British Minister Wendy Morton visited on Tuesday the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing between Turkey and northern Syria to see first-hand how the vital UK and international humanitarian assistance is reaching 2.4 million Syrians every month, the UK government said in a press statement. Her visit comes ahead of a crucial vote on July 10, when United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members will decide whether to keep this crossing open. "The UK's position is clear: the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing must remain open and other border crossings must be reopened so that life-saving food, shelter and medical supplies can be delivered and vital aid operations can continue," the government said in the statement. The border from Turkey is currently the only authorized route for UN-coordinated humanitarian aid to reach the more than 2 million people in northwest Syria who have been displaced from their homes. Russia and China have used their veto power to reduce the number of border crossings available leaving only Bab al-Hawa, making it more difficult to respond to rising humanitarian needs in the region. These two countries continue to place political support for the Assad regime above life-saving support for the Syrian people. The UK urges all UNSC members to vote to expand humanitarian access into Syria to avoid an even greater deterioration of the dire humanitarian situation in the northwest of the country. After her visit to the border crossing: Wendy Morton said: "The Bab Al-Hawa border crossing must remain open so that life-saving humanitarian assistance can reach the most vulnerable Syrians." "Between 2020 and 2021, the UK provided clean drinking water to over 225,000 people, health consultations to more than 400,000 Syrians and formal education to over 200,000 children in north-west Syria – all through this vital aid crossing." "The UK, as a force for good in the region, will be voting in favor of maximum humanitarian access at the UNSC so that charities operating in north west Syria can continue their life-saving work. More than 13 million Syrians remain in dire need of support across the war-torn country," she added. — Agencies
