UNITED NATIONS — Syria’s president has agreed to open two new crossing factors from Turkey to the nation’s rebel-held northwest to ship desperately wanted assist and gear for tens of millions of earthquake victims, the United Nations introduced Monday.

U.N. Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres welcomed the choice by Syrian chief Bashar Assad to open crossing factors at Bab Al-Salam and Al Raée for an preliminary interval of three months.

At present, the U.N. has solely been allowed to ship assist to the northwest Idlib space by means of a single crossing at Bab Al-Hawa.

Guterres stated in an announcement the toll from the quake “continues to mount, delivering meals, well being, diet, safety, shelter, winter provides and different life-saving provides to all of the tens of millions of individuals affected is of the utmost urgency.”

“Opening these crossing factors — together with facilitating humanitarian entry, accelerating visa approvals and easing journey between hubs — will permit extra assist to go in, quicker,” the U.N. chief stated.

The announcement adopted a gathering in Damascus between Assad and U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths. It got here throughout a closed assembly of the U.N. Safety Council, which was briefed by Griffiths.