This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
July 9, 2020, marked a critical day for Syrians in Idlib province, as the UN Security Council voted down a resolution to extend aid deliveries through the Turkish border. The resolution, which would have authorized aid deliveries for another year, was vetoed by Russia and China.
For millions of Syrians, aid deliveries are a lifeline. An estimated 2.8 million people in northwest Syria, including in Idlib, rely on aid to survive. The aid has been delivered through two crossing points on the Turkish border: Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Hawa.
Abu Salem, a 48-year-old father of four, lives in a displacement camp in Idlib. He expressed his concern about the potential cut-off of aid deliveries, saying, "Why would they cut it off? There are people in need. They've left their homes and everything in the world to come and live in a plastic tent without even a fan."
Amnesty International's Sherine Tadros emphasized the importance of ensuring the crossing points remain open, saying, "For millions of Syrians, it is the difference between having food to eat and starving."
The Syrian war, which started in 2011, has killed over 380,000 people and displaced millions. The fate of aid deliveries through the Turkish border remains uncertain, leaving many Syrians in a state of alarm.
