Syria is threatened with cut-off from humanitarian aid
7.07.2022
Reading time
3 minutes
If the Russian authorities exercise a veto in the UN Security Council, humanitarian aid delivery through the last available crossing point in northern Syria will be halted. The lives of millions of the country’s inhabitants depend on the extension of the relief operation in Syria, and the decision of one state may condemn it to deepen the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Bab al-Hawa is the only border crossing point between Syria and Turkey that allows humanitarian aid to enter opposition territory without first passing through territory controlled by the Syrian government. Dozens of trucks filled with food and drugs cross them every day. It depends on Russia’s decision during the vote scheduled for July 10 and on the possible closure of the route whether Syria faces further government oppression in areas opposing the Syrian regime, including Idlib, and further price increases. It is through Bab al-Hawa that food transports pass, which has so far been guaranteed by UN Security Council Resolution 2585, saving the inhabitants of refugee camps. In January this year, it was extended for another 6 months.
The prices of various products in Syria have been rising for more than a year, so the crisis continues to deepen. We have reached the point where more than 14 million of the country’s inhabitants depend on humanitarian aid. It is a verdict to continue price increases and to cut off outside help. The country plunged into war and drought-stricken is not able to produce food that meets the needs of the inhabitants, not to mention the difficulties in its distribution to the north.Organization has been involved in helping Syrians for 6 years, focusing primarily on the needs of refugee camps
says Małgorzata Olasińska-Chart from the Polish Medical Mission.
In early May, the World Food Program, the country’s largest supplier, reduced the monthly rations supplied to 1.35 million inhabitants in the northwest of provinces. The reasons for this decision were financial problems and the increase in product prices. The aggravation of the food crisis and difficult weather conditions, which are increasingly affecting the health of the inhabitants of plastic tents in the camps, will consequently lead to an increased need for medical assistance. Meanwhile, in Idlib alone in 2022, 10 out of 50 hospitals, including six gynecological and pediatric facilities, were left without funding.
There are also 12 primary care clinics and three specialist health centers. Some of them had to reduce the number of admitted patients by 90% compared to the previous year. Hospitals can run programs to feed children with special nutrients, but if there is no room for even hospitalization of seriously ill patients, implementing preventive measures is virtually impossible. Especially since the delivery of medical aid is also carried out by road transport from Turkey. Soon there may also be no doctors who will not be able to stay in the country any longer
– adds the representative of the organization.
I’m donating to…
