On Monday, the approval from the UN Security Council for delivering aid from Turkey to millions of people in opposition-controlled areas of Syria expired, as council members struggle to persuade Russia to extend the vast UN operation for more than six months.
The 15-member Security Council was negotiating a text drafted by Switzerland and Brazil to allow the UN operation to continue using the Bab al-Hawa crossing for 12 months. However, Russia presented a competing text on Friday proposing only six months.
Diplomats expressed hope that the council could reach an agreement on a text and vote on it today, Tuesday. To adopt the resolution, at least nine members must vote in favor without Russia, China, the United States, France, or the United Kingdom using their veto power.
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council last month, "A 12-month authorization allows us and our partners to achieve better humanitarian outcomes in the coming months. It's that simple."
Griffiths added that the UN's appeal to raise $5.4 billion to assist Syria in 2023 is the largest in the world, but the international organization has received less than 12 percent of this amount.
Russia asserts that the UN aid operation violates Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It calls for more aid to be delivered from within Syria, raising concerns among the opposition that food and other assistance will come under government control.
The Security Council initially authorized aid deliveries in 2014 to opposition-controlled areas in Syria from Iraq, Jordan, and two points in Turkey. However, Russia and China reduced that to just one point on the border with Turkey.
The mandate for the operation has previously expired in 2022 and 2020 before being renewed a day later.
