SW News: The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, July 11, failed to reach a consensus on extending a key Syria aid route, thereby cutting off a vital lifeline to millions of people. This comes when humanitarian needs are at an all-time high after more than 12 years of war and in the wake of the terrible double earthquakes that devastated the region in February.

Reportedly, four million people in northwest Syria, the opposition's final stronghold, depend on supplies passing via the Bab al-Hawa crossing point. The UN and its allies hoped for a 12-month extension of the mandate to do so.

A nine-month extension was requested in the first draft resolution, which Brazil and Switzerland presented. It also included a section on the development of crossline operations, more finance, improved early recovery efforts, and humanitarian mining action. However, this was vetoed by a permanent member of Russia. It received the support of 13 of the Council's 15 members and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Another permanent member, China, chose to abstain. Meanwhile, a Russian resolution that would have introduced further criteria and delayed aid delivery for six months failed to receive the nine "yes" votes to pass and was only backed by Russia and China. Three countries voted against and 10 abstained.

The cross-border mechanism was first established by the Security Council in 2014, initially using four border crossings, and now there is only Bab al-Hawa left. The Syrians are provided with food, water, medicines, and other essential supplies through these borders.

However, the UN-brokered agreement that allowed delivery for aid overland from Turkey into rebel-held areas of Syria expired on Monday. And a new authorisation is needed because Syrian authorities did not agree to the operation. In 2022 and 2020, the mandate for the operation ran out, but was renewed.

António Guterres voiced his disappointment over the Council's inability to reach an agreement through a statement issued.

"UN cross-border assistance remains a veritable lifeline for millions of people in northwest Syria as humanitarian needs have reached an all-time high since the start of the conflict, while the impact of the devastating February earthquakes is still acutely felt," it said.

Meanwhile, Swiss ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl said they would not let the veto cease the efforts to solve the humanitarian crisis.