UN renews cross-border Syria aid for six months

The UN Security Council yesterday renewed the cross-border aid mechanism to Syria for another six months, a length of time that several member nations consider too short.

The 15-member Council voted unanimously to extend the resolution, which provides life-saving assistance to millions of people living in northern Syria, until July 10.

The aid delivery mechanism across Turkey’s border into rebel-held Syria at the Bab Al Hawa crossing is the only way UN assistance can reach civilians without navigating areas controlled by Syrian government forces.

The mechanism — in place since 2014 and which was due to expire on Tuesday — was last renewed in July, also for only six months at the insistence of Syria’s ally Russia.

Lifeline

The Bab Al Hawa crossing – where everything from nappies and blankets to chickpeas pass through — provides more than 80 per cent of the needs of people living in rebel-controlled areas.

Moscow has, for years, pressured international organisations to pass exclusively through regions under the control of Damascus to distribute aid throughout the country - going as far as vetoing cross-border extensions that exceeded six months.

The United States, France and others said they had wanted the mechanism extended for one year.

“The debate we need to have is how to strengthen the mechanism to reach more people with more assistance,” said US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, describing the resolution as “the bare minimum.”

The debate we need to have is how to strengthen the mechanism to reach more people with more assistance.”

Linda ThomasG-reenfield | US ambassador