UNSC Adopts Resolution To Continue Cross-Border Aid Deliveries To Syria Via One Crossing
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published July 12, 2020 | 03:30 AM
UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th July, 2020) The UN Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a resolution to extend the work of one Syria-Turkey cross-border point for one year in order to ensure humanitarian aid deliveries to Syria, German Ambassador to the United Nations Christoph Heusgen has announced.
"Twelve members of the Security Council voted for the resolution ... the resolution submitted by Belgium and Germany has been adopted," Heusgen said on Saturday. Russia, China and the Dominican Republic abstained from the vote.
On Friday, the UN mandates for the Bab al-Hawa and Bab al-Salam crossings from Turkey expired. Belgium and Germany initially insisted that the mandates for both of the crossings be extended, but then agreed with Russia's position to continue the work of the Bab al-Hawa crossing alone (until July 10, 2021).
On Tuesday, Russia and China vetoed a draft submitted by Belgium and Germany that would have extended humanitarian deliveries into Syria from Turkey for a year through both of the checkpoints. On Friday, the UNSC was unable to adopt a resolution drafted by Russia that would have extended cross-border humanitarian aid deliveries into northwestern Syria for a year through only the Bab al-Hawa checkpoint in Turkey.
Russia had been seeking to limit the number of cross-border aid deliveries into Syria to just one checkpoint, Bab al-Hawa, which is used for about 90 percent of UN deliveries to northwestern Syria. The Russian position is that the cross-border aid delivery mechanism was a temporary and urgent measure initiated in 2014 and that the current situation in Syria, where government forces have regained control over most of the territories, no longer requires the work of so many cross-border checkpoints, which threaten Syrian sovereignty.
Syria and Russia have stated that humanitarian aid should now be managed via Damascus.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas welcomed the adoption of the new UNSC resolution on Saturday, saying that Germany wanted to preserve a larger number of checkpoints but eventually agreed to a compromise in order to keep the current humanitarian aid mechanism alive. According to Maas, Germany plans to allocate 1.6 million Euros ($1.8 million) in aid for Syria and neighboring countries this year.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From World
-
Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
4 minutes ago -
IMF calls on EU to deepen single market integration to boost growth
4 minutes ago -
Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
4 minutes ago -
Oil, gas drilling blocked in Alaska wilds as Biden seeks green cred
54 minutes ago -
Man sets self on fire outside Trump trial
54 minutes ago -
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
2 hours ago
-
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
2 hours ago -
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
2 hours ago -
Ecuador mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
3 hours ago -
Croatia top court bars president from becoming next PM
3 hours ago -
Lacking storm drains, Dubai sees persistent flooding
3 hours ago -
West Bank villagers vigilant but vulnerable after settler attacks
3 hours ago