Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to lift sanctions on Syria, given the recent earthquake.

The UK will continue to play a leading role in the humanitarian response in Syria, particularly following the earthquake in Syria and Turkey. On 8 February, the Government announced a substantial package of life saving support to affected areas.

Sanctions play an indispensable role holding the Asad regime to account for their most egregious actions. We will not lift them until the regime has changed its behaviour. UK and UN trade sanctions do not target humanitarian activity, medical supplies or food: they provide for a range of humanitarian exceptions and licensing grounds specifically to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid. Russia and the regime have previously hindered cross-border aid access, which could compound the humanitarian impact of this earthquake.