The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote today on a resolution to extend cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria. The current mandate for this aid is set to expire on July 10th, and there is increasing concern that failure to renew it could result in a dire humanitarian situation for millions of Syrians. The resolution, proposed by Belgium and Germany, seeks to extend the aid for another year via two border crossings – Bab al-Salam in the north and Al-Ramtha in the south.
Russia has proposed a rival resolution that would only allow aid to be delivered through one crossing at Bab al-Hawa, which is currently the only crossing in operation. Russia argues that the other crossings are not needed and that the mandate for them should not be renewed.
Humanitarian organizations have warned that limiting aid to just one crossing would severely hamper their ability to reach millions of Syrians in need. They stress the importance of maintaining multiple access points to ensure that aid can reach all parts of the country.
The vote is expected to be a contentious one, with Russia likely to use its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to block the extension of aid through multiple crossings. If the resolution is not passed, it could have devastating consequences for the millions of Syrians who rely on this aid for their survival.
