Lawyers Say U.N. Aid Does Not Need Syria’s Consent

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/29/world/americas/un-aid-syrias-consent.html

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UNITED NATIONS — United Nations agencies and other charitable organizations do not need the permission of the Syrian government to deliver humanitarian relief to civilians trapped in the fighting and destruction from the three-year-old civil war there, a group of international lawyers and academics argued in an open letter released on Monday.

The letter, signed by 35 lawyers, including Hans Corell, the former chief legal counsel of the United Nations, added a prominent new legal argument to demands by rights advocates and nongovernmental organizations that have been pressing to deliver aid. The letter was scheduled for publication in several newspapers on Tuesday, including The Guardian of Britain, Libération of France and Al Hayat, a pan-Arab daily.

“Blatant disregard for the most basic rules of international humanitarian law by the Syrian government and elements of the opposition is causing millions to suffer,” the letter asserted. “But this appalling situation has been compounded by an overly cautious interpretation of international humanitarian law, which has held U.N. agencies back from delivering humanitarian aid across borders.”

The letter asserted that “there is no legal barrier to the U.N. directly undertaking cross-border humanitarian operations and supporting NGOs to undertake them as well.”

Its publication comes as the United Nations finds itself repeatedly blocked by government authorities in Syria as it tries to deliver food, medicines and other basic supplies to endangered Syrian civilians.

A resolution passed in late February by the Security Council urged the government to authorize cross-border deliveries of aid, but stopped short of authorizing United Nations agencies from entering the country without consent.

Some diplomats have said such cross-border deliveries would require backing up U.N. aid convoys with some military protection, including air cover, in case of an attack.