Russia today vetoed in the UN Security Council a proposal submitted by Norway and Ireland to extend for a year the transfer of humanitarian aid to Syria through a border crossing, without the agreement of Damascus.
Moscow had counter-proposed a shorter extension of six months.
This program ends on Sunday. It had been in force since 2014 and provided for the transfer of humanitarian aid from the Bab al-Hawa border crossing on the Syria-Turkey border to more than 2.4 million people living in Idlib province, which is controlled by jihadist groups and rebels.
13 of the 15 Security Council countries voted in favor of the extension. China, which has often followed Russia’s example, chose to abstain this time.
“The plan defied the sovereignty of Damascus,” explained Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky, denouncing the “intransigence” of Western countries and recalling that Moscow had tabled its own proposal for a six-month extension. This proposal was immediately put to a vote but was voted down: the US, France and Britain voted no, the ten non-permanent members abstained, and only Russia and China voted in favor. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield argued that six months is “insufficient time” to send “serious aid” to the population.
The Security Council still has until Sunday night, perhaps even Monday, to find a solution to the problem.
In recent years, Moscow has repeatedly used its right of veto at the UN on resolutions concerning Syria. Today’s was the 17th veto he has exercised since the war in that country began in 2011. For several weeks, dozens of non-governmental organizations and many UN officials have been urging SA member countries to approve the transfer of humanitarian aid for a period of one year.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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