Russia is likely to agree to an extension of Humanitarian aid supplies to northwest Syria via Turkey for else six months, diplomats said on Wednesday.
Permission is required from the 15-member council because the Syrian authorities have not approved the humanitarian operation, which has been providing aid including food, medicine and shelter to opposition-held areas. of Syria since 2014.
It is due to the Security Council vote on extend the measure on Monday, the day before current Agree to expire. For the resolution to be adopted, the resolution needs nine votes in Valid and irrevocable by Russia, China, Britain, France or the United States.
“We are still studying the pros and cons,” Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, told Reuters, adding that implementation of the current Security Council Resolution – Taken in July – It was “far beyond our expectations”.
He said that Russia is consulting with Syria and that final decision Will be made from Moscow on Monday.
Diplomats said Security Council members informally agreed last A week on the text that gives the process six more months, which were drafted and negotiated by Ireland and Norway before they finalized—year terms on the Council on December 31st.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council in a report last month that help access From Turkey it was a ‘lifeline’ for millions of peopleAnd renewal of approval was critical”a moral and human duty.”
Senior UN officials, including UN aid chief Martin Griffiths, on He warned Monday that ending the aid operation would be “catastrophic”. for these who He depends on He: “Most of they women And the children who need help just To survive in the rush of winter and amid a serious cholera outbreak.”
If Russia abstains from voting in Monday vote – Allowing aid to continue – The council avoids the controversy that has traditionally surrounded the issue. In July, the council voted by three votes times before the operation extended – Two days after the license expires.
The Security Council initially agreed to hand over the aid in 2014 in opposition-held areas of Syria from Iraq and Jordan and two points in Turkey. But Russia and China played it down down to me just one Turkish border point.
Russia, which supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in A civil war has begun in 2011, says the aid operation violates Syria’s sovereignty. He. She says more helps should It is being delivered from within the country, prompting opposition fears that food and other aid will run low government controls.
Guterres said in His report to the Council that aid shipments from inside Syria.remain Unable to replace the size or range of Massive UN operation across the border”.
