The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday failed to pass two rival resolutions to expand cross-border aid deliveries from Turkey to northern Syria, effectively cutting off a vital lifeline to some 4.1 million people in opposition-held areas.
Russia vetoed a bid by Brazil and Switzerland to extend one resolution for nine months, a compromise of an initial 12-month extension called for by the United Nations and international aid agencies. A second resolution by Russia for a six-month extension failed after Britain, France and the United States voted against and failed to reach the required quorum, with 10 Council members abstaining. Russia and China voted in favour.
Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, told the Council that the aid would go to “terrorists” and that the cross-border mechanism was a “show”.
“If our draft is not supported, we can just go ahead and close the cross-border mechanism,” said Mr Nebenzia.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said the failure to pass both resolutions had been a “sad moment” and that Russia had behaved like “a playground bully: my way or the highway” .
She said the United States was determined to re-authorize cross-border aid deliveries, but that it “could not in good conscience support the text that Russia has forced upon this Council”.
“Russia’s resolution failed to ensure that aid would continue to reach the Syrian people during the cold winter months,” Ms Thomas-Greenfield added.
Negotiations continued behind closed doors to find a way forward, diplomats said, but the Russian ambassador doubted that a compromise could be reached, indicating that Russia would not agree to a straight extension without any language about easing the sanctions for Syria.
The UN relief operation from a border crossing in Turkey known as Bab al-Hawa was authorized by the Security Council in 2014 to send food, medicine and other life-saving aid to Syrians living in opposition-controlled areas.
The deadline for extending the relief operation expired on Monday, and without a mandate from the Security Council or permission from the Syrian government, the United Nations cannot legally cross an international border.
However, the United Nations said relief supplies would continue through Turkey’s Bab Al-Salam and Al-Ra’ee border crossings, which had been opened with permission from the Syrian government after the February earthquake. These two crossings have been extended until August 13.
But about 85 percent of UN aid is delivered through the Bab al-Hawa crossing, the world body said on Tuesday, and it could not match that number through the other two border crossings.
Supplies have already been positioned in northern Syria, and although convoys are crossing government checkpoints in Syria, they are not enough, the United Nations said.
International aid agencies and Human Rights Watch condemned Russia for vetoing the resolution and called on diplomats to immediately regroup and reach a compromise.
“The failure of the Security Council to re-approve UN cross-border aid to northwestern Syria today will only add to the fear and uncertainty already endured by Syrians living there,” said six international aid agencies, including CARE International. and International Rescue Committee, in a joint statement. rack.
“Council members should be guided by humanitarian needs rather than politics.”
