The aid, which has entered Syria since 2014, is an important lifeline for millions of Syrians. Six months ago, when the Security Council last voted on the issue, the number of border crossings was reduced from four to two.

When the agreement expired last Friday, Syria-allied Russia wanted to remove one of the remaining transitions, the one leading into the Aleppo region of northern Syria from Turkey, and after a week of discussions and voting, Russia finally got through its demand.

The new agreement is valid until July 10, 2021.

Twelve countries voted in favor

Twelve of fifteen countries voted in favor of the proposal - Russia, China and the Dominican Republic abstained. Other European countries in the Council as well as the United States had wanted to keep the two border crossings in Turkey.

Britain's UN Ambassador Jonathan Allen says that by closing a border crossing, "1.3 million people in northwestern Syria are deprived of humanitarian aid that they rely on."

Belgium and Germany: "A border crossing is not enough"

In a joint statement, Belgium and Germany say "a border crossing is not enough, but no border crossing would have risked the fate of an entire region".

Russia, since the Syrian civil war started in 2011, has vetoed resolutions in the Security Council that touches the country 16 times. Several times before, the Russians have received China's support.