In a recent development regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, the United Nations (UN) has deemed the conditions set by the Syrian government as "unacceptable" for allowing aid to reach rebel-held territory. The UN's response comes after Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bassam Sabbagh, announced that his government would permit aid to enter the country via the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey.

The Bab al-Hawa border crossing has been a crucial lifeline for approximately 4.1 million people in northwestern Syria who depend on humanitarian aid deliveries. However, the fate of this vital supply route remained uncertain after members of the UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement to keep the crossing open.

In a letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General, Ambassador Sabbagh stated that the Syrian government had made a "sovereign decision" to allow aid to pass through Bab al-Hawa over the next six months. He added that deliveries would resume in "full co-operation and co-ordination with the Syrian government."

Nevertheless, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) responded with concern, highlighting two significant issues in a document sent to the Security Council. Firstly, the Syrian government insisted that the UN should refrain from communicating with entities designated as "terrorist." President Bashar al-Assad has frequently labeled rebel groups and opponents of his regime as terrorists throughout Syria's civil war, which began in 2011.

Secondly, Damascus demanded that the distribution of all aid in northwest Syria be supervised and facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). The OCHA pointed out that this condition was problematic as neither the ICRC nor the SARC were present in the area, making it impractical and inconsistent with the UN's independence.

Despite the UN's objections to Syria's conditions, the OCHA acknowledged that the Syrian government's offer could serve as a "basis for the United Nations to lawfully conduct cross-border humanitarian operations via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing."

The situation remains fluid, with negotiations ongoing between the Syrian government and the international community to find a resolution that ensures the continued flow of essential aid to the millions of people in need in northwestern Syria. The UN's primary concern remains the well-being and access to vital resources for those affected by the conflict in the region.