“Syria Extends Humanitarian Aid Access to Earthquake-Affected Areas Through Turkey Checkpoints”

Syria has extended for three months permission to access humanitarian aid coming through Turkey to earthquake-affected areas. Eri Kaneko, spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told AFP.

The UN is allowed to continue to use the Al-Rai and Bab al-Salam checkpoints (checkpoints), Ms. Kaneko said, citing a statement by the Syrian Foreign Minister. AFP recalls that Damascus gave the green light to the use of these checkpoints under international pressure, the permit expired today, May 13th. Amnesty International has previously said that the lives of 4 million people depend on the humanitarian aid that comes through these checkpoints.

Syria was hit by an earthquake in Turkey on February 6, which killed more than 55,000 people in both countries. The United Nations estimates that Syria needs almost $15 billion to rebuild, and the total cost of damage is almost $9 billion.

Maria Fedotova