July 09,2022:Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended cross-border aid to Syria by one year without Damascus’s backing.
The authorisation for aid deliveries across the Syria-Turkey border at Bab al-Hawa, which has been in effect since 2014, is set to expire on Sunday. The aid is a lifeline for more than 2.4 million people in the northwestern Idlib region of Syria, under the control of rebels.
Thirteen of the 15 council members voted in favour of the text.
China, which often votes the same way as Russia, chose to abstain, while Russia’s preferred option of a six-month extension with the option of another six months is opposed by other states.
The opposing members believe Russia’s proposal creates significant organisational challenges for NGOs on the front line. The vote had been set for Thursday but was scrapped following disagreement between Russia and the West.
