Syrian President Bashar al-Assad agreed to allow United Nations to deliver aid to Syria through two new border crossings from Turkey Within three months, UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths said at a closed session of the Security Council today, diplomats said.

Griffiths met with Assad in Damascus today, a week after the devastating earthquake which shocked Turkey and Syria, leaving behind more than 37,000 dead.

According to the statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres immediately responded to Syrian President Assad’s decision to open two new checkpoints between Turkey and northwestern Syria for three months to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to earthquake victims.

“I welcome the decision of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to open the two Bab al-Salam and Al-Ray checkpoints between Turkey and northwestern Syria for an initial period of three months,” Guterres said.

Areas of northwestern Syria are controlled by anti-regime forces.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters, AFP.}