Russia, UN major donors disagree on cross-border aid to Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The US, Britain and France held on Monday Russia the Syrian government responsible for starving millions in Syria by refusing to independently extend the mandate for aid delivery, while Moscow insists that the aid delivery mechanism be in coordination with the Syrian government.
At a UN Security Council Briefing on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria, US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Linda Thomas-Greenfield said “Russia continues to wage war on the world’s food supply, which is having devastating consequences, especially for people in Syria.”
“The Assad regime’s announcement to allow UN aid deliveries through Bab al-Hawa acknowledges the need for cross-border assistance. But it includes unacceptable restrictions – restrictions that would hinder relief and put humanitarians, including UN personnel, at risk,” she noted.
Greenfield rejected the “unacceptable conditions” and demands imposed by Damascus regarding the transit mechanism, calling for the independence of operations and dealing with all parties on the ground.
The ambassador stressed the need for the UN to continue operating the response hubs outside the government-held areas without the government’s interference in the access arrangements between the UN and the local authorities in non-government areas, as well as granting access as long as possible.
For her part, the British permanent representative to the UN Barbara Woodward said that despite Damascus’ announcement that “although Syria says they have given the UN permission, the conditions that Assad has set out make it unsafe to do so.”
“Indeed, the UN has been clear that the conditions Syria has set out are inoperable and unworkable,” Woodward added.
She stressed that the “facts on the ground” simply do not support the claims of Russia and Syria that they are driven purely by humanitarian considerations.
The British representative indicated that her country encourages the resumption of the Constitutional Committee talks in Geneva without further delay or excuses.
While the French permanent representative to the UN Nicolas de Riviere said in the briefing that “A return to stability, in Syria and in the region, will only be possible through a solution that meets the aspirations of all Syrians.”
De Riviere stressed that there will be no “normalization, reconstruction or lifting of sanctions without a political transition within the framework of the Resolution 2254.”
Referring to the Russian role, the French representative said that “Russia at the same time put an end to the mandate given to the UN to engage in early recovery activities.”
He affirmed his country’s full support for the mediation led by Geir Pedersen, and called on all players to support his step by step approach.
While Russia was criticized for supporting the Syrian government in imposing its policies on humanitarian affairs. Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Dmitry Polyansky made clear that the delivery of aid through Bab al-Hawa must be carried out “with the consent and in close coordination with the internationally recognized government of the country.”
He stressed that his country is pleased that international humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people will be carried out in the same manner as in any other country
The Syrian government demands that the aid delivery mechanism must be in coordination with it through its agency represented by the Syrian Red Crescent and the Red Cross. This was stated in a communication addressed to the United Nations on July 13 days after the failure to extend the mandate.
Polyansky rejected Western countries’ attempts to interfere with these processes and said his country has consistently advocated for a Syrian-led and ‑owned political settlement in accordance with Council resolution 2254 (2015).
On July 11, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council compromise resolution that would have extended aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, which connects Turkey and opposition-held northwest Syria, for nine months.