Syrians Fleeing Assad’s Rule Fear Aid Chokehold
Syrians who escaped President Bashar al-Assad’s regime are concerned that he may soon cut off critical aid as Damascus seeks control over U.N. assistance in the rebel-held northwest, the last stronghold of the Syrian opposition.
A recent tussle within the U.N. Security Council regarding the aid operation has favored Assad, with his ally Russia vetoing an extension of the mandate. This has opened the way for Damascus to take control of the aid operation based on its own terms. Aid workers are worried about the future of one of the world’s largest humanitarian operations, as Syria’s demands for “full cooperation and coordination” raise concerns about potential complications.
Abu Ahmad Obeid, a father of seven living in a camp in the northwest since fleeing his home in government-controlled territory in 2018, expressed the anxiety felt by many families in the region. “Ever since we heard about the decision, all the families in the camp have been lost, confused, scared,” he said. “We rely on that aid for everything – medical support, food, everything.”
Khalid al-Idlibi, who fled his home in 2019, questioned whether Assad, who is responsible for the tragedy faced by the Syrian people, could be trusted to provide aid. He stated, “Assad is the person responsible for the tragedy of these people, so how will he be responsible for the aid?”
The northwest region became a safe haven for millions of Syrians who fled as Assad, with the support of Russia and Iran, regained control over rebel areas towards the end of the civil war that began in 2011. Currently, the northwest is home to 4.5 million people, with 2.9 million of them being displaced during the conflict. Approximately 2 million people live in camps, according to the U.N.
NGOs and individual states have previously organized aid convoys into the northwest without U.N. approval. However, U.N. agencies depend on government or Security Council authorization to operate within Syria. Since members failed to convince Russia to extend the operation beyond six months, Damascus has approved a continuation of the aid operation through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing from Turkey. Assad has always rejected this operation, viewing it as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty.
Assad’s latest move offers him leverage over Western states that finance aid operations, and it allows him to exert pressure on a rebellious region controlled by armed groups opposing his rule.
“This is a worst-case scenario,” warned Abdelsalam Daif, a senior strategy adviser at Syria Relief & Development, a U.S.-based aid organization. “If this is in the regime’s hands, then the regime could stop it at any time. It is trying to erase everything that was built over the last 10 years and take it into its own hands.”
The Syrian government has yet to respond to concerns raised by aid workers. In their letter to the U.N. secretary-general, Syria stated that it aims to improve the living conditions of all Syrians and streamline aid deliveries. However, the letter also prohibits U.N. staff from communicating with terrorist organizations and affiliated entities. Aid workers are worried about the lack of clarity regarding the definition of a terrorist organization.
Sherine Ibrahim, Turkey country director for CARE, expressed her concerns about the consequences of not renewing the cross-border aid mechanism. She emphasized the need to closely monitor the situation over the next few weeks.
Syria’s letter indicated that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) would be allowed to distribute aid in the northwest. However, this presents complications as the HTS, formerly an al Qaeda branch, has previously refused to collaborate with SARC during aid efforts.
Amidst this uncertainty, the humanitarian crisis in Syria continues to unfold, capturing the attention of the international community.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
