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| U.N. Stymied in Efforts to Take Aid to Syrians | U.N. Stymied in Efforts to Take Aid to Syrians |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| UNITED NATIONS — In the three weeks since the United Nations Security Council ordered Syria’s warring parties to let aid workers deliver food and medicine, the world body’s relief agencies have suspended their efforts to cross one land border, are waiting to cross another and are facing severe difficulties getting food into a Damascus neighborhood where children are starving. | UNITED NATIONS — In the three weeks since the United Nations Security Council ordered Syria’s warring parties to let aid workers deliver food and medicine, the world body’s relief agencies have suspended their efforts to cross one land border, are waiting to cross another and are facing severe difficulties getting food into a Damascus neighborhood where children are starving. |
| What happens in the next few days will be closely watched by the world powers that support either the Syrian government or the armed opposition. The Security Council on Monday is expecting its first report from the secretary general on whether the Syrian government and the rebels have complied with the Feb 22 resolution. And when the Council meets next Friday, Russia and the United States are likely to spar over which side in the conflict is to blame for holding up desperately needed assistance. | What happens in the next few days will be closely watched by the world powers that support either the Syrian government or the armed opposition. The Security Council on Monday is expecting its first report from the secretary general on whether the Syrian government and the rebels have complied with the Feb 22 resolution. And when the Council meets next Friday, Russia and the United States are likely to spar over which side in the conflict is to blame for holding up desperately needed assistance. |
| For the United Nations, getting aid into Syria from across its land borders has been among its most urgent, toughest challenges. Days after the Security Council resolution, the Syrian government agreed to let the United Nations and its partners enter from Turkey. But for two weeks, 80 trucks have been waiting on the Turkish side of the border, packed with clothing, food, and other aid bound for people living in the vast Hasakah Province, where no aid has arrived for a year. | For the United Nations, getting aid into Syria from across its land borders has been among its most urgent, toughest challenges. Days after the Security Council resolution, the Syrian government agreed to let the United Nations and its partners enter from Turkey. But for two weeks, 80 trucks have been waiting on the Turkish side of the border, packed with clothing, food, and other aid bound for people living in the vast Hasakah Province, where no aid has arrived for a year. |
| “The Security Council resolution gave us a new opening, a new opportunity to engage” said Yacoub El Hillo, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Syria, who negotiated the deal with Syrian and Turkish government officials. | “The Security Council resolution gave us a new opening, a new opportunity to engage” said Yacoub El Hillo, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Syria, who negotiated the deal with Syrian and Turkish government officials. |
| The United Nations had not suggested this border crossing until recently, largely because of tense relations between President Bashar al-Assad and the government of Turkey, which hosts several of his opponents. The resolution was worded in such a way that United Nations agencies are required to obtain Syrian government permission before they can cross one of its national borders. | The United Nations had not suggested this border crossing until recently, largely because of tense relations between President Bashar al-Assad and the government of Turkey, which hosts several of his opponents. The resolution was worded in such a way that United Nations agencies are required to obtain Syrian government permission before they can cross one of its national borders. |
| The proposed route is further complicated because, as another United Nations official pointed out, it would bring aid through areas largely controlled by militants affiliated with a Kurdish separatist group that the Turkish government considers a terrorist organization. The agreement could therefore allow the Syrian government to appear reasonable in letting in aid, while pointing a finger at its rival Turkey for balking, the official said. | The proposed route is further complicated because, as another United Nations official pointed out, it would bring aid through areas largely controlled by militants affiliated with a Kurdish separatist group that the Turkish government considers a terrorist organization. The agreement could therefore allow the Syrian government to appear reasonable in letting in aid, while pointing a finger at its rival Turkey for balking, the official said. |
| “My perception is that this was a clever move by the Syrian government to make a proposal that will be difficult for the Turks,” the official said. | “My perception is that this was a clever move by the Syrian government to make a proposal that will be difficult for the Turks,” the official said. |
| Recriminations aside, the Council is unlikely to take immediate action against those who defy its legally binding resolution. Russia is certain to veto any further measures that would penalize the Syrian government. | Recriminations aside, the Council is unlikely to take immediate action against those who defy its legally binding resolution. Russia is certain to veto any further measures that would penalize the Syrian government. |
| The United Nations says that more than 250,000 people are trapped in besieged areas. Unicef estimates that half of them are children. | The United Nations says that more than 250,000 people are trapped in besieged areas. Unicef estimates that half of them are children. |
| The scale of the challenge is so vast, according to Anthony Lake, the executive director of Unicef, that even modest improvements would be too little, too late. “I’m quite sure there will be some progress,” he said. “We will need a lot more.” | The scale of the challenge is so vast, according to Anthony Lake, the executive director of Unicef, that even modest improvements would be too little, too late. “I’m quite sure there will be some progress,” he said. “We will need a lot more.” |
| One of the worst-hit areas is the Damascus neighborhood of Yarmouk, where over a dozen rebel groups have been battling for control. Aid trickled in last month and then stopped on Feb. 28, after fighting intensified. | |
| On Tuesday, the United Nations was able to bring in some food. On Wednesday it tried again, but desperate throngs of people made it impossible to distribute anything, said Chris Gunness, a United Nations spokesman. The United Nations has found widespread malnutrition in Yarmouk, which it says has caused a rising number of deaths. | On Tuesday, the United Nations was able to bring in some food. On Wednesday it tried again, but desperate throngs of people made it impossible to distribute anything, said Chris Gunness, a United Nations spokesman. The United Nations has found widespread malnutrition in Yarmouk, which it says has caused a rising number of deaths. |
| The United Nations had been negotiating to send aid convoys into northern Syria from Iraq, but suspended those efforts recently because of the fighting. Likewise, aid agencies have been unable to gain access to civilians near Aleppo, where the rebels have blocked access, as well as the town of Mouadamiya, which has been besieged by government forces, officials said. | The United Nations had been negotiating to send aid convoys into northern Syria from Iraq, but suspended those efforts recently because of the fighting. Likewise, aid agencies have been unable to gain access to civilians near Aleppo, where the rebels have blocked access, as well as the town of Mouadamiya, which has been besieged by government forces, officials said. |
| Mr. El Hillo led negotiations in late February to bring food and medicine into the Old City of Homs, which is controlled by rebel groups, including those affiliated with Al Qaeda. Aid workers have not been able to return to the Old City since then. | Mr. El Hillo led negotiations in late February to bring food and medicine into the Old City of Homs, which is controlled by rebel groups, including those affiliated with Al Qaeda. Aid workers have not been able to return to the Old City since then. |
| “If we were expecting the resolution to make it possible for the U.N. and our partners to reach besieged communities in every part of country today, without delay and without waiting, we haven’t done that yet,” he said. | “If we were expecting the resolution to make it possible for the U.N. and our partners to reach besieged communities in every part of country today, without delay and without waiting, we haven’t done that yet,” he said. |