Syria: The humanitarian isolation of northwest must be prevented

05/07/2023

Syria

A camp for displaced people in Idlib governorate, northwest Syria. The camp received new displaced families due to the earthquake. Northwest Syria, May 2023. © Abdul Razzak Al-Shami /MSF

“The upcoming vote on 10 July represents a critical moment for northwest Syria. It is disheartening to see that people’s crucial access to humanitarian aid has become entangled in political negotiations,” says Sebastien Gay, Doctors Without Borders Head of Mission for Syria. “Failure to ensure a regular, sustainable means of aid delivery puts the lives and health of people at risk.”

The devastating earthquake that struck northwest Syria on 6 February this year has exposed the already-dire humanitarian situation and shed light on the fragile and deficient nature of humanitarian access to the region. The earthquake was a critical turning point that brought attention to the gaps in the humanitarian response and efficiency, as it had failed to adequately address the scale and the scope of the needs.

“For nearly three days following the earthquake, no additional international humanitarian aid arrived in northwest Syria, leaving people without shelter, exposed to freezing temperatures, and lacking proper healthcare,” says Gay. “The delayed arrival of lifesaving assistance highlighted the isolation of northwest Syria.”

Map of crossing points for the delivery of humanitarian aid in northwest Syria.

Together with other organizations, Doctors Without Borders has repeatedly warned that the limited channels through which humanitarian aid can pass compromise the ability to respond to emergencies. This recent disaster provided undeniable evidence of the need to diversify aid channels and ensure their long-term viability. With proper access, many deaths following the earthquake could have been prevented.

Drawing from this recent experience, the failure to renew the cross-border resolution and establishing a sustainable access to humanitarian aid in northwest Syria would have disastrous consequences on the physical and mental health of people. Over the years, the cross-border mechanism has faced significant setbacks, including a reduction in authorized crossing points from four to one, and a decrease in validity of the renewal from one year to six months.

A non-renewal would restrict Doctors Without Borders and other organizations’ capacity to provide lifesaving assistance to people in northwest Syria. Despite the current efforts towards contingency planning, the cross-border humanitarian channel coordinated and monitored by the UN remains the most reliable and cost-efficient option for Doctors Without Borders. To maintain this scale of medical activities, and respond to the enormous medical and humanitarian needs, the sustainability of our supply chain is crucial.

“An independent and impartial humanitarian access to northwest Syria must be ensured at all costs.”

Furthermore, the current six-month validity of the cross-border mechanism hampers the emergency preparedness of international and national organizations and groups, and inhibits the implementation of longer-term and sustainable projects, as funding cycles are linked to this mechanism. Doctors Without Borders has witnessed first-hand the negative impact of funding shortfalls on vital medical facilities. To ensure emergency preparedness, the constant threat of non-renewal forces humanitarian organizations to stockpile supplies excessively, resulting in waste.

It is crucial for the Bab Al-Salama and Al-Rai crossing points, which are not covered by the UN Security Council resolution and were opened following the earthquake, to remain open for humanitarian convoys. However, the extension of these points' opening should not be used to justify not renewing the UNSC Resolution, as Bab Al-Hawa remains the most reliable, cost-effective, and widely used crossing point.

The crossline, which is the mechanism used for delivering humanitarian aid from government-controlled areas into northwest Syria, can be complementary, but not a substitute for the cross-border mechanism. Discussions about humanitarian aid channels should focus on practical implementation, safety, efficiency, and timeliness.

Doctors Without Borders reiterates its call on the UN Security Council to renew the cross-border mechanism. “An independent and impartial humanitarian access to northwest Syria must be ensured at all costs”, added Gay. “It must also remain free from any political interference, as the lives of millions depend on it”.

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