In statements published by the Al-Watan daily, Ebrahim explained sanctions bring about a great number of drawbacks in purchasing new medical equipment and spare parts necessary for maintenance of those ones being used already in public hospitals and health centers.

The Al-Moassat Hospital´s MRI equipment has been out of order for weeks, so efforts are being made to guarantee spare parts but everything was in vain as all foreign companies fear of being sanctioned by the United States, he said.

Syrian authorities recently informed they cannot have needed equipment and technical vehicles for rebuilding houses ravaged by deadly earthquakes, due to the blockade.

In June 2020, Washington unilaterally imposed new extraterritorial sanctions against Syria under the Caesar Act, aimed at stifling Damascus.

The Damascus authorities claimed the blockade policies and the imposition of unilateral coercive economic measures have been part of the blind coercive provisions of the West.

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