Syria – Security Council vote on the renewal of cross-border humanitarian assistance (8 Jul. 2020)

France deeply regrets the Security Council’s failure to reach an agreement on the renewal of the mechanism to provide cross-border humanitarian assistance to Syria. Russia and China chose to veto the draft resolution supported by 13 of the 15 Security Council members. This choice jeopardizes international humanitarian support for Syria, in the context of a global pandemic.

There is no alternative to the cross-border assistance mechanism for the daily provision of life-saving assistance to thousands of civilians in need. The Syrian regime continues to impose major obstacles to the free and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population, notably in the regions outside of its control.

France calls on all Security Council members to demonstrate unity and responsibility and to continue dialogue in order to renew this essential mechanism, as the UN secretary-general and humanitarian agencies are also requesting.