Agreement to reopen crossing to Syria’s northwest will safeguard independent UN operations, UN says

By EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations says the agreement it reached with Syria to reopen the main border crossing from Turkey to the country’s rebel-held northwest for six months safeguards the independence of U.N. operations and allows it to provide aid to all parties. The agreement, which was announced Tuesday, will reopen the Bab al-Hawa crossing, which had been used for 85% of deliveries to the northwest Idlib region. U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Wednesday the U.N. is ready to resume operations through Bab al-Hawa as soon as possible, but it will take some time to get trucks moving. Syria also agreed to keep two other crossings open.