It is unacceptable to abuse humanitarian aid for political purposes, clearly hitting the Syrian government, said the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, on March 5 at the opening of the UN conference on the least developed countries in Doha.
The sheikh noted that he was puzzled by the delay in the delivery of aid to the victims of the earthquake in Syria, adding.
Qatar has been among several regional states that have supported rebels in the Syrian civil war and has previously opposed efforts by some countries to normalize relations with Damascus.
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani stressed the need to help Syrians “without hesitation” and support Turkey’s reconstruction efforts after the devastating earthquake.
The death toll in Turkey has surpassed 45,000, bringing the total number, including Syria, to about 51,000. In Syria, the northwestern region, controlled by rebels at war with President Bashar al-Assad, has suffered the most.
“Because I am surprised by the delay in the arrival of aid to this (Syrian) people, I emphasize that the use of human tragedy for political purposes is unacceptable”Sheikh Tamim said.
Aid organizations complain about the restrictions of the Damascus government. Other humanitarian agencies say hardline rebels have blocked aid supplies from Syrian government-controlled areas, further complicating efforts.
Qatar is providing aid to the Syrians through Turkey, while other Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates are directly delivering relief supplies.
Doha, like Washington, has opposed any move to restore or normalize relations with Assad, citing his government’s brutality during the conflict and the need to see progress toward a political solution.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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