This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
UN Diplomats: Russia and China Block Extension of Cross-Border Aid in Syria ¶
Published on July 8, 2020
Germany and Belgium, two non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, had drafted a resolution to allow aid to continue passing through two points on the Turkish border without interference from Damascus. The resolution aimed to extend the authorization for cross-border humanitarian aid, which has existed since 2014.
During negotiations, Russia had requested that the extension be limited to six months, rather than a year, and that it only be allowed at one border crossing, not two. However, the other 13 members of the council voted in favor of the draft resolution.
Immediately after the vote, Russia proposed its own draft resolution, taking into account its preferred terms. The results of a vote on this new resolution will be known on Wednesday.
Authorization for cross-border humanitarian aid has existed since 2014, with periodic extensions. The latest extension expires on Friday.
