OFAC GL 23 grants 180-day exemption from Syria sanctions for disaster aid
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘OFAC’) has issued Syria General License (GL) 23, which authorizes for 180 days all transactions related to earthquake relief that would be otherwise prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (‘SySR’).
The OFAC statement said that GL 23 ‘provides the broad authorization necessary to support immediate disaster relief efforts in Syria.’
It added that, ‘U.S. and intermediary financial institutions should have what they need in GL23 to immediately process all earthquake relief transactions.’
All persons, including financial institutions, engaged in disaster relief activities for Syria who believe their activities are not covered by existing authorisations or exemptions are encouraged to contact OFAC directly to seek specific licences or guidance, it advised.
‘I want to make very clear that U.S. sanctions in Syria will not stand in the way of life-saving efforts for the Syrian people,’ said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo.
‘While U.S. sanctions programs already contain robust exemptions for humanitarian efforts, today Treasury is issuing a blanket General License to authorize earthquake relief efforts so that those providing assistance can focus on what’s needed most: saving lives and rebuilding.’
