The Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution to renew authorization of cross-border and cross-line humanitarian access to Syria for a further 12 months till January 10, 2019, according to a United Nations press release.

Resolution 2393 was adopted with 12 votes in favor with three abstentions by Bolivia, China and Russia, authorising United Nations humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners to use four border crossings.

The extension also included the use of routes between areas under control by different groups in the conflict, following notification to Syrian authorities.

It requests the Syrian authorities to “expeditiously respond to all requests for cross‑line deliveries by the humanitarian partners” and “reiterated its demand that the authorities and all parties comply with their obligations under humanitarian law to allow aid access,” adding that some of the violations in Syria could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The resolution requests UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to conduct, within six months of the adoption of the resolution, an independent written review of the UN humanitarian cross-border operations, including recommendations on how to further strengthen the UN monitoring mechanism.

However, some council members also expressed reservations, noting that, even with improved access, the suffering would not end until a Syrian‑led political solution was found through full participation of all parties in the Geneva process.