Interview with Andrei Engstrand-Neacsu, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ country office in Syria.

Published, March 26, 2021

Cited by: Sputnik China, UrduPoint

US Caesar Act Sanctions Leaving More Syrians in Need, Hindering Relief Work – IFRC

MOSCOW, March 26 (Sputnik), Jonathan Rowson – The United States’ Caesar Act sanctions on Syria have increased the number of Syrians in need and are also hindering the work of humanitarian organizations in the country, Andrei Engstrand-Neacsu, the head of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) country office in Syria, told Sputnik in an interview.

Syria’s civil war broke out a decade ago, and despite the military situation being “calmer” at the present time, the COVID-19 pandemic and the entry into force of Caesar Act sanctions this past summer have left more Syrians in need than ever before, Engstrand-Neacsu said.

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Preconditions for Mass Return of Syrian IDPs, Refugees Not Met Due to Sanctions – IFRC

MOSCOW, March 26 (Sputnik), Jonathan Rowson – The lack of a “pragmatic” political solution to the Syrian conflict and the lasting impact of unilateral sanctions on Damascus means that the preconditions for the mass return of internally displaced persons and refugees have not been met, Andrei Engstrand-Neacsu, the head of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) country office in Syria, told Sputnik in an interview.

“The road to a massive or well-organized return is a long one and the preconditions are, in my opinion, not entirely there today,” Engstrand-Neacsu said.

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No Signs Upcoming EU Donor Conference on Syria to Result in Required Pledges – IFRC

MOSCOW, March 26 (Sputnik), Jonathan Rowson – The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) contacts with humanitarian officials at the European Union have left the relief organization with little hope that the upcoming donor conference for Syria and the region will result in the required pledges to meet the Middle Eastern country’s humanitarian needs, Andrei Engstrand-Neacsu, the head of the IFRC’s country office in Syria, told Sputnik in an interview.

The European Union is set to host the fifth donor conference for Syria on March 29-30, and Engstrand-Neacsu said that the IFRC was pessimistic that the event would raise the required funds to offer substantial aid to Syrians at home and abroad.

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Int’l Community’s Humanitarian Pledges Not Sufficient to Meet Syria’s Needs – IFRC

MOSCOW, March 26 (Sputnik), Jonathan Rowson – The international community has not provided enough resources to resolve the worsening humanitarian crisis in Syria, Andrei Engstrand-Neacsu, the head of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) country office in Syria, told Sputnik in an interview.

At the fourth international donor conference for Syria and the region, which was hosted by the European Union this past June, countries pledged a combined 6.9 billion euros ($8.1 billion) to bolster relief efforts in the Middle East.