Daily Times

In Syria´s opposition-held enclave, a new kind of panic is setting in. Already living in fear of frequent government attacks, the nearly 3 million people crowded into the country´s northwest corner now risk losing vital aid as Russian moves at the U.N. threaten to shut down border crossings with Turkey.

At the Security Council, Russia is seeking to stop deliveries through one of two border crossings used for U.N. aid. Residents and aid groups say even a partial shut down may cost lives and will increase poverty, disease and unrest in the opposition-held parts of Idlib and Aleppo provinces.

“We would have a true humanitarian crisis with increased murders and theft, as well as hunger that kills,” said Ghidaa Hussein, a teacher and social worker who is a single mother of a 2½ year-old boy and supports her parents.

Living in a displaced camp at Atmah near the border, she said it would cost more than 15% of her salary just to buy the equivalent of the U.N. food aid she receives.

“It lifts a big burden off my shoulders. If it stops, it is impossible that my salary would last,” she said.

The past two days, the U.N. Security Council has been haggling over U.N. cross-border aid deliveries. Russia, which argues the aid should be sent through its ally the Syrian government, is pressing for aid to be delivered through only one crossing and only for six months, instead of a year. A counter-resolution by Western countries would keep both crossings open, if only for six months. A final vote is expected on Friday, when the current delivery mandate expires.

By vetoing similar resolutions last year, Moscow shut down two other border crossings, including one leading into northeast Syria, run by Kurdish-led forces. The closure hampered aid and medical supply deliveries to nearly 3 million people there.

The prospect of reducing U.N. aid in Idlib and Aleppo is ringing alarm bells.

In May alone, over 1.7 million people received health and medical treatment and supplies through U.N. cross-border assistance, seven international aid groups said in a statement. Of those 1 million were served through Bab al-Salam crossing, which Russia wants closed. The other crossing, Bab al-Hawa, can´t provide access for aid agencies to all areas in need in the northwest or deal with scaling up the response for the coronavirus pandemic, said the groups, which include International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council and CARE.