The United Nations has criticized the conditions set by Syria for allowing aid to reach rebel-held territory in north-west Syria. Syria’s ambassador to the UN announced that aid would be permitted to enter the country through the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey. However, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that the proposal contained two unacceptable conditions. Firstly, the Syrian government insisted that the UN should not communicate with entities designated as ‘terrorist’. Secondly, Damascus wanted the distribution of aid to be supervised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), despite their absence in the area. The UN described the offer as a potential basis for conducting cross-border humanitarian operations, but expressed concerns that the Syrian government could control the distribution of aid and prevent it from reaching opposition-held areas. The Bab al-Hawa crossing has become even more crucial since a devastating earthquake struck the region in February, displacing thousands of families. Despite the impasse over Bab al-Hawa, the UN can still use two additional aid crossings until 13 August.
How does the Syrian government’s insistence on not having any contact with designated ‘terrorist’ entities affect the UN’s ability to provide aid to rebel-held areas in northwest Syria?
The United Nations has slammed the conditions set by Syria for allowing aid to reach rebel-held areas in northwest Syria. Syria’s ambassador to the UN announced that aid would be allowed through the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey. However, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has criticized the proposal, highlighting two major concerns. Firstly, the Syrian government insists that the UN should not have any contact with designated ‘terrorist’ entities. Secondly, Damascus wants aid distribution to be supervised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), even though they are not present in the area. While the UN sees potential in the offer to conduct cross-border humanitarian operations, it is worried that the Syrian government might control aid distribution and prevent it from reaching opposition-held territories. The Bab al-Hawa crossing has become even more vital since a devastating earthquake hit the region in February, displacing thousands of families. While an agreement on Bab al-Hawa is yet to be reached, the UN can still make use of two other aid crossings until August 13th.
