Western Sanctions On Syria Trigger Migration, More Human Rights Abuses - UN Rapporteur

The extension of EU and US sanctions against Syria has resulted in more frequent human rights violations and an increased influx of Syrian migrants to the European Union instead of both trends being eradicated, UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures Idriss Jazairy told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th March, 2019) The extension of EU and US sanctions against Syria has resulted in more frequent human rights violations and an increased influx of Syrian migrants to the European Union instead of both trends being eradicated, UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures Idriss Jazairy told Sputnik.

In May, both the European Union and the United States extended their sanctions on war-affected Syria for another year, with the former justifying its decision by citing the "ongoing repression of the civilian population." The measures include an oil embargo, freeze of assets and certain export restrictions, among others.

"But imposing sanctions makes deprivation of human rights even more acute. So it is like trying to extinguish fire with a fire hose not a water hose. That seems to be some lack of logic in Europe where people complain about the presence of the Syrian migrants and the imposition of sanctions push the Syrians to migrate [to] Europe," Jazairy said.

The sanctions prevent the Syrian middle class from reviving business operations in their home country and instead force them to flee Syria, further increasing the influx of migrants to the European Union, the rapporteur noted.