The US has eased some restrictions on humanitarian aid and essential services in Syria while keeping in place other sanctions that block aid to the new government in Damascus.
Guidance from the Treasury department on Monday grants blanket authorisation for NGOs and international organisations providing essential services to Syria such as electricity, water and sanitation and providing other critical supplies.
The instructions, known as a general licence, are to last for six months as the US continues to evaluate conditions on the ground. They are meant to speed the delivery of aid since organisations will not have to seek specific permissions.
The Biden administration is unlikely to lift sanctions on Syria and the country’s terror designation.