UN approves exempting humanitarian aid from all UN sanctions

By EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council has overwhelmingly approved a resolution exempting humanitarian aid from all current and future U.N. sanctions regimes, a vote the United States hailed as “historic” that will save lives and address longstanding problems of sanctions impeding aid deliveries. The  resolution was immediately hailed by humanitarian organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Norwegian Refugee Council whose Secretary General Jan Egeland said “it will protect humanitarian action from the crippling impacts of sanctions regimes at a time when needs are skyrocketing.” The vote on the resolution co-sponsored by the United Statesand Ireland was 14-0 with India abstaining.