Russia agreed to a United Nations Security Council demand for its ally Syria to stop blocking humanitarian assistance to millions of Syrian civilians whose lives are at risk amid the country's raging civil war.
Moscow backed a council statement on Wednesday that urged Syrian to "lift bureaucratic impediments and other obstacles" to allow more humanitarian relief across the country.
The consensus builds on diplomatic momentum that achieved a Security Council resolution on Friday to destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles by mid-2014. Some officials are hopeful that Friday's deal—as well as the new humanitarian accord—can be parlayed into a broader political consensus to eventually halt the war, even as fighting escalates. The U.N. plans a Syria peace conference in November but hasn't been able to coordinate both sides' participation.
Wednesday's deal, agreed to by consensus by all 15 council members, urges Syrian authorities to smooth the efforts of U.N. and private aid groups to provide immediate humanitarian aid. More than 100,000 people have been killed in a 2½-year-old conflict that has also displaced millions of Syrians within the country and to neighboring countries.
"Over three million children are living in poverty…are caught in the crossfire, and are being displaced," said British Ambassador Mark Lyall
Grant, adding that there were 6.8 million Syrians in need of aid. "Every 15 seconds a new refugee is created."
For the first time, the council called for aid to flow "across conflict lines" and "where appropriate, across borders."
Diplomats say the Syrian government has hindered aid deliveries, fearful they could fall into rebels' hands and allow arms to be smuggled across borders.
Bashar al-Ja'afari, Syria's U.N. ambassador, said Damascus welcomed the statement and defended his government's role in allowing humanitarian aid. But he damped expectations of cross-border aid by insisting that it must be coordinated between the U.N. and Damascus and that Syria's sovereignty be respected.
The U.S. and Russia didn't agree to a more stringent resolution that could have threatened enforcement if Damascus or rebels blocked aid. But the statement does call for an end to "impunity for violations of international humanitarian law" and says that "those who have committed or are otherwise responsible for such violations and abuses" in Syria must be "brought to justice."
The statement singled out President Bashar al-Assad's regime for "widespread violations" of human rights and international humanitarian law and the rebels for "any" human rights abuses by "armed groups."
In exchange for its consent, Moscow won explicit mention of al Qaeda's involvement in the conflict for the first time in any Security Council document.
The statement condemned "increased terrorist attacks resulting in numerous casualties and destruction carried out by organizations and individuals associated with al Qaeda." It called on "all parties" to put an end to "terrorist acts perpetrated by such organizations and individuals."
Mr. Ja'afari said, "It took 2½ year to finally see the council raise the awareness of some of its members of the role of terrorist groups operating in my country."
The opposition Syrian National Coalition also said it supported the council action. " It is now incumbent upon the Assad regime to take immediate steps to respect the will of the Security Council and to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people," the group said.
The council called on donor nations to pay for the international aid effort. "The U.N. appeal is only funded at 44% so there is a $3 billion funding gap," said Mr. Grant, the British ambassador.
With this statement, aid groups have Security Council backing when negotiating aid access with the Syrian government. "Our task now is to turn these strong words into meaningful action for the children, women and men who continue to be the victims of the brutality and violence," said Valerie Amos, the U.N.'s top humanitarian aid official.
