DAMASCUS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Syrian authorities said on Wednesday that all humanitarian aid must enter the country through Damascus-approved channels, rejecting calls to establish alternative cross-border corridors, particularly in the southern province of Sweida.
An unnamed official, quoted by state news agency SANA, said deliveries must be coordinated directly with Damascus to ensure they are "safe and organized." The official said the Syrian authorities have granted United Nations agencies the necessary approvals and that Syrian relief convoys continue to operate regularly.
The statement amounts to a rejection of proposals from Sweida to open aid corridors through Jordan or Israel. The SANA report said the policy applies nationwide.
The announcement came amid escalating unrest in Sweida, where Druze armed groups have clashed with Sunni-led factions and government forces. Israel has previously provided medical assistance in the area, complicating the dispute over aid access. ■
