The Al Ya’rubiyah (Tıl Kocer) Border Point, a crossing point on the Syrian-Iraqi border, was closed due to the veto of Russia and China at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2020. As a result of this more than one million migrants in North and East Syria have been deprived of humanitarian aid.
Some considerable time has passed and now the opening of the border point is once more on the agenda. The United Nations wants the Al-Ya’rubiyah Border Point, located between Iraq and Northeast Syria, to be reopened so that humanitarian aid can be delivered to people who have been living in conflict zones for years.
Since 2014 humanitarian aid has been delivered to Syria through just four border points in accordance with international resolutions. Two of these points are on the border with Turkey, one with Jordan and the other, Al-Ya’rubiyah, with Iraq.
With the renewal of the regulations in 2020, delivery of aid is currently only possible through the two border points between Turkey and Syria. The border crossing at Al-Ya’rubiyah and the one between Syria and Jordan are still closed.
The UN Security Council will meet this week and decide on the future of Al-Ya’rubiyah border point. It is expected to be opened in accordance with a draft law aiming at securing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the peoples of Syria and submitted to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by Norway and Ireland, however, whether or not Russia and China will veto the resolution is still unknown.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) issued a statement regarding the situation.
“Til Koçer (Al-Ya’rubiyah) border point is the most important one for the survival of the people in the region. It was closed following the veto exercised by Russia and China on 8 June 2020. This veto was intended to support the policy of siege against the people of the region. It also means to stand against the gains made following the defeat of ISIS with the support of the International Coalition,” read the AANES statement.
The AANES called on the international community for support: “As AANES, we call on the International Community and the UN to keep the humanitarian situation separate from the political interests of certain countries, and to open the Til Koçer Border Point for the sake of our besieged people. The opening of Til Koçer Point will represent the fulfillment of international responsibility towards our people.”
