UN approved cross-border aid helps 600,000 Syrians in six months

The United Nations said that 54 aid shipments to Syria had been made since the UN Security Council authorized some cross-border routes in July, supplying food to 600,000 people, along with water and medical supplies. In his latest monthly report to the council, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations and partners had made 40 shipments from Turkey and 14 from Jordan. Deliveries could not be made from Iraq due to insecurity, he said. The Security Council approved humanitarian access without Syrian government consent into rebel-held areas at four border crossings from Turkey, Iraq and Jordan. Western diplomats said at the time that nearly 2 million people could be reached.

Widespread fighting across the country, administrative hurdles, and lack of agreement from the parties continued to constrain humanitarian access across the country, affecting the humanitarian capacity to deliver at planned scaled.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon

Ban’s report on Syria aid access, obtained by Reuters, said food assistance had reached 596,000 people, non-food items had been delivered to 522,000, water and sanitation supplies had reached more than 280,000 and medical supplies some 262,000. Deliveries at those four border crossings added to existing efforts in coordination with the Syrian government, which reach several million people a month.

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