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| More than 11 million Syrians are reported to be in need of humanitarian aid and protection. (Photo by=REUTERS) |
[아시아뉴스통신=레악카나 기자] Russia and China have vetoed at the UN Security Council a one-year extension to a deal allowing aid deliveries to north-western Syria via Turkey. Up to now, food and other aid for millions of people have come through two crossing points to Aleppo province and to rebel-held Idlib. A Belgian-German draft resolution was a last-ditch attempt to prolong the deal, which expires later on Friday.
Russia wants one crossing to be open, and a vote on this is now expected. Moscow argues that aid for Syria should be channelled through its ally there, the government of President Bashar al-Assad. But analysts say the government in Damascus has a record of restricting the flow of aid to areas in the hands of its opponents. Last month, the head of the World Food Programme warned that Syria faced the risk of mass starvation or another mass exodus unless more aid money was made available.
David Beasley told the BBC a million Syrians faced severe food insecurity and some were already dying. The war-torn country's currency has collapsed and food prices have soared. In desperation, many Syrians might have no choice but to try to flee to Europe as they did in 2015, Mr Beasley said.
