the essence of the problem
In July the UN Security Council will decide whether to keep the humanitarian corridor open at the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Syria-Turkey border. This route funnels aid into Idlib province in the northwest, a region not fully governed by Syria’s official authorities.
Beyond civilian residents, Idlib hosts one of the last significant rebel enclaves, including groups aligned with al-Qaeda that are designated terrorists by several governments. International organizations rely on Bab al-Hawa to deliver relief directly to civilians, effectively bypassing the central government in Damascus.
The corridor stands as a unique channel. Since 2014, four cross-border routes were opened for humanitarian access. In the end, Russia, with support from China, allowed only Bab al-Hawa to remain. The UN mandate for this corridor is set to expire in early July.
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Russia remains a founding UN member with veto power in the Security Council. Yet Moscow could decide to close the last cross-border mechanism for aid or leverage such a move to press for concessions in the Ukraine conflict as seen by some observers. Reports from the New York Times quote anonymous sources suggesting Moscow has signaled this possibility to gain diplomatic advantage.
A senior US diplomat warned that the United States and other Security Council members would issue a strong message against blocking the route. Yet the report notes that there is no guarantee Moscow would listen. One interlocutor suggested Russia uses the corridor to counter Western criticisms about Ukraine’s sovereignty, implying a shift toward international humanitarian convoys in Syria that would argue they also threaten Syria’s territorial integrity.
Diplomats noted that closing the corridor could worsen the situation in Syria, potentially driving more refugees toward Western nations. They believed Moscow aims to apply pressure on donor countries facing refugee inflows.
On May 27, Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said Moscow had not yet decided how to vote on the last cross-border humanitarian corridor.
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Each month roughly a thousand trucks cross Bab al-Hawa with food, water, medicine and supplies that include items to combat diseases such as COVID-19. The reliability of this aid is seen as crucial by communities in the northwest, where supplies and medical equipment remain scarce.
Officials stressed that the aid delivered through Bab al-Hawa is trusted and essential. The absence of medicine and surgical equipment would intensify hardship, especially amid ongoing health challenges. The argument over the corridor is framed by broader concerns about stability and humanitarian access in a war-torn region.
U S officials emphasized that closing the corridor would have life-or-death consequences for vulnerable populations relying on the World Food Programme and other aid agencies, which are currently distributing monthly food rations to hundreds of thousands in need.
Russia has expressed support for the Assad regime in the long-running civil war, which has persisted for more than a decade. Media analysis notes that Damascus seeks to recapture full control over aid flows, wishing to channel assistance exclusively through government channels rather than through UN mechanisms.
Russian officials have repeatedly accused Western actors of politicizing humanitarian relief for political ends, arguing that aid is sometimes used to undermine Syria’s sovereignty. Moscow contends that some international relief may end up distant from the needs of local residents and could empower factions within the region.
There are also claims that some international assistance may reach groups that exploit the flow of aid for other purposes. Russian representatives argue that there is a risk of aid being diverted by actors who do not prioritize civilian wellbeing.
Some officials suggest that the UN could still deliver aid unofficially if necessary, acknowledging the challenges but noting it could be possible. Critics of the corridor argue that it has been used as a bargaining chip, while advocates insist that it remains a vital lifeline for those living in Idlib and nearby areas.
Leaders from human rights organizations stress that a robust humanitarian framework is required. They acknowledge the difficulty of coordinating aid without strong government cooperation but warn against letting political battles compromise essential relief efforts. The World Health Organization has highlighted that in 2021 no major aid convoys moved from Damascus to northwest Syria for 11 months, underscoring the importance of cross-border operations for timely assistance.
Voices from the Syrian American Medical Association describe the practical hurdles of delivering aid under the Assad government, including multiple permits and frequent blockages at checkpoints. They describe it as a logistical nightmare that hinders timely relief for those in need.
Historically, with China backing Moscow, three other cross-border routes were closed in 2020: Bab es-Salam near Turkey, Al-Yarubiya at the Syria-Iraq border, and Al-Ramata at the Jordanian border. When mandates for extending cross-border work were up for renewal, Russia and China used their veto power to block further expansion.