Report – «Is Help Allowed? How French financial institutions hinder humanitarian action in Syria »

Will humanitarian associations still be allowed to provide assistance to the Syrian civilian population?

Since 2014, humanitarian action in Syria has been severely hampered by the strengthening of the fight against the funding of terrorism. To avoid any problem with the authorities, the banks and payment organizations use the excuse of the strict precautionary principle to avoid transactions related to Syria as much as possible.

After witnessing unjustified and repeated financial blockages by several peaceful and democratic Franco-Syrian associations, ASML / Syria decided to partner with CODSSY, INS and Women Now for Development to conduct an investigation to establish the scale of the phenomenon.

The findings are instructive :

• 96% of the associations surveyed are affected by the blockages;

• 80% are or have been categorically refused services ;

• 72% are victims of delays and rejection of international transfers.

Discover the essence of the report in 12 slides

While the banks’ vigilance is essential in the fight against the funding of terrorism, this objective must not make impossible the humanitarian and development actions to support to the civil society.

The abusive application of the precautionary principle leads to an unfair and counter-productive situation, which goes against the strategic interests of France and the fight against terrorism.

“Acting for the country in Syria is acting for the Syrian people, but it is also protecting us all from Islamist terrorism (…) We must all protect ourselves by uniting our forces”

Emmanuel Macron, in front of the United Nations, September 19th, 2017.

The ideologies of extremist Islamist groups can not be defeated without attacking the root causes, which are poverty, illiteracy and a feeling of injustice, shared by a growing number of people who have been victims of atrocities in plain sight of the international community.

Read the report