Warnings increase amid fears of closing last aid lifeline in Syria
International and UN organizations press for maintaining the flow of humanitarian aid to northwest Syria through Bab al-Hawa crossing, in light of fears of a humanitarian catastrophe in case the mandate for cross-border aid was not renewed.
ALEPPO, Syria — Doctors Without Borders (MSF) recently called on the United Nations Security Council member states to renew the mechanism for the provision of humanitarian aid into Syria via the Turkish al-Yarubiyah border crossing, which is located on the opposite side of Bab al-Hawa crossing in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib. The UN resolution on cross-border aid into Syria expires July 10.
MSF said in a press release June 19, “More than 4 million people in northwest Syria will lose access to desperately needed medical and humanitarian aid if the United Nations Security Council fails to renew its mandate for cross-border aid by July 10.”
“If this lifeline is cut off, we would see more deaths,” MSF field coordinator for Syria Abdulrahman M. said in the statement, adding, “If the flow of medical supplies stops through Bab al-Hawa, we might lose our ability to treat patients, as our current stock can only last three months. And if the supply of food and potable water is reduced, diseases and epidemics would affect the internally displaced people and local population.”
The statement continues, “The COVID-19 response and vaccination campaign in the area would be jeopardized by the closure of the last remaining border crossing point, including the flow of personal protective equipment, oxygen tanks, respirators, essential medications and COVID-19 vaccines.”
