This article outlines how Syria gets help from neighboring countries in a time of constant warfare and need. Some of the countries part of the United Nations believe that Syria should only be allowed to receive aid through the government channels from Damascus, hence the three out of four humanitarian borders being closed off by Russia and China from 2014. However, the security council, in a rare time of agreement, extended the cross border operation. This will allow for the humanitarian borders into Syria to be used for another twelve or so months until the United Nations come to another agreement on how the situation should be handled.
This article is important because it reveals how some countries neighboring Syria can get uncomfortable with what Syria can give and take with their neighboring countries. Some countries in the United Nations, like Russia and China, would want more supervision over what they are receiving and giving out, which is why they prefer there to be no humanitarian borders and that exchanges and aid go through the government channels of Damascus. While this view does make sense, Syria would not be able to receive the aid it needs quickly enough through the government channels. This is why the humanitarian borders are necessary for Syria to stay in good shape.
This article relates to what we talk about in class through having presence in other countries. Neighboring countries want to make sure they keep a close eye on what is going on between borders near them. The exchanges that are going on between ones neighboring countries are important to monitor. A country needs to know whether they can trust what is going on around which is why they would prefer for exchanges to go through government channels that are supervised, however sometimes this is not always the best solution.