MOSCOW. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Ministry representative Igor Tsarikov has expressed concern about the activity of the United States and its allies in Syria.
"Concern about the suspicious activity of the United States and its allies in Syria has been growing. The illegal occupation of the 55-kilometer zone around the at-Tanf base remains the main source of destabilization in that part of Syria," Tsarikov said at a meeting of the Russian-Syrian interagency taskforce promoting the return of Syrian refugees.
The humanitarian operation of early November was a failure from the organizational point of view, Tsarikov said. Representatives of the United Nations and the Syria Arab Red Crescent were not allowed to cross into the U.S.-occupied zone.
"Maghawir al-Thawra gunmen distributed the humanitarian aid. Due to the lack of relevant control, a substantial part of humanitarian supplies failed to reach the needy, going to illegal armed formations instead," Tsarikov said.
The U.S. bears full responsibility for the disastrous situation of the civilian population in this area, but the mistakes made during the first humanitarian operation with the silent consent of the United Nations may be repeated if a second humanitarian convoy is sent to the Rukban camp, he said.
"In our opinion, authoritative international organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, should take part in the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid. We insistently urge our partners not to make the same mistakes; the efforts should focus on closing this camp and resettling its inhabitants," Tsarikov said.