The American Coalition for Syria is disappointed that the United Nations Security Council has once again acquiesced to Russia’s shameless undermining of international humanitarian law by only agreeing to a six-month extension of a resolution authorizing humanitarian deliveries into northern Syria. The Council had originally sought an extension of the resolution for a year but yielded to Russian obstructionism. The piecemeal method, which sees the United Nations Security Council debating the crossing every 6 months, leaves the lives of millions of Syrians hanging in the balance multiple times each year. Proposed cross-line aid solutions which would deliver aid from inside Syria are woefully insufficient, given the Assad regime, backed by Russia, continues to weaponize aid, a war crime under the Rome statute. Bab al-Hawa, on the border with Turkey, is the last remaining border crossing since the closure of the Bab al-Salam, Al Yaroubiyah, and Al Ramtha crossings thanks to Russia’s actions.
“At a time when the United Nations has unequivocally stood up to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, it unfathomably continues to give Russia a free hand in Syria. Allowing Russia to dictate how, when, and where aid to millions of Syrians can get into areas that are not under regime control is incredibly harmful. The double standards of the international community when it comes to Syria need to stop. If we can get assistance into Ukraine, then we can get it into Syria,” said Mirna Barq, spokesperson for the American Coalition for Syria.
