On 6 February 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit southern Turkiye and northern Syria. The earthquake and subsequent aftershocks devasted a region already destabilized by one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. This crisis is further exacerbated by the ongoing Syrian civil war, nefarious actors including corrupt government officials and terrorist organizations, and complex sanctions regulations targeting the Syrian government and sanctioned individuals and entities in the region. While economic sanctions are an important tool for dealing with criminal regimes and their allies, many have raised concerns about the impact existing sanctions and underlying risks in Syria may have on humanitarian efforts to assist those impacted by the earthquake.
K2 Integrity invites you to join a 60-minute webinar and panel discussion on charitable assistance to persons affected by the recent earthquakes in southern Turkiye and northern Syria. K2 Integrity’s Global Head of Financial Integrity Chip Poncy will be joined by Syrian pro-democracy campaigner and human rights activist Mohammed Alaa Ghanem in a discussion of the urgent need for charitable assistance and how to navigate the substantial challenges of delivering such assistance safely and effectively. Our panelists will discuss how to safeguard assistance from exploitation and terrorist groups, as well as how to confirm that assistance is compliant with U.S. and global sanctions and utilizes recent guidance and licenses from regulatory authorities.
This conversation will cover:
| • | The need for assistance required in Syria and Turkiye, including how it is currently being delivered |
| • | Risks on the ground regarding exploitation or diversion of fundraising efforts as well as those risks associated with non-state actors ranging from freedom fighters and opposition parties to designated terrorist groups and affiliates |
| • | How the situation in Syria over the last two decades resulted in the current sanctions regime and guidance related to humanitarian assistance in Syria |
| • | A discussion of how one can provide safe and effective assistance given the need, risks, and sanctions obligations in place in the region |
