Encourages UN Resolution On The Crossing Of The Syrian Border To Distribution Of Assistance, USA: Time Very Important

John Kirby. (Wikimedia Commons/Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)

JAKARTA - The White House on Thursday called on the UN Security Council to issue a resolution allowing earthquake relief to flow from Turkey to Syria.

"People are really dying here," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

"Time is very important," he said.

Earlier this week the United Nations said Syrian President Bashar al Assad had approved aid flowing through two more border points, for at least three months.

Under the approval of the President of Assad, Syria will reopen Chapters of Al Salam and Al Ra'ee from Turkey in addition to Bab Al Eve.

However, the White House lacks confidence that it will abide by the agreement, fearing it could act "in a changing way".

"We believe UN Security Council resolutions could add gravity and additional weight to the decisions that have been made regarding the opening of this crossing," Kirby explained.

Kirby added that the White House wanted a "as soon as possible" resolution.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the deal last week should not replace UN's DK resolution on relief deliveries.

Since an earthquake measuring 7.8 on Turkey and Syria earlier last week, 117 aid trucks have been dispatched to the rebel-controlled northwestern Syrian region to date.

However, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed aid was not provided quickly enough.

"Saving aid has not yet entered Syria at the pace and scale needed after last week's earthquake," he said in a tweet.

More than 40,000 people have died as a result of the February 6 earthquake, including about 4,400 people in northwestern Syria, a UN agency reported.

The Security Council's resolution on increased aid to Syria should be proposed by Brazil and Switzerland, the two countries responsible for Syria's problems.

In order for any resolution to be passed, nine out of 15 member states need to vote in favor without veto from China, France, Russia, Britain, or the US.

The United Nations has sent aid to people in northwestern Syria via Turkey under the mandate of UN DK 2014. Russia, a Syrian ally, said the previous mandate to allow one border crossing was sufficient.

Meanwhile, Washington last week accused Moscow of complicating efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria.