Russia protested in Syria's Idlib for blocking UN aid

IDLIB, Syria

Non-governmental organizations protested against Russia on Monday in Syria's Idlib, denouncing its blocking of humanitarian aid sent by the United Nations to the country.

Various NGO officials, who assembled in front of the Bab al-Hawa border gate, situated opposite the Cilvegozu border gate in Reyhanli district of southern Hatay province, carried banners in both English and Arabic that read "Not only the border gate, but the lifeline" and "Humanitarian aid is not a weapon."

Ubeyde Dendus, an official from the Syrian Aid and Development Association, who took part in the protest, said that it was inhumane that Russia vetoed the extension of the mandate of the mechanism that provides aid to Syria through Cilvegozu.

Dendus noted that preventing humanitarian aid from entering the war zone will lead to disaster, adding: "More than 2.5 million civilians will be deprived of aid.

"Drinking water will be cut off for 2.8 million civilians, especially in the extremely hot summer months. Civilians will be deprived of health services," said Dendus.

The long-running aid operation, which has been in place since 2014 and allowed the delivery of aid to 4 million people in Syria through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, expired on July 10.