Why did Syria earthquake aid take so long? - BBC News

The UN's delay in delivering aid to Syrian victims of last month's earthquake has been criticised.

Legal experts have said the UN did not need to wait for permission to enter from the Syrian government or the Security Council and could have applied a broader interpretation of international law.

It took a week before the UN got approval from Syria's president to open extra border crossings to allow access to the opposition-held north-west.

The UN disputes that it could have acted differently. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the lack of emergency teams was down to national government decision-making.