The United Nations announced on Monday that Syria has extended the permission for the UN to deliver aid to opposition-controlled areas in the northwest of the country through two Turkish border crossings for another three months. Following an earthquake that killed over 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria last February, Damascus initially allowed the UN to send aid through the crossings for three months, which has now been extended for the third time until February 13.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated, "The UN cross-border operation remains a lifeline for people in northwest Syria. The UN and its partners provide much-needed aid and protection services to an average of 2.5 million people each month." The Syrian mission to the UN in New York confirmed the extension of the UN's use of the Bab al-Salam and al-Rai crossings.
The UN has also been utilizing the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey to deliver aid to millions in northwest Syria since 2014 under a mandate from the Security Council. However, this mandate expired in mid-July due to the council's inability to reach an agreement to extend it. A few days later, the Syrian government stated that the UN could resume using the Bab al-Hawa crossing for another six months.
The UN reported that over 4,200 aid trucks have used the Bab al-Hawa, Bab al-Salam, and al-Rai border crossings so far this year.
