The credit can be given to Bashar al-Assad in Syria for Allow the un to open new Crossings and give An impression that he finally fired the shots on Land under opposition, him critics He said.
Convoy of Eleven trucks from a United Nations agency crossed into northern Syria from Turkey on Tuesday, just hours After the United Nations and Syria government Reached an agreement to temporarily delegate the two new Border crossings into the opposition-held enclave, which was destroyed by the Israeli army region’s deadly Earthquake.
Syrian officials in Damascus said decisionSeven days after the magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes struck, killing thousands, shows their commitment supporting victims on Both sides of front line. increasing flow of help It was much needed however price.
The United Nations is usually allowed to deliver aid from Turkey to northwest Syria – A area already Destroyed by 12 years of Conflict – only through one Bab al-Hawa crossing.
The renewal of this authorization is a regular battle At the Security Council, where Assad’s ally Russia defended for All aid will be channeled through Damascus.
Delay in Opening new The crossings stop immediate relief operations and search and rescue efforts at “the time.” for Effective search and rescue is being tragically out, the International Rescue Committee said in a permit.
Asked why so took For a long time to increase help access To the northwest, Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Bassam al-Sabbagh, told reporters, “Why are you asking me? We don’t control these borders.”
the move By Damascus to open additional border crossings a week after the earthquake more More political than humanitarian, said Joseph Daher, a Swiss-Syrian researcher W.L professor at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy.
“that it way for The regime is reaffirming its sovereignty and centrality, exploiting this tragedy for his own political purposes.”
before the deal with Damascus, the defenders were pressing on for Security Council to vote to open it permanently more Border crossings to deliver aid – a move Russia will almost certainly veto it.
Russian opposition
Others argue that a Security Council resolution is not needed for United Nations to send aid across the border in emergency. Daher pointed out out The United Nations has airdropped aid into Syria city of Deir Ezzor when it was besieged by ISIS militants.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday issued a statement condemning attempts to “push through” permanent expansion of authorized crossings.
She said that Western countries “continue to strangle” Syria with The penalties he said about caused Fuel crisis and import ban of Vital commodities and equipment. “
The United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union imposed sanctions on Assad opposes passing aid to the northwest through his government, believing it will divert aid to its supporters.
A US State Department spokesman told the Associated Press on Tuesday that Washington would press for A UN resolution authorizing additional crossings such as soon like possible. United State last The Week issued a license to allow Earthquake relief to bypass sanctions.
The United Kingdom welcomed the temporary opening of new Crossing over, but he said, “Enough access Needs insurance in The tallest term. “
When the earthquake hitthe United Nations could not immediately access Bab al-Hawa because of Infrastructure destroyed, leaving the shattered enclave without significant aid for 72 hours.
A civilian in northwestern Syria defense organizationthe White Helmets, said the delay in Aid and the United Nations failure to take such unconventional measures first some days cost live, as they struggled with Limited equipment And manpower to save thousands of people trapped under the rubble.
The UN tried to send a shipment of Aid to opposition-held Idlib via government- I kept Earth Sunday, however shipment After Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham refused to accept aid coming from Assad-controlled areas.
That confrontation wasgood politically… for “The opposition is allowed,” Daher said, to say, “I don’t cooperate.” with system ‘f for The system should say: “Look, we tried to send help.”
political advantage
Meanwhile, cargo planes were being loaded with Aid has arrived government- Occupied territories, including from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt – countries who once shunned Assad and is slowly reviving relations in Last few years.
Approval of additional temporary crossings for the political benefit of al-Assad, says Charles Lister, Director of Syria program Think at the Washington-based Middle East Institute.
the decision “He goes against Whatever the regime has publicly stopped for the past More than 10 years when it comes to cross-border aid,” Lister said, referring to attempts by Syria and Russia to end the UN’s cross-border aid mechanism.
but with The Syrian deal government “He knows he has proven to world The United Nations is not prepared to do anything in Syria without the permission of the regime.
Sarya Al-Akkad Partnerships and Advocacy manager with Ataa Association for Humanitarian Relief, which works in The Turkish and northwestern Syria said that the Syrians like He now feels that their advocacy for the United Nations is pointless. “we should maybe go back For the lion we are should Discusses the with the person who people killed him how he can support the people in Northwestern Syria.
Lester said current The crisis allowed Assad to “be fed international community to normalization”, although it does not expect a total end of his policy isolation Without major shifts from Washington and London.
Syrian officials have urged the United Nations to fund reconstruction, and Lister believes this, in In addition to lifting of Western sanctions are what Damascus hopes to obtain.
Temporary authorization ends in Three months, about the time it takes to negotiate place before the UN Security Council meeting in july to review cross border resolution. Lester believes that the lion agreement with The United Nations can allow him to ask for more in Back in exchange for Allowing the resolution to proceed without a Russian veto.
“I think what we saw frankly yesterday is the UN politicizing the delivery of aid by going to the regime to secure it access To a border crossing over which they have no control, he said: “It puts all its eggs in the system’s basket.”
