The Syrian government’s terms regarding aid deliveries to territories held by the opposition have been declared “unfit” by the United Nations. According to Syria’s ambassador to the UN, the country will permit aid to pass via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing from Turkey. This offer comes after members of the UN Security Council failed to extend the authorization for this crucial border crossing.
The proposal impacts roughly 4.1 million individuals in northwest Syria, who rely heavily on these aid supplies. In a communication to the UN Secretary General, Syrian ambassador Bassam Sabbagh informed that Damascus decided to authorize the passage of aid through Bab al-Hawa for the coming six months.
The ambassador further clarified that the aid deliveries will proceed “in full co-operation and co-ordination with the Syrian government”. However, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) pointed out that the proposal came with two unfit terms, as reported by the AFP and Reuters.
Firstly, Damascus insisted that the UN should not communicate with groups classified as ‘terrorists’. Additionally, Damascus required all aid distribution in northwest Syria to be overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). The UN claims that these conditions are neither in line with the UN’s independence, nor practical, given that neither ICRC nor SARC are present in the area.
On Tuesday, Russia, a key supporter of Syria, vetoed a nine-month extension of the UN-sanctioned agreement for aid transport via Bab al-Hawa. Syria and Russia have previously voiced objections to the UN aid distribution method as an infringement of Syria’s sovereignty. However, Russia was unable to secure the required support for a six-month extension from the 15 Council members.
Amidst this backdrop, concerns have been raised about the Syrian government’s ability to regulate the flow of aid, potentially preventing it from reaching areas held by the opposition. The UK ambassador Barbara Woodward underscored the urgency of restoring aid flow and maintaining its stability.
The Bab al-Hawa lifeline has become even more crucial after an earthquake in northwest Syria in February, causing over 4,500 fatalities and displacing 50,000 families. Despite the stalemate over Bab al-Hawa, the UN can still employ two additional aid crossings until August 13, opened with Syrian government approval after the earthquake.
