The reality is that the humanitarian crisis in Syria was produced and has been maintained by Assad himself. By manipulating the currency exchange rate, the regime steals nearly 51 cents of every dollar of international aid meant for Syrians. The regime also sells humanitarian aid on the black market and deliberately blocks them from reaching civilians in non-regime-controlled areas.Sanctions are placed strictly on those individuals or entities directly perpetrating or associated with heinous war crimes and crimes against humanity.Unintended consequences result from agencies’ overcompliance and misunderstanding of sanctions guidelines, which could be addressed through the issuance of appropriate licenses and exceptions. Additionally, the Syrian regime exacerbates poverty and suffering by blaming sanctions while exploiting the country’s resources, mismanaging its wealth, and failing to provide essential necessities like water and electricity.