White Helmets slam 'reductive' UN vote on humanitarian aid, demand new aid mechanism for Syria

The Syrian Civil Defence have dismissed what they believe is a reductive UN Security Council vote on delivering humanitarian aid into Syria and demanded an "independent mechanism” for aid deliveries.

The humanitarian response group – also known as the White Helmets – said they “refuse the reduction of the Syria Crisis to an annual debate on cross-border aid”, which NGOs say would affect over 4 million people in the country’s northwest.

The council voted on Thursday on a resolution that would have extended aid to Syria - without the regime’s backing - from Turkey through the Bab al-Hawa crossing for one year, as 13 of 15 council members voted in favour of it.

However, regime ally Russia on Friday vetoed the resolution, leaving the council at an impasse two days before the authorisation for aid deliveries across the border expires on Sunday, after being in effect since 2014.

“Access to… aid with dignity and without politicisation is a basic right for those in need and should not be subject… to periodic negotiations in the Security Council whose primary mission should be… the protection of civilians,” the White Helmets said.

The White Helmets Refuse the Reduction of the Syria Crisis to an Annual Debate on Cross-Border Aid and Demand an Independent Mechanism to Deliver Aid.#WhiteHelmets pic.twitter.com/ZNO7HHNrUo

— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) July 8, 2022

“We… call on the international community to adopt an independent mechanism outside the Security Council that guarantees the continuation of the delivery of life saving aid without allowing any political blackmailing,” the statement released on Friday added.

The humanitarian response group stated Russia – who previously threatened to stop the aid - has used “humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip to gain concessions in its attempts to politically float the Assad regime”.

Moscow made the threat in June as it accused the West of not fulfilling promises to ease sanctions on the Assad regime and stated “most people think” aid should be delivered through Damascus.

“The weaponisation of aid by Russia and the regime… cannot be accepted… the Assad regime can not be trusted with even more control over aid especially in light of [it’s] long history of… weaponisation of aid to besiege and starve Syrians” the White Helmets said.

The Bab Al-Hawa crossing – described as a “humanitarian and economic lifeline” by NGOs - has been the only point of entry for United Nations aid into rebel-held areas of northwestern Syria for the past two years.