Russia Clashes With West at UN Over Aid to Imperiled Syrians

  • Russia, China veto resolution calling for two aid corridors
  • Russia seeks to cut down UN aid further in latest resolution

A man works as residents reconstruct their damaged homes in the al-Zahraa neighborhood of Aleppo on July 6.

Source: AFP via Getty Images
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Truckloads of food and medicine bearing the United Nations insignia are getting ensnared in a political struggle between Russia and the West, with millions of Syrians caught in the middle.

Russia has been working since late last year to effectively end a UN humanitarian operation that delivers goods to Syrians from neighboring countries, arguing it undermines the sovereignty of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. In response to a Western effort to extend aid on Tuesday, Russia instead proposed to cut it down further, diplomats said.