Relief and international organizations warn of a food catastrophe as Russia blocks aid access through Bab al-Hawa crossing

After Russia vetoed the UN Resolution (2285) that would allow humanitarian aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, relief organizations have warned of a humanitarian crisis in the regions north Syria where 4 million people live from the various Syrian governorates following a systematic displacement campaign carried out by Assad regime for years.  

The director of the public affairs office at Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey confirmed in a statement to Agence France-Presse(AFP), “Failure to extend the authorization would “serve as a prelude to an uncontrollable famine that would directly threaten food security of more than four million people” living in Syria’s northwest.

The Bab al-Hawa crossing is the only crossing through which aid can be transferred to areas in northern Syria without passing through the areas controlled by the Assad regime. The cross-border mechanism at Bab al-Hawa has been used by the UN since 2014, and is set to expire on Sunday.

Russia has used the veto power to block the resolution of extending the cross-border humanitarian aid delivery mechanism for one year without the approval of the Assad regime, and Moscow has agreed on only a six-month extension.