The earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey earlier last week means that thousands of people are dying.

In Syria the situation is especially bad because global aid organizations are struggling to transfer money or medicine across the border due to international sanctions on Syria. Syrians who are still living in Syria have suffered greatly in recent years. People are being deprived of their basic needs.

Food, drinking water, energy, safe accommodation, medical suppliesand many more to mention are either not available or extremely expensive. This was initially a result of the conflict, but it has been much worse after more sanctions were imposed on the Syrian trade and manufacturing sectors.

The pandemic made the humanitarian crisis much worse and the majority of the people in Syria are living below the poverty line. Western countries should act now and provide aid and support to help the Syrians survive this disaster. To do this they must lift the imposed sanctions on the economy, especially in the areas worse impacted by the earthquake.

This is not about politics, it is about survival. Lifting sanctions - even in a limited way - is the only hope for Syrians to this disaster and find a way to rebuild their country.