The @UN's Alena Douhan (from #Belarus) just wrote a 6,500-word report on sanctions & human rights in #Syria.
She visited #Syria for 12 days -- but only spent time in #Assad-held areas.
Her conclusion?
Lift all sanctions. Finance reconstruction. Nothing was the regime's fault.
She visited #Syria for 12 days -- but only spent time in #Assad-held areas.
Her conclusion?
Lift all sanctions. Finance reconstruction. Nothing was the regime's fault.
@UN That the @UN calls Douhan an "independent human rights expert" is staggering.
She made no effort to visit areas not controlled by #Assad's regime & goes out of her way to thank the regime for how "transparent & constructive" it was during her visit.
Yes, I bet they were.
She made no effort to visit areas not controlled by #Assad's regime & goes out of her way to thank the regime for how "transparent & constructive" it was during her visit.
Yes, I bet they were.
@UN Throughout her 6,500-word report, the @UN's "expert" makes repeated citations to "data & reports received during my visit."
Guess what? All that "transparent" data blames #Syria's ills on foreign powers. There's a surprise.
But our "expert" doesn't question that. Of course not.
Guess what? All that "transparent" data blames #Syria's ills on foreign powers. There's a surprise.
But our "expert" doesn't question that. Of course not.
@UN In a section of the @UN report dedicated to agriculture & food security, Douhan says crop yields have plummeted in recent years.
She's right. But why?
Douhan blames linked sanctions-fuel shortages-inflation (all external factors).
*NO* mention of unprecedented droughts though!
She's right. But why?
Douhan blames linked sanctions-fuel shortages-inflation (all external factors).
*NO* mention of unprecedented droughts though!
@UN .@UN "expert" Douhan then looks at aid access. She highlights (1) "delays" in procurement & (2) "significant losses" in aid "due to exchange rate movements."
Why might that be?
Nope, Douhan doesn't answer:
(1) #Assad regime restrictions
(2) Regime manipulated exchange rates.
Why might that be?
Nope, Douhan doesn't answer:
(1) #Assad regime restrictions
(2) Regime manipulated exchange rates.
@UN On the subject of @UN procurements in #Syria, let's not forget that ~45% of aid programming goes to entities with a "very high" or "high" risk of links to #Assad war crimes.
And 25% go to entitled sanctioned for crimes.
No, Douhan doesn't mention this.
And 25% go to entitled sanctioned for crimes.
No, Douhan doesn't mention this.
https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/1584894439591485440
@UN On "exchange rate movements," let's also not forget the reality:
- #Assad's regime forces the @UN & others to use a manipulated exchange rate, meaning 51 cents of every aid $ is stolen by #Syria's Central Bank.
The @UN's Douhan wants the bank empowered!
- #Assad's regime forces the @UN & others to use a manipulated exchange rate, meaning 51 cents of every aid $ is stolen by #Syria's Central Bank.
The @UN's Douhan wants the bank empowered!
https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/1451180898628538368
@UN Perhaps the most disgraceful part of the @UN report is the claim that sanctions are the reason for #Syria's persistent refugee & displacement crisis.
Douhan says removing sanctions would help "repatriate" refugees.
*ALL* polling shows its #Assad's regime that refugees fear.
Douhan says removing sanctions would help "repatriate" refugees.
*ALL* polling shows its #Assad's regime that refugees fear.
@UN In closing, Douhan says "human rights" are impossible in #Syria without full-scale reconstruction & sanctions removal.
That's #Assad's talking point, not the @UN's.
In 6,500 words, not a single line of blame was directed at #Assad's regime. Not one.
It's all the West's fault.
That's #Assad's talking point, not the @UN's.
In 6,500 words, not a single line of blame was directed at #Assad's regime. Not one.
It's all the West's fault.
@UN And to top it off, Douhan says "sanctioning states" need to begin delivering aid into #Syria "without any impediments."
To that point, I'm just speechless.
The West provides $billions of aid *all across* #Syria every year & who's blocking/diverting?
#Assad's regime & #Russia.
To that point, I'm just speechless.
The West provides $billions of aid *all across* #Syria every year & who's blocking/diverting?
#Assad's regime & #Russia.
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