The Security Council adopted a compromise resolution on Friday granting UN authorization to use the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for the delivery of humanitarian aid for 12 months.
The Council demanded full and immediate implementation of all its previous relevant resolutions, called upon member states to respond with practical steps to address the urgent needs of Syria’s people, and requested the Secretary-General to brief members monthly and provide regular reports. It further requested the Secretary-General to include, in his reports, overall trends in United Nations cross-line operations as well as detailed information on humanitarian assistance.
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said millions of Syrian civilians can breathe a sigh of relief and parents can sleep tonight, knowing that, for the next 12 months, their children will be fed.
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia commented as “It demonstrates that we can cooperate when there is a need and when there is a will, as well.”
Ankara welcomed the decision to extend the delivery of humanitarian aid and reiterated its strong support to address the humanitarian crisis inside Syria as well as preservation of the ceasefire and advancement of the political process.
Several delegates, however, reflected concerns over the resolution’s contents and claimed it does not go far enough to address the vast humanitarian crisis still spiralling across Syria.
Thomas-Greenfield addresses these concerns by stating Friday’s agreement was still a “success” because although they wanted more, they did not obtain less.
