In the wake of a chemical attack that sparked condemnation from Trump, several major aid groups have outlined actions that could ease suffering

In the wake of Donald Trump’s harsh condemnation of the chemical attack in Syria this week, some of the world’s largest humanitarian groups outlined steps the White House could take to alleviate suffering in the region.

More than 70 people died in Khan Sheikhun on Tuesday in one of the worst chemical attacks in the six-year war. Trump said the attack was an “affront to humanity” that “crossed lots of lines for me”.

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“When you kill innocent children, innocent babies, babies, little babies, with a chemical gas that is so lethal – people were shocked to hear what gas it was,” Trump said on Wednesday. “That crosses many, many lines, beyond a red line, many, many lines.”

Late Thursday the US launched missile strikes against a Syrian airbase near Homs where the chemical attack was believed to have been launched.

Speaking hours before the strikes, experts at some of the world’s largest humanitarian aid groups outlined to the Guardian three actions the White House could take to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

End the refugee ban

One week after taking office, Trump enacted a travel ban that stopped refugees from entering the US and prohibited people from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Syria, from entering the US.

The order has been blocked by federal courts, but a revised version of the ban was set to go into effect last month, before courts temporarily blocked it from being implemented. That program also put a temporary halt on the US refugee resettlement program.

“If the refugee moratorium is lifted, and the original refugee acceptance numbers are re-established, then the most vulnerable Syrian refugees will have a home outside of Syria to come to and that includes many children who can often bear the brunt of the violence inside Syria,” said Sunjeev Bery, advocacy director for Middle East-North Africa issues at Amnesty International USA.

Policy experts at Amnesty International USA, the International Rescue Committee and Care agreed that the travel bans blocked an important route to safety for Syrians.

“Hopefully there’s a recognition now of the real horrors in Syria and what’s driven five million people outside the borders and into the frontline states around it and why they are refugees, why they are fleeing violence and suffering,” said Amanda Catanzano, senior director of international programs of policy and advocacy at the International Rescue Committee.

By not accepting refugees, she said, the US is failing to show solidarity with its allies, including Jordan and Turkey, who are accepting large numbers of refugees.

Push for accountability

More broadly, advocacy groups agreed the US needs to push for those responsible for chemical attacks and other violations of international law in Syria to be held accountable.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms attacks on civilians, and that has unfortunately been all too common an occurrence in the Syrian conflict and we think it’s important for the international community to hold parties accountable or we will see a further decline in respect for international human rights law and human rights standards,” said David Ray, vice president of advocacy at Care.

The UN general assembly established such a method in December 2016 with a resolution that creates a mechanism for investigating and holding accountable those who have violated international human rights law in Syria since 2011.

“A solid first step would be to both materially and rhetorically support that mechanism,” said Catanzano of the International Rescue Committee.

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She said that should be accompanied by a call for an immediate and impartial investigation into the chemical attack this week.

Reconsider White House budget proposal for foreign aid

Advocacy groups also expressed concern about the White House’s budget proposal, which includes deep cuts to US diplomacy and foreign aid. The US has given $5.9bn to Syria since 2011.

“The need continue to grow and certainly it is not the time to back down from our leadership role, certainly in terms of the kinds of budget proposals the administration has put forward,” said Care’s Ray.

He said it was important for the US to not retrench from its contributions to international aid because of the humanitarian crises in Syria, as well as those unfolding in sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen.

Catanzano said humanitarian assistance makes it possible for families affected by the conflict to access food, water, sanitation, medical assistance, protection for women and girls and education.

“Massive cuts in foreign assistance are inconsistent with trying to address this suffering,” she said. “When taken together with a shutdown of the the resettlement program, it’s a signal that refugees aren’t welcome here and we won’t help them where they are”.