Syria has extended a permit for the United Nations to send aid through two Turkish border crossings for an additional three months, coinciding with the expiration of a U.S. exemption today that allowed certain transactions related to humanitarian aid following a devastating earthquake. Eri Kaneko, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, stated today, "We warmly welcome the Syrian government's extension of the use of the Bab al-Salam and al-Rai crossings until November 13."
The spokesperson added that the current permits for the United Nations and non-governmental organizations, as well as permits for humanitarian aid to Syria, allow for the delivery of assistance to Syrians, including disaster relief, even after the expiration of the earthquake-related permit.
The spokesperson further reported that Syria has extended its allowance for the delivery of UN humanitarian aid through the two Turkish border crossings until November 13. Kaneko stated, "We warmly welcome the Syrian government's extension of the use of the Bab al-Salam and al-Rai crossings."
After an earthquake claimed over 50,000 lives in Turkey and Syria in February, Syria permitted the UN to use these border crossings for sending aid from Turkey. The initial allowance was set to expire on August 13. Meanwhile, the UN has used the Bab al-Hawa crossing to deliver aid from Turkey to millions in northwestern Syria since 2014 under a mandate from the UN Security Council, but this mandate expired in mid-July after the 15-member council failed to reach an agreement for an extension. Syria has not imposed the same conditions on the UN's use of the Bab al-Salam and al-Rai border crossings.
