Agreement at the Security Council to extend the mechanism of cross-border aid delivery to Syria

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported yesterday, Monday, that the UN Security Council has agreed to extend the mechanism of UN aid delivery through Bab al-Hawa crossing on the border with Turkey for 6 months.

This decision comes after the UN Security Council held a consultation session on the authorization of aid delivery mechanism to Syria, through Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Syrian-Turkish border.

The Syria TV agency cited diplomatic sources as saying the Security Council will extend the resolution after six months with a new vote.

The Turkish “Anadolu” agency quoted diplomatic sources at the United Nations as saying: “some modifications introduced to the joint Irish-Norwegian draft resolution on the extension of the UN authorization for a year which Russia vetoed it on Friday.”

UN and relief organizations had previously warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe” as Russia vetoed the UN Security Council resolution that would have extended cross-border aid delivery to northwestern Syria.

The aid delivery is urgent, with Syria’s humanitarian needs have reached their highest levels since 2011, according to the United Nations.