US lawmakers affirm their support for aid access to Syria without making concessions to Russia

US lawmakers affirmed their support for more cross-border humanitarian access to Syria “without making concessions” to Russia during the upcoming vote on the renewal of UNSCR 2585.

This affirmation comes through a letter sent to the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, signed by representatives of the Democratic and Republican parties, with the end of the United Nations mandate for humanitarian aid delivery to Syria through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey.

The letter expressed their “deep concern over the prolonged suffering of the Syrian people and clarified that cross-border aid delivery is critical.”

The letter pointed out that the Assad regime’s chronic economic mismanagement has only served to further exacerbate the current food insecurity and lack of access to water and medicine.

The letter added, “Efforts by Russia and the Assad regime to route all aid through Damascus constitute a further reach for power and influence in Syria and the region.” The letter clarified that cross-line mechanism has proven inadequate and can be cut off by the Assad regime at any time.

The U.S. representatives called on their country’s government to continue the diplomatic pressure in favor of continuing humanitarian support.  

The signatories of the letter expressed “their deep appreciation for the efforts of the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas Greenfield, in the file of Humanitarian aid access to Syria, and they called on that partner countries must be engaged as part of any effort by the United States to protect the authorization for cross-border aid deliveries from a potential Russian veto.”

The letter condemned Russia for obstructing aid delivery in addition to normalization and the continuation of the numerous atrocities committed by the Assad regime, Russia and Iran against the Syrians.

The letter stressed, “We look forward to continuing to work together to secure humanitarian access and address critical needs in Syria and around the world.”

It is noteworthy that the mechanism of cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria through Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, which was approved by the UN Security Council last year, will expire on July 10.