U.N. approves aid to Syria’s rebel area

The U.N. Security Council approved a resolution Saturday authorizing humanitarian aid deliveries to Syria’s mainly rebel-held northwest from Turkey through just one crossing point, a victory for Russia in cutting another crossing that the U.N. and aid groups have called critical.

Russia, Syria’s most important ally, argued that aid should be delivered from within the country across conflict lines and just one crossing point is needed.

The U.N. and humanitarian groups argued unsuccessfully — along with the vast majority of the U.N. Security Council — that two crossing points were essential to get aid to the 2.8 million needy people in the northwest, especially with the first case of COVID-19 recently reported in the region.

The vote was 12-0, with Russia, China and the Dominican Republic abstaining — Russia most likely because two amendments it proposed were rejected.