The Turkish Blockade of Medical Relief to Syria

by Lina Murad, MD
Interventional Nephrologist in DC area

We are on day 7 after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria and only one UN convoy has found its way to NW Syria through the only open border crossing of Bab Al Hawa.

Cross line aid has been controlled by the Syrian regime, known to syphon aid away from areas not under its control. Now that these two crossings are the only way into Syria, the leaders of the regime and Turkey are politicizing this tragic event to legitimize their own interest. Assad has already extracted concession from US to normalize its trade for 180 days.

Turkey’s Erdogan is looking to score points against opposition by reducing aid to Syria and keeping aid at home.

It has Hijacked EU efforts to dispatch medical aid to Syria using its military affiliates HTS to block Bab al Hawa crossing and seal all other crossings used in the past by medical NGOs.

In addition, it blocked aid sent from the NE region of Syria by blocking the only commercial crossing between NE and NW Syria through deploying Turkmen militants supported by Turkey.

Syrian American NGOs ‘convoys similar to the EU’s are blocked at the Turkish border. These NGOs have long relinquished their existence to their northern neighbor that controls all their aid delivery, their financial transactions and their permit to enter Syria.

Medical NGOs in the region are not able to advocate for themselves because speaking up against Turkey will hinder their operations.
EU countries which aid convoys are also blocked at the border are not willing to contradict Turkey and threaten its acceptance of Sweden and Finland joining NATO.

The US is the only country that can negotiate with, or pressure Turkey to open other crossings to Aleppo and other NW areas.

It can also strike a deal with Turkey to ease its control over the crossing between the two Syrian North. This step would allow for immediate medical aid delivery to the NW and foster better relations between moderate Syrians on both sides.

This step can lead to alienating extremists from both Syrian northern areas, the PKK in the Northeast and the MB affiliates of Turkey in the Norhtwest.