Syria allows UN to use humanitarian corridor to northwest

On July 13, the Syrian government announced that the United Nations (UN) can use the border crossing from Turkey to continue providing aid to northwestern Syria for another 6 months after the UN Security Council (UNSC) did not extend its authorization for this operation.

Syria cho phép LHQ sử dụng hàng lang nhân đạo tới vùng Tây Bắc

A UN aid convoy enters northwestern Syria through the Bab el-Hawa border crossing between Syria and Türkiye, February 9, 2023. (Source: AFP)

In a letter to the Security Council on July 13, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bassam Sabbagh stressed that the provision of UN aid would have to be "in full cooperation and coordination with the Syrian Government".

The letter reads: "The Government of the Syrian Arab Republic has taken a sovereign decision to allow the United Nations and its specialized agencies to use the Bab al-Hawa crossing."

A UN-brokered deal to allow aid deliveries from Türkiye to opposition-held northwestern Syria expired on July 10.

As the Syrian government had previously not supported this humanitarian operation, UNSC authorization was necessary for the relief operation to continue.

However, on July 11, the Security Council failed to reach a consensus on extending the above agreement.

Source