Security Council re-authorizes cross-border aid mechanism for Syrians

The UN Security Council on Friday re-authorized the cross-border aid mechanism for the Syrian people, which expires at midnight, after heated discussion.

The 15-member council adopted a resolution, prepared by Belgium and Germany, which re-authorized two of the existing four crossings on the Syria-Turkey border under the mechanism for six months.

Eleven members voted yes for the resolution and rest four -- Russia, China, Britain and the United States -- abstained.

The meeting to hold the vote was postponed for about three hours, as "the text might be still being worked on" till the last minute, according to British Permanent Representative to the UN Karen Pierce, who spoke to reporters during the delay.

Since 2014, the Security Council has authorized the delivery of aid through four border crossings -- Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Hawa in Turkey, al-Yarubiyah in Iraq, and al-Ramtha in Jordan.