Syria Approves Earthquake Aid to Rebel Region

story
Image copyright: Reuters

The Facts

  • The Syrian government said Friday it approved the delivery of humanitarian aid to the country's earthquake-hit rebel-held northwest region, adding that its delivery should be supervised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Red Crescent, with UN oversight.

  • Syria's northwest inhabits an estimated more than 4M people who already required aid before the earthquake, though its government-controlled areas haven't received deliveries in three weeks.

Show more

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

As he's still demanding aid be delivered through his controlled areas, this is just another political stunt by Bashar al-Assad in his attempt to get international sanctions against him lifted. His brutal war has left 90% of his people impoverished, and now upwards of 5M could become homeless due to the earthquake. The West should stand firm in its demand that humanitarian aid is given directly to those most affected, whether they're rebel regions or not.

ABC NEWS

Establishment-critical narrative

Though they were finally lifted days after the earthquake hit, the US sanctions against Syria have played a significant role in the Arab nation's poor humanitarian response. After spending years bombing civilians and occupying the country's oil land, the US — imposing its will on the Syrian people — has left the struggling nation ill-equipped to respond to this disaster. Neither side is innocent in this tragedy.

NewsRescue.com

Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

More neutral establishment stance articles