The United Nations expressed concerns, yesterday, regarding a message it received from Syria allowing the resumption of using a border crossing to deliver aid to northwest Syria from Turkey after the UN Security Council's mandate to use the crossing expired on Monday. In a note to the Security Council reviewed by Reuters, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) objected to "two unacceptable conditions" in response to the message sent by Syria on Thursday, which outlined its approval for the UN process.
However, the office stated that "permission from the Syrian government could provide a legal basis for the UN to conduct cross-border humanitarian operations through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for the specified duration." The UN has not used the Bab al-Hawa crossing since the Security Council's mandate ended on Monday, and a Security Council authorization is necessary because the Syrian government did not previously approve the UN operation providing aid to millions in northwest Syria since 2014.
On Thursday, the Syrian government agreed for the UN to use the Bab al-Hawa crossing for another six months but with several conditions. The office noted: "First, the Syrian government stressed that the UN should not communicate with entities classified as terrorist... and the UN and its implementing partners must continue to engage with relevant parties from both state and non-state actors as required by the process." It added that "such engagement is essential for timely and safe access to civilians in need and complies with international humanitarian law."
The office clarified that "the Syrian government's request for the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to oversee and facilitate the distribution of humanitarian aid in northwest Syria is inconsistent with UN independence and impractical, as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are not present in that area."
In its message, Syria explained that aid delivery must occur in full cooperation and coordination with the Syrian government. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted it "will need to communicate to clarify any additional procedures for delivering humanitarian aid in northwest Syria."
Syrians who fled President Bashar al-Assad's rule fear that Assad will soon be able to impede the flow of much-needed aid as Damascus seeks to exert its influence over UN assistance in the northwest, the last major stronghold of the Syrian armed opposition. The 15-member UN Security Council was unable to reach an agreement on Tuesday to renew the operation's mandate after Russia vetoed the proposed nine-month extension. Russia also failed to secure approval for its own proposal to extend the operation for six months.
UN spokesperson Stefan Dujarric stated: "We have stored a lot of supplies in the region (northwest Syria) before the deadline. So we already have humanitarian aid, but it is clear that we want things to move as quickly as possible."
