Accusing Moscow of hindering the extension of cross-border aid to Syria, the West forgets that it is itself making the humanitarian situation in Syria worse with sanctions, the Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzia told Kommersant, answering the question about Western accusations against the Russian Federation that the reduction of checkpoints worsens the humanitarian situation in Syria.
"We are accused of many things. And not just for Syria. Unfortunately, this is part of the war. The infowar," said, in particular, the Russian diplomat.
"We understood that the conditions in Idlib were difficult in the winter and people without the Syrian Cross-Border Assistance Mechanism might not survive. We were guided by humanitarian considerations and agreed to extend the mechanism in the North-West in January. Therefore, there is nothing to blame Russia for. We will look at the situation objectively, " he said.
"And talking about objectivity. Our partners prefer not to notice that their sanctions against Damascus lead to the fact that the Syrian authorities cannot purchase the necessary medical equipment, " the Russian Ambassador also stressed.
At the same time, the diplomat drew attention to the fact that humanitarian organizations such as the WHO, UNICEF, ICRC and a number of others work in Syria and cooperate with the authorities. This coordination with the authorities of the recipient country is enshrined in UN documents.
This week the UN will hold a meeting to discuss the situation in Syria. The 2165 UN Security Council resolution on the Cross-Border Assistance Mechanism to the SAR expires in July 2020. It was last extended in January, subject to a reduction from four to two humanitarian aid checkpoints to Syria, including the al-Yarubiyah crossing.
The Russian and Syrian sides, speaking about the need to close this crossing, note that it is not so many humanitarian supplies that are delivered through it, as weapons for the Kurdish forces, and the provision of assistance through these channels is not coordinated in any way with official Damascus.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Zuma \ TASS