One week later, humanitarian aid still is scarce in Northwestern Syria
One week after the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, humanitarian aid is not reaching Northwest Syria sufficiently. The earthquake hit a region already suffering a humanitarian crisis, a product of the decade-long civil war in Syria. Due to the internal conflict in the country, the flow of humanitarian aid hasn't equally reached all the areas ravaged by the earthquake.
As a result of the civil war, parts of the Syrian territory have been under the control of opposition forces against Bashar al-Assad; this situation complicates the delivery of humanitarian aid. Al- Assad’s regime has been a pariah in the international community, particularly after the serious human rights violations pro-government forces carried out, including the use of chemical weapons against civilians. Al-Assad’s abysmal record on human rights made Western governments reluctant to channel humanitarian aid through the Syrian government. However, due to the survivors' dire situation, the United States temporarily eased sanctions against Syria to facilitate aid delivery. Despite this measure, the flow of Western aid into Syria remains slow; until now, the only European aid that has reached Syria has been a shipment from Italy.
The Syrian region most affected by the earthquake is a complicated mosaic of rival groups controlling different areas. Kurdish militias, jihadist groups, and Syrian government forces have been bitterly fighting against each other since the start of the civil war in 2011. The village of Bsania in the Idlib province is one area where international aid is not properly arriving. The village is close to the border with Türkiye, where rescue and aid efforts differ significantly from those in Syria. The country's northwestern region is largely controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group opposed to Assad's government. The bitter rivalry between Assad's regime and the Islamist group means an obstacle to the delivery of the much-needed aid. Last Sunday, Tahrir al-Sham blocked a UN convoy heading to Idlib from a government-controlled area. Until now Bab al-Hawa border crossing has been the only point for delivering aid. This situation might change soon as the Syrian government recently allowed opening two border crossing points at Bab Al-Salam and Al Raée for humanitarian purposes.
Besides the complexity of Syria's political landscape, humanitarian deliveries might get caught in the crossfire of the Israel-Iran rivalry. Israel has voiced concerns about a potential Iranian operation to ship weapons and other military equipment into Syria disguised as humanitarian aid. The Iranian relief efforts in Syria are coordinated by the commander of the Quds Force, the international operations branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It's no surprise that Israel is watching Iran's relief efforts in Syria closely, and Israeli military officials declared that the IDF will strike any weapons transfer concealed as aid.
The intricate network of political forces in Northwestern Syria constitutes a significant barrier to effectively delivering humanitarian assistance for earthquake victims. The United Nations' call for an immediate ceasefire highlights the situation's urgency and the need for all parties to put aside their differences and work together to deliver aid to the earthquake victims. The opening of two border crossings for aid delivery is a first step in the correct direction. However, the Syrian government, Syrian opposition groups, and the international community still need to step up their efforts to guarantee a more efficient aid flow to the earthquake victims.