The United States and its allies are lobbying Russia to re-establish access for a border crossing from Iraq to eastern Syria that is deemed critical to UN humanitarian aid deliveries to the northeast part of the war-ravaged nation.

There are mounting concerns, however, that not only will Russia refuse to do so but that it will also wield its veto power at the UN Security Council to block UN aid coming through the two remaining access points to northwest Syria via Turkey, sources familiar with the deliberations told Al-Monitor. Moreover, governments who want access restored are divided on how to handle Russia, they said, easing the Kremlin’s ability to impose its will.

The Yaroubiyah crossing was sealed by the UN Security Council under Russian and Chinese pressure on Jan. 10 — a further cynical display of how politics often trump humanitarian concerns at the world body.

Yaroubiyah was the principal hub for medical supplies the World Health Organization delivered to the Kurdish-run autonomous administration in the northeast. Its closure has dealt a powerful blow to the fledgling administration’s efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The central government in Damascus is doing little to ease the Kurds’ plight and the WHO has been blasted over its reluctance to engage the Kurds for fear of upsetting Damascus.