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U.N security council agrees to extend cross-border aid access to Syria for 12 months

By Vandana Nampoothiri

The U.N security council on Friday agreed to extend cross-border aid access to Syria. The update came in after Russia agreed to a compromise after a last-minute talk with the United States. The U.N council mandate which was due to expire on Saturday ensures aid access to millions of Syrians for 12 months.

“Parents can sleep tonight knowing that for the next 12 months their children will be fed. The humanitarian agreement we’ve reached here will literally save lives,” said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield to Reuters. 

The negotiations between Thomas-Greenfield and Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia on Friday culminated with the 15 member council adopting a resolution that asks for a U.N report on providing aid access for 6 months.

The mandate was first authorized the aid access to Syria in 2014. Russia had opposed the aid access saying that it was outdated and violated Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Tags: Aid access humanitarian aid Syria U.N security council

Vandana Nampoothiri

Vandana Nampoothiri is currently pursuing masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from St. Joseph's College (Autonomous), Bengaluru. Vandana is currently working as an intern at USAnewshour.com and can be reached at vandananamphu@gmail.com.