DAMASCUS: Syria has agreed to extend humanitarian aid access into earthquake-stricken rebel-held areas from Turkey via two border crossings for three months, a United Nations representative said on Saturday.
The decision was conveyed by the Syrian foreign minister to allow the UN to continue using the Bab Al-Salam and Al Ra’ee crossings for an additional three months. Syrians affected by the February 6 quake that killed over 55,000 people in Turkey and Syria have been relying on the two border points for crucial humanitarian deliveries.
Following international pressure, Syria agreed to let the UN use the Al-Rai and Bab al-Salama crossings to bring in medical supplies and food for three months.
The permission had been set to expire on May 13, so Syria’s decision was welcome news for those affected and for human rights organizations, which had urged the United Nations to continue deliveries even absent re-authorization from Damascus.
Crisis in Syria
Amnesty International on Friday said that the lives of four million people were at stake if humanitarian aid via the crossings was halted.
The rebels operate the crossings, both in Aleppo province. The United Nations estimated earlier this week that Syria needs around $15 billion to recover from the earthquake, and it put the total cost of damage and losses at almost $9 billion.
The extension of humanitarian aid access into rebel-held areas from Turkey via two border crossings will come as a relief to the affected population and the humanitarian organizations. The aid is essential for the survival of the people in the region, who are still recovering from the devastating earthquake that occurred in February.
