Data Tells Us Why Cross-Line Cannot Replace Cross-Border Operations

Analysis Report – June 2021

On July 10, 2021, UN Security Council resolution UNSCR 2533 (2020) will be voted on in the Security Council for renewal, which currently provides authorization for United Nations humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners to use the Bab al-Hawa border crossing to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches people in need throughout Syria. Failure to renew Security Council resolution 2533 (2020), and the resulting closure of Bab al-Hawa border crossing to UN humanitarian assistance will have a devastating impact on the well-being of millions of Syrians in northwest Syria, including children and displaced persons. Redirecting UN humanitarian assistance through Damascus and placing increased dependence on national capacity to distribute assistance throughout northwest Syria in an effective and timely manner is infeasible.

According to the data of the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan 2021 (HRP 2021), which is a process led by OCHA, Damascus-hub partners and national NGOs would need to scale up their capacity 249% to meet the required humanitarian needs in northwest Syria. Based on this data, such a short-term remobilization dependent on cross-line operations is not possible to meet the needs of at-risk Syrians in 2021.

Nexus Action joins voice with UN agencies and a myriad of international and national NGOs to call upon the members of the Security Council to unanimously vote to renew Security Council resolution 2533 (2020) to sustain the delivery of humanitarian assistance through the most direct routes and ensure humanitarian emergency assistance is delivered on the basis of need, devoid of any political prejudices and aims, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2139 (2014).