the basic necessities of life such as water and electricity.”