UN Security Council to discuss Syria cross-border aid

The UN Security Council is set to discuss the humanitarian situation in Syria as early as next week, the ambassadors in charge of the file said on Friday, amid growing calls to open other cross-border entry points into the country.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths is due to visit earthquake-hit areas this weekend, including rebel areas in northwestern Syria.

Switzerland and Brazil, the non-permanent members in charge of the Syrian humanitarian dossier, have called for a Council meeting “as soon as possible from the beginning of next week” to hear the UN humanitarian chief’s assessment.

“Additional needs and additional mechanisms that the Security Council may discuss will depend on the assessment of the concrete situation on the ground,” added Brazilian Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho.

On Friday, Damascus approved international aid being delivered to rebel-held areas of northwest Syria. The only UN border crossing used by humanitarian convoys, known as Bab al-Hawa, was incapacitated by the quakes.