ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Italy announced on Thursday that it would dispatch a humanitarian aid package worth 4.5 million euros to Syria, nearly two months after Rome’s top diplomat visited the war-ravaged country. 

“As part of the humanitarian aid announced by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during his visit to Damascus on January 10, 4.5 million euros have been allocated for emergency relief initiatives,” the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The aid package will be "directed towards the most urgent and priority areas in Syria, to support humanitarian activities in the health sector and hospitals, improving vital infrastructure, including health infrastructure, water, and food supply chains, and supporting the most vulnerable groups among the population.”

During his January visit to Damascus, Italian Foreign Minister Tajani met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani, pledging support to the new Syrian administration across various sectors.

In late February, Syria welcomed an EU decision to ease sanctions on the country's key economic sectors, especially in energy, transport, and banking.

Since the fall of Assad in December, the interim Syrian government in Damascus has been repeatedly calling on the international community, notably the US and European countries to lift sanctions imposed on the former Assad regime, so the country could begin rebuilding across all walks of life, and pave the way for the return of millions of Syria who have sought asylum in neighboring and European countries. 

The key sanctions imposed on Syria during Assad include; infrastructure investments, arms and military equipment, travel, and financial flows for individuals associated with the previous Syrian government.