During the month of July, SACD worked to move the conversation on humanitarian aid to north-west Syria away from the Russian blackmail at the UN Security Council, clearly demonstrating there is every moral, political and, most importantly, legal argument for the aid to Idlib to continue even if the UNSC approval is withheld. SACD addressed the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and key states involved in discussions on Syria with reasons as to why such aid is legal, and presented its recommendations on the issue.   

 In addition, SACD supported dozens of Syrian organizations who formed a human chain near Bab al-Hawa crossing in support cross-border aid resolution renewal. The closure of this crossing will cause an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and displacement towards Europe and Turkey. The Association also held a campaign under hashtag #AidtoIdlibIsNotIllegal to assert that humanitarian aid is an indispensable rights to all Syrians and must not be politicized nor compromised.  

 Toby Cadman, one of 35 international law experts who in 2014 issued an opinion which establishes why the UN SC approval is not a condition for the aid to opposition-held areas of Syria to be legal, spoke to SACD in support of its advocacz on the issue. In a conversation with Refik Hodzic, he reiterated this position, speaks about the need for greater transparency of the UN OLA and explains the political nature of the paralysis which threatens millions of lives in northern Syria.  

 In a similar conversation with Rebecca Barber, an Australian scholar of international law, we discussed the sources of assumption that the UN SC must approve cross border aid to Idlib, and alternative approaches that could end Russia’s chokehold threatening more than 3 million people with starvation.  

 Amid the horrifying events taking place in Daraa and Idlib, the Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity called on the key countries and the United Nations agencies involved in Syria to urgently elevate the issue of displacement of Syrians and the creation of a safe environment for their safe, voluntary and dignified return to the top of the political discussion on the future of the country.  

 The deteriorating security situation in Daraa illustrated the safe environment as defined by Russia. In that “safe environment” Syrians still suffer from murder, kidnapping, arrest, displacement and death while trying to flee. Daraa continues to show a microcosm of what the reality for all of Syria would be if Russia was to “guarantee” safe environment for millions of displaced Syrians.  

  Ironically, while the Assad regime and Russia are talking about the return of displaced Syrians, the regime was forcing Syrian citizens to leave Daraa to north Syria, while bombing north Syria and forcing already displaced Syrians to flee to Turkey and Europe.