Syrian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bassam Sabbagh announced on Saturday that his country has extended permission for the United Nations to use two additional border crossings to bring aid to those affected by the earthquake for another 3 months.
Sabbagh said – in a tweet on Twitter – that Damascus decided to "extend the permission granted to the United Nations and its specialized agencies to use the Bab al-Salama and al-Rai crossings for an additional 3 months," ending on August 13.
"The decision was based on Syria's keenness to promote stability and improve the living and humanitarian conditions of all Syrians, and comes as part of efforts to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to all those in need throughout Syria," he said.
On Friday, a U.N. spokesman said the U.N. had asked the regime in Syria to extend its agreement to deliver aid through the two additional crossings to rebel-held areas.
Amnesty International has also called on the UN to continue delivering aid to northern Syria through two crossings that Damascus had agreed to use for only three months following the devastating earthquake in the area.
Three months ago, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced Damascus' approval of the passage of UN aid through the Bab al-Salama and al-Rai crossings.
During the early days of the earthquake that killed more than 55,<> people in Turkey and Syria on Feb. <>, local aid organizations and opposition activists criticized the United Nations for delaying the dispatch of relief and humanitarian aid convoys in response to the disaster, which exacerbated the suffering of the population, who are already suffering from difficult living conditions after years of war.