Russia and China clash with UN security council members over cross-border assistance to Syria

Russia and China on Thursday clashed with other members of the UN Security Council over cross-border aid to 1 million Syrians currently living in rebel-held areas.

Since 2014, four border crossings have been used, two in Turkey, one in Iraq, and another in Jordan

Germany, Belgium and Kuwait, who are sponsors of this year's aid resolution, have proposed drafts which add a new crossing point in Turkey, to manage the urgent need created by a Turkish offensive in the area near the border earlier this year.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat, Turkey also presented its request for a new crossing point through through Tal Abyad, in countryside of Raqqa, which borders Turkey’s Sanliurfa province.

Earlier on Monday, Russia and China, allies of Bashar Al-Assad, circulated a rival resolution, featuring plans to close crossing points in Iraq and Jordan, with no mention of any new crossing point

While the draft submitted by the sponsors seeks to extend cross-border operations for a year, Russia and China demand that the extension lasts no longer that six months.

In response, envoys from ten members of the security council gathered outside chamber, affirming their support for a renewal of cross-border "mechanism" and warning that "the consequences of a non-renewal of the mechanism would be disastrous".

German Ambassador Christopher Heusgen said he was "not impressed" with Russian and Chinese veto threats.

He added that the message to Russia was the same - "please observe international humanitarian law and see to it that the suffering can be stopped".

Discussions over the rival resolutions were kept behind closed doors on Wednesday. Last year, Russia and China abstained in 13-0 vote which authorised crossing point.

Earlier on Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that opening of a fifth crossing remained the only means of reaching people on the Turkish border with northern Syria and was "a vital part of the humanitarian response".

Read more: UN chief: aid across Syria front lines must continue 

Syrian regime forces and its allies launched a ground and aerial offensive on northwest Syria, the last rebel-held territory in the country, in April this year.

Over 1,000 civilians have been killed in hostilities, according to the UN, while thousands more have been displaced since escalation began.

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