New Report Makes Major Accusation Against U.N. Activity in Syria

In a report released Wednesday, more than 50 humanitarian and human rights organizations active in Syria allege the United Nations (U.N.) had violated its principle of impartiality by allowing the Syrian regime to control the flow of aid deliveries.

The report entitled “Taking Sides: The United Nations’ Loss Of Impartiality, Independence And Neutrality In Syria,” was released by a human rights group called The Syria Campaign. It cites testimony gathered during numerous interviews with current and former U.N. workers, as well as others on the ground.

The report claims that the U.N. has granted the regime of Bashar al Assad “effective veto over aid deliveries to areas outside of government control, enabling its use of siege as a weapon of war.”

Others, including U.N. insiders, have leveled the same criticism against the U.N.

“There has been a systematic failure in the U.N.-led response. Rather than basing its response on need, it has developed into a billion-dollar response program that is largely controlled by the regime and its proxies,” Roger Hearn, former head of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency in in Damascus, told Al Jazeera.

The U.N. has not responded to a request for comment or the report, but it has said previously that a tougher stance on the Syrian regime could jeopardize aid operations.