Humanitarian needs in Syria increase in the midst of winter in light of poor infrastructure, absence of basic necessities (especially in the camps), outbreak of cholera, resurgence of the spread of Covid19, and the continuation of attacks from the Assad regime and Russia.
Food insecurity reached record levels. 80% of Syrians suffer from food insecurity, more than 90% live below the poverty line. The price of a food basket has increased 85% compared to last year. The number of people in need of aid increased to 14.6 million according to the UN.
In light of these circumstances, the mandate to extend the entry of humanitarian aid across borders is about to expire.
This will tragically exacerbate the humanitarian situation, devastating the population and the medical sector's ability to combat the outbreak of cholera.
The international community seems to legitimize the weaponization of humanitarian aid as it continues to allow aid to be extorted by the Assad regime and Russia.
Delivering aid through Damascus is simply another tactic at floating the regime and an opportunity to besiege Syrians.
Humanitarian aid must be far from any political motive or use. Early recovery work & aid must have a clear humanitarian purpose and be used to serve the Syrian people, not the Assad regime. The only way this is achievable is through a clear mechanism for aid to reach Syrian people.
Access to humanitarian aid with dignity and without politicization is a basic right that should not be subject to periodic negotiations in the Security Council.
Rather, the Security Council must focus on efforts for a political solution and the implementation of Resolution 2254, not the preoccupation of the entry of aid, especially in light of the existence of a legal framework that gives the UN the right to enter aid outside the Security Council.
By the White Helmets, Syria's leading rescue agency.
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