Russia, China Question Need for Aid Operations from Turkey to Northwest Syria 

The U.N. secretary-general personally appealed to the Security Council on Wednesday to extend vital cross-border aid from Turkey into northwest Syria for another year, saying not to do so “would have devastating consequences.”

“Despite the U.N.’s massive response in Syria and across the region, more humanitarian access is required to reach those most in need,” Antonio Guterres told the 15-nation council by video from Brussels. “That is why I have been clearly expressing how important it is to maintain and expand access, including cross-border and cross-line operations.” The council must decide by July 10 whether to renew the Bab al-Hawa crossing point from Turkey, which gives the U.N. and its partners access to about 3.4 million people in northwest Syria. The areas served by the operation assist people in parts of Syria outside government control. Without it, millions would be left without food aid, medical supplies and COVID-19 vaccines. Russia has expressed a desire to shutter the seven-year-old cross-border aid operation completely. In the past two years, it has succeeded in pressuring the council to gradually close three other crossing points under the threat of Moscow’s veto forcing the closure of them all.