Vice-President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Ruba Habboush, stressed that humanitarian aid is a basic right to all those in need in Syria, adding that the international community should be ashamed of itself for succumbing to Russian blackmail with regard to the humanitarian aid.
Habboush pointed out that this blackmail is unprecedented, and that the renewal of the UN mandate for the cross-border delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need in Syria must not be subject to bargaining.
Habboush stressed that any bargaining of this kind must be rejected, calling for an increased aid to those in need as food baskets are currently insufficient.
Moreover, Habboush stressed that even though Russia’s is seeking to block the extension of the UN mandate, it is well aware that the Assad regime is benefiting from this aid as it uses it in its war against the Syrian people.
She added that many photos and videos showed how the Assad regime is distributing food baskets and humanitarian and logistical aid to its militias and military forces.
Habboush stressed that the UN Security Council and aid agencies need to establish a strict mechanism for the delivery of humanitarian aid to those who deserve it so that aid does not get lost in the regime’s labyrinth of corruption.
She also stressed that the delivery of humanitarian aid to millions of Syrians is a temporary solution, and that the real, sustainable solution lies in enforcing all UN resolutions and achieving the aspirations of the Syrian people for freedom, dignity and democracy.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
