Status: 07/12/2022 3:58 p.m
The UN mandate for international aid deliveries to Syria has been extended by six months. After days of argument, the members of the Security Council agreed on a proposal from Russia.
The UN Security Council has extended the mechanism for international aid deliveries to Syria by six months. After days of argument, the UN body finally followed a proposal from Russia. The United States, Britain and France abstained.
The Western members of the Security Council had called for an extension of one year, primarily to give the aid organizations planning security. Part of the resolution that has now been passed is also an option to extend the mandate by a further six months after six months have elapsed.
A first round of voting on Friday was unsuccessful: the Russian proposal for an extension of six months was rejected. Russia, on the other hand, vetoed the western one-year plan. As a result, the mandate for the aid mechanism expired temporarily on Sunday.
Goods can only be delivered via a post
Thanks to the decision, humanitarian aid deliveries from Turkey to Idlib via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing are possible until January 10, 2023. In the last Syrian rebel bastion, around 4.1 million people are dependent on help.
Russia, which supports Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, has repeatedly signaled that it wants to close this border crossing – aid supplies would then be received and distributed by the Syrian regime. However, opposition groups warn that authorities in Damascus could use this as leverage against residents of Idlib.
Russia intervened militarily in the Syrian war in 2015. As a result, the tide turned in favor of the Syrian ruler, whose troops were able to retake a number of areas.