IDLIB: The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General has called on the Security Council to vote in favor of extending the opening of a crucial border crossing between Turkiye and Syria’s rebel-held northwest for a period of one year instead of six months, according to a UN official on Tuesday.
Idlib, a northwestern province in Syria, is home to approximately 4 million people, many of whom have been displaced during the 12-year civil war that has claimed the lives of nearly half a million people. Hundreds of thousands of residents rely on aid that is delivered through the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing.
The Security Council is expected to vote in the coming days as the six-month opening period expires on July 10.
The situation in Idlib has worsened following the earthquake that struck southern Turkiye and northern Syria on February 6. The earthquake resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, leaving many more homeless and in dire need of aid.
Russia’s Crucial Support for Syria
In the past, Russia, the major supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, has either vetoed or abstained from resolutions regarding cross-border aid supplies. Russia has been pushing for aid to be redirected from the Turkish border to Idlib province through convoys from government-held areas in Syria. Throughout the Syrian war, Turkiye has supported and sided with the rebels.
Initially authorized in 2014, the Security Council allowed aid deliveries from Turkiye, Iraq, and Jordan through four crossing points into opposition-held areas in Syria. Over time, Russia, with support from its ally China, has gradually reduced the authorized crossings to just one from Turkiye, and the time frame from one year to six months.
David Carden, the UN’s Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria crisis, emphasized the need for a 12-month renewal to enable the implementation of early recovery projects such as durable shelters. He explained that transitioning people from tents to durable shelters would provide better living conditions, offering cooling in the summer and warmth in the winter, as well as increased privacy for families.
According to the UN, the February earthquake caused over 4,500 fatalities in northwestern Syria, and approximately 855,000 people had their homes damaged or destroyed.
Following the earthquake, two additional border crossings between Turkiye and Syria were temporarily opened initially for three months. In May, their opening was extended for another three months to facilitate the continuous flow of aid.
