UN aid convoy arrives in Syria via newly opened corridor

The first UN aid convoy has entered through a newly reopened border crossing into rebel-held north-western Syria. 

Syria is still reeling from last week’s devastating earthquakes in neighbouring Turkey. The quakes collapsed thousands of buildings, leaving many trapped underneath, and millions without homes, food and water. 

The quakes have so far killed more than 41,000 people in both Turkey and Syria. 

The UN said 11 lorries crossed from Turkey at Bab al-Salameh on Tuesday. 

Many Syrians have been angry over the lack of aid, especially in rebel areas. 

Syria – already devastated by the civil war – agreed with the UN on Monday to use two more crossings, to get aid into the country. 

The other aid corridor is at al-Rai, also on the Turkish border. The UN said the crossings will be open for three months. 

Hopes of finding survivors fading 

The two powerful earthquakes struck the south-eastern regions of Turkey on 6 February early in the morning, when many people were asleep.

Hopes of finding more survivors are fading. 

Countries with friendly relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, including Russia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, began flying supplies to government-controlled areas of Syria soon after the tremor. 

But the opposition-controlled north-west – where some 4.1 million people were relying on humanitarian assistance to survive even before the disaster – received no aid deliveries from the UN via Turkey until Thursday.

The UN blamed damage to roads leading to the Bab al-Hawa crossing, which until the other two corridors were opened for aid, was the only land route allowed to be used.