UN Restarts Cross-border Aid To Syria But Shuts Access Point
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published July 12, 2020 | 08:00 AM
United Nations, United States, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2020 ) :The UN Security Council passed a resolution to restart cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria, but only after caving to Russian pressure to close one of two access points into the war-torn country.
Following a week of division and seven ballots, the Security Council passed a proposal submitted by Germany and Belgium allowing the use of the Bab al-Hawa crossing point for one year.
The measure was approved by 12 of 15 members, with Russia, China and the Dominican Republic abstaining, diplomats said.
Authorization for the continued transport of aid to Syria, a system in place since 2014, expired Friday night after Moscow and Beijing used their veto power and the Council then rejected a counter-proposal from Russia.
With the approval of the German-Belgian proposal on Saturday, the Bab al-Hawa crossing point on Syria's northwestern border with Turkey will be maintained for a year, until July 10, 2021.
This will allow badly needed humanitarian aid to continue flowing to several million Syrians living in the insurgent region of Idlib, which the Syrian regime does not control.
For weeks, Russia, Syria's most important ally, has been demanding an end to the use of the Bab al-Salam border crossing, which leads to the Aleppo region in northern Syria.
European countries and the US had wanted to maintain both crossing points.
"Russia controls this process," said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group think tank.
"The drama and vetoes of the last week were a distraction as ultimately Russia was always going to force a settlement on roughly the terms we see today," he told AFP.
The outcome of Saturday's vote is a notable failure for the United States, whose ambassador had called the maintenance of two border crossings a "red line." UN authorization allows the international body to distribute aid to displaced Syrians without Damascus's permission.
But Russia and China argue that the authorization violates Syria's sovereignty, and that aid can increasingly be channeled through Syrian authorities.
- 'Lifesaving assistance' - Western member states reject Russia's arguments, saying there is no credible alternative to the cross-border system and that Syrian bureaucracy and politics prevent an effective flow of aid in areas not controlled by the Syrian regime.
Susannah Sirkin, of Physicians for Human Rights, called the UN system "the most viable channel to deliver aid to millions of Syrians in need." "Without it, civilians who rely on lifesaving assistance will be at the mercy of the Syrian government," which could block aid deliveries to areas under opposition control, she said.
The closure of the Bab al-Salam crossing was also a setback for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called in June for a one-year extension of the aid to include the two access points.
In January, Moscow succeeded in having the crossing points reduced from four to two and in limiting the authorization to six months instead of a year.
This week Russia and China exercised their veto rights as permanent members twice -- on Tuesday and Friday -- even as NGOs and Western countries accused them of politicizing a humanitarian issue.
Friday's vetoes by Moscow and Beijing marked the 16th for Russia and 10th for China on texts linked to Syria since the war began in 2011.
Dominican Ambassador Jose Singer said, "We are disappointed that once again, the Security Council has been unable to collectively and constructively address one of the greatest humanitarian tragedies of our time."But the German ambassador, Heiko Maas, said it was "good news for millions of Syrian men, women and children that the Security Council was ultimately able to agree on our compromise proposal."prh/acb/dw
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Pakistan marks World Press Freedom Day
High-level Saudi business delegation due on May 5
Stocks heat up as US labour market cools
President approves Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024
Implementation of merit, justice to oppressed segments top priorities: CPO
Overseas Kashmir community delegation calls on AJK President, discusses latest s ..
Govt believes in freedom of press: Amir Muqam
Labour urges UK election after Tory losses
Health authorities asked for action against alleged illegal tenders at Services ..
Spain scraps national bullfighting prize sparking debate
Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan visits Rawalpindi ..
ATC extends interim bail of PTI founder in 3 cases
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
17 hours ago -
Experts for ending child labour
3 days ago -
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
3 days ago -
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
5 days ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
6 days ago -
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
6 days ago
-
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
6 days ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
8 days ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
8 days ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
10 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
12 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
12 days ago