UN concludes cross-border humanitarian operations from Türkiye into Syria

UNITED NATIONS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations has concluded its cross-border humanitarian operations from Türkiye into Syria, more than a decade after such operations began, following the reopening of border crossings to commercial traffic and improved access via regular supply routes, a UN spokesperson said Monday.

During those years, the United Nations successfully moved more than 65,000 trucks of critical aid across borders to support an average of 1.25 million people each year, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said at a daily briefing.

"Our humanitarian colleagues say that this was one of the largest and most complex humanitarian supply chains, in terms of the scale of operations, the need to coordinate across multiple borders and authorities, and the challenges of delivering aid through shifting security conditions, damaged infrastructure, and changing access routes inside Syria," he said.

Dujarric said the shift reflected a deliberate transition in how humanitarian aid is delivered, taking place alongside the gradual normalization of Syria's trade links, which has expanded opportunities for bringing humanitarian supplies through regular commercial channels.

However, the needs in Syria remain significantly high, with over 13 million people requiring food assistance, 12 million needing access to clean water and nearly 13 million requiring healthcare support, he added.

In 2014, the UN Security Council authorized the cross-border delivery of humanitarian assistance to Syrians in urgent need. Enditem