Russia Vetos UN Vote to Extend Aid through

Bab al-Hawa

(July 2022)

The UN Vote:

On Friday, July 8, the UN Security Council (UNSC) voted to extend humanitarian aid to the Idlib region of northern Syria through the Turkish border at Bab al-Hawa.
This vote was urgent, as the authorization to extend aid was set to expire on Sunday, July 10.
The council proposed a one-year extension of aid, and 13 of the 15 member countries voted in favor of the resolution; China abstained, and Russia used its veto power to strike down the resolution.
Russia, a close ally of Damascus, proposed a six-month extension. This resolution received two votes in favor and three votes against with ten countries abstaining.
Noting the importance towards reaching a compromise, on Tuesday, July 12, a resolution proposed by Ireland and Norway for a six-month extension was approved.
12 of the 15 member countries voted in favor, while France, the United Kingdom and the U.S. abstained.
Thus, the cross-border aid delivery at Bab al-Hawa will be extended until January 2023; a new round of negotiations to secure the following six months of aid will take place then.

Why is this aid so important?

According to the UN, Syria’s humanitarian needs are at its highest level since the start of the war.
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine causing food and energy prices to increase globally, the aid needed is likely to magnify.
This cross-border aid delivery has been operating since 2014.
Of the over 4 million civilians in the northwest of Syria who need aid, almost 2.5 are entirely reliant on humanitarian aid from this cross-border aid delivery from Bab al-Hawa.
Starting in 2020, Russia has used its veto power in the UNSC to close several access points on the Syrian border. This includes the termination of the Bab al-Salaam and Bab al-Yarubiyah crossings due to reauthorization vetoes.
This leaves the crossing at Bab al-Hawa as the only viable access point.
Russia is an advocate for aid coming from the Damascus government through contested lines.
Many officials are worried that a six-month extension, rather than the typical year-long extension, will not allow ample time for humanitarian workers, health workers, or NGOs in the region to plan, distribute aid, or work effectively.

Please direct all congressional inquires to: SSchaefer@mepc.org

Our mission is to provide policymakers and the public with credible, comprehensive information and analysis on political, economic, and cultural issues pertaining to U.S.-Middle East relations. Our goal is to foster more effective policy solutions to current and future challenges. We accomplish this through three core programs: 1. our world-renowned, quarterly journal Middle East Policy (the #1 most cited publication on the region in the world); 2. our Policy Products and Programming Series designed for senior policymakers and their staffs, and 3. our acclaimed international educational outreach program, TeachMideast, designed for students, educators and other civic leaders.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact: balghussein@mepc.org

For individual donations, please click here

Middle East Policy Council

1730 M St. NW, Suite 512,

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 296-6767

Subscribe to our journal