This event is one of two back-to-back panels on lessons learned and cross-border aid. It will be immediately followed by the following event with enough time left in between for participants to attend both: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/cross-border-humanitarian-assistance-light-february-6th-earthquakes-lessons-learned-syrian_en

Objective:

• Share how and why cross-border came about and some of the opportunities and concerns created by the protracted use of a life-saving humanitarian access solution.
• To emphasise the necessity of sustained cross-border assistance in Syria ahead of the July UNSC resolution renewal.
• To highlight the need for cross-border assistance to meet the needs of the local population, specifically the need for longterm programmes that support resilience and support early recovery in the area.
• To suggest some ways forward for reclaiming some of the lost space around international norms for humanitarian access seen in Syria and in other, similar, examples.

Event description:

Syria's UNSC resolution permitting humanitarian assistance to be delivered by notification to, rather than the consent of, the Syrian regime was an innovative solution to an enduring problem of arbitrary aid access denial when it was agreed nine years ago. Since then, the resolution must be renewed every 6-12 months through a process that has become increasingly contentious.

In the wake of the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria, the fragility of this architecture and the response's ability to continue providing aid in the wake of access challenges was exposed. The use of two extra crossings was permitted by the consent of the regime in February and again through a renewal in May. Ensuring that at least one crossing remains mandated through the resolution UNSC resolution renewal in July is the only way to guarantee continued programming in the region.

Meanwhile, residents of north west Syria have a wide range needs that, due to the protracted nature of the crisis, are increasingly under the early recovery and livelihoods pillar. Longterm shelter, education in adequate schools, hospitals and clinics, clean water and electricity and economic opportunities are all essential now that the immediate conflict-related violence has abated for three years.

The pathway to securing the resolution and the extraordinary and creative efforts to create and develop the cross-border mechanism and the north west response have been admirable. There is much to celebrate here, but there are several lessons to be drawn from this experience to inform the future of this response and to help reassert the international norms around humanitarian aid access.

This event will feature top-line findings and recommendations from recent research into the aid response as well as interventions from Syrian aid actors involved in the north west response an opportunity to highlight needs on the ground ahead of the UNSC resolution renewal and pledging meeting.

Event format:

Each speaker to give short interventions with a brief Q&A session with the audience.

Speakers:

Emma Beals – Presenting Syria-specific and high-level findings of recent research on Syria's aid response and recommendations for the cross-border response.

Fadi AlDairi, Hand in Hand and NGO Forum – Presenting NNGO and NGO advocacy points on cross-border and cross-border renewal.

Lubna Kanawati, Women Now – Describing the needs of women and girls in the NW and how to meet them through programmes, funding, and appropriate access.

Additional Speakers TBC

Audience:

Donors, UN agencies, INGOs, CSOs etc in Brussels to attend the BXL7 pledging conference.