Russia on Friday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution extending cross-border aid from Turkey to northwest Syria by one year without Damascus’s backing, Reuters reported.
The resolution received 13 votes in favour, while China abstained.
Western states called for continuing the aid mechanism while Russia sought that the UN aid deliveries are transferred to the opposition-held areas through areas under Syrian government’s control.
UN director at Human Rights Watch Louis Charbonneau said to Al Jazeera that it was unclear how aid would be delivered if the mandate was not renewed.
The authorisation for aid deliveries through Bab al-Hawa, which has been in effect since 2014, is set to expire on 10 July.