On Tuesday, Russia and China vetoed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) from extending its approval of the year-long aid delivery to Syria from Turkey.
Russia and China blocked the aid delivery despite the UN warnings of Syrian lives depending on the cross-border access.
Stephane Dujarric, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesman, said that cross-border access was “vital to the wellbeing of the civilians in northwest Syria … Lives depend on it.”
This UNSC draft resolution was drafted by Germany and Belgium in order to reopen the Iraq crossing for six months to help Syria fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The resolution was voted in favour by 13 council members.
Global North diplomats have stated that the blocking of the Iraq crossing cuts off 40% of medical aid to northeastern Syria.
The UNSC will now vote on a Russian draft resolution that only allows one Turkish crossing to Syria for access to aid for six months.
These disputes follow the seven-year-long conflict erupting from the pro-democracy protests in 2011 against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The protests led to a civil war, with Russia backing Assad and the United States supporting the opposition.