North-West Syria: Situation Report (21 July 2023) [EN/AR]

HIGHLIGHTS

• Security Council Resolution 2672 authorizing UN aid delivery via Bab Al-Hawa has expired on 10 July 2023. The Security Council has not reached an agreement on its extension.

• The UN continues to use all available access modalities. Bab Al-Salam and Al Ra’ee continue to be in use for the cross-border movement of UN aid delivery and personnel.

• The UN cross-border aid operation has been a lifeline to north-west Syria since 2014, reaching millions of people each month with food, medicines, shelter items and other aid.

• The UN and humanitarian partners remain committed to delivering life assistance to the people in need in north-west Syria guided by humanitarian principles.

• The humanitarian situation in north-west Syria remains dire. Extreme heat is putting lives at risk with more than 40 fires reported from the period between 15 to 17 July alone.

FEATURE

Recent developments on the cross-border operation

• Expiration of SCR 2672: Security Council resolution 2672, authorizing the UN to deliver aid from Türkiye to north-west Syria via Bab Al-Hawa, expired on 10 July. The last aid convoys, comprised of 79 trucks carrying WFP food and IOM shelter aid, crossed on the day of the expiration of the resolution.

• Security Council deliberations: As of date, the Security Council has not reached an agreement on the extension of the cross-border mechanism since their public deliberation on 11 July.

• UN Secretary-General’s statement: On 11 July, the UN Secretary-General expressed his disappointment “that the Security Council was not able to reach an agreement” and called “on all Security Council members to redouble their efforts to support the continued delivery of cross-border assistance.”

• Pre-positioned aid: Ahead of the expiration of the resolution, UN agencies have pre-positioned stocks of aid including food, cholera and medical supplies, nutrition supplements, hygiene kits, tents and winter items inside north-west Syria.

• Letter from the Government of Syria: On 13 July, the permanent mission of the Government of Syria submitted an official letter to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, granting the UN permission to use Bab Al-Hawa to deliver assistance for six months.The UN continues to study the letter in consultation with humanitarian partners.

• General Assembly meeting: On 19 July, Member States gathered at the UN General Assembly to debate the use of an 11 July veto on a Security Council draft resolution that would have authorized a nine-month renewal of cross-border aid‑delivery to north-west Syria.

• Continuing operations: The UN continues to use all available access modalities to reach people in need. Bab Al-Salam and Al Ra’ee continue to be in use for the cross-border movement of UN aid delivery and personnel.

• Cross-border trucks and missions: As of 21 July, the UN has dispatched 3,719 trucks with aid and completed 164 cross-border missions into north-west Syria since the earthquakes struck.

• Commitment to humanitarian principles: Humanitarian operations in north-west Syria have always been, and must continue to be, guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. This is the minimum standard necessary to ensure accountability to affected people.