India should step-up support for direct aid to Syrians: HRW

India should be more explicit in supporting humanitarian relief efforts in Syria, Human Rights Watch has said and asked other BRICS nations China and Russia to do the same.
The appeal comes after UN Under Secretary-General Valerie Amos briefed the United Nations Security Council about the humanitarian situation in Syria yesterday, telling the members that 6.8 million people were in need of help.
"There is no justification for keeping humanitarian aid from going directly to people who need it in Syria...India needs to raise its voice in their support," said Carroll Bogert, deputy executive director for external relations at Human Rights Watch.

"The Indian government, along with Brazil and South Africa, should engage with members of the UN Security Council to be more explicit in supporting humanitarian relief efforts across borders, and to call on Syria to allow such aid," she added.
Nearly one-third of Syria's population is estimated to be in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
According to a statement released here, the human rights watchdog claimed that the Security Council had, under pressure from permanent members Russia and China, not called upon the Syrian government to allow UN to transport humanitarian aid directly over its borders into opposition-held areas where aid is needed most.

Earlier in March, BRICS countries had called for "immediate, safe, full and unimpeded access to humanitarian agencies to all in need of assistance" in Syria after a summit meeting.

But it did not expressly call on Syria to allow direct provision of humanitarian aid across its borders.
Syria has only allowed some "cross-line" aid deliveries that originate in Damascus and are then taken to rebel-held areas.
However, Amos told the Council that the UN has to seek permission from two Syrian government ministers for each truck that then travels more than 300 kilometers through several government controlled checkpoints to reach those in need.

She also noted that the more direct route for such shipments from the Turkish border would only be 50 kilometers.
Amos told the Council that the situation in the Middle Eastern country was reaching "the point of no return," with 4.25 million internally displaced, and 1.3 million refugees in neighbouring countries.