Russia's relations with Syria, which began in the time of the USSR, go back to 1946. Since then, events in the Middle East have naturally brought the two countries increasingly closer together, and the Syrian Arab Republic has become Russia's most important partner in the Middle East. While Russia has established military bases in Syria, it has also met almost all of Syria's military and economic needs since the 1980s. This led to a traditional proximity between the two countries that still survives.
Various other details also stand out in Russia's approach to today's Syrian crisis. Like all regional countries, Russia regards the presence of radical groups among the opposition as a threat. Russia keeps supporting Assad due to the probability of a bloody conflict in a post-Assad Syria. Meanwhile, Russia's recent official disapproval of the Assad government's treatment of its people shows its deep concern about the human suffering unfolding. Despite Russia's policy of support for Syria, it also frequently states it does not side with the Assad government and simply intends to stop violence in the country and forestall any external interventions.
Time works against the people in Syria. In the last three years, some 120,000 people have lost their lives in the Syrian civil war. An estimated 5,000 Syrians are dying every month, according to the United Nations. Over the last month, Assad's forces have stepped up their air bombardments and only last week killed more than 200 people in four days, half of them being children, in Aleppo. This was the "most intensive government bombardment of Aleppo since the beginning of this conflict," according to Human Rights Watch.
Facing poverty and hunger, people need humanitarian assistance of all kinds. Especially in the opposition-controlled areas where it is impossible to find food, 5 million innocent people are threatened by starvation. Especially due to the absence of healthy drinking water for a year, children in particular are threatened by epidemics. A total of 5.5 million children, 436, 000 under the age of five, are facing death, under the most terrible conditions.
Although such a horrific picture attracts the world's attention to Syria and the international community is ready to provide all sorts of humanitarian aid, they can not be delivered to the Syrian people, especially to those living at the checkpoints controlled by Assad forces, for such attempts are thwarted by regime forces.
Russia can be an intermediary in aid reaching the people
Russia can assist international aid organisations in getting humanitarian aid to reach Syria, which has not been permitted so far by Assad. But now, with Assad's recent announcement on 10 December, on condition of Turkey's absence in the process, there is permission for aid deliverance via air. Since some UN initiatives to send aid via Turkey have already been prevented, Russia is the best option now to get aid through to the suffering Syrian people.
The Russian state, which enjoys close relations with the Assad government and Iran, can provide effective solutions on the issue of opening up a humanitarian corridor, the sending in of planes for aid purposes or lifting the blockade on humanitarian aid, even if only in some places.
Aid from other countries, including Turkey, under the supervision of Russian troops, its being brought to the people of Syria under Russian control, andthe opening of a corridor in the regions in question, again under Russian supervision, is doubtlessly the most effective way of meeting the urgent humanitarian needs.

With Russian backing, the suffering people can be entirely evacuated from the country
As conditions worsen every day, another important and urgent issue is to remove the people from the country, especially from the zones under heavy shelling. Russia's involvement in this process will surely ease the evacuation of innocent civilians from the country and getting humanitarian assistance through via Turkey. This is also a relief on Assad's part, who is concerned with Turkey's involvement.
Russia is the only country that can secure an equal distribution of humanitarian aid to people residing in zones under the control of Assad forces and those under the sway of the opposition. In the event that Russia makes such a decision, it will receive all kinds of material and moral assistance from the global public.
The issue discussed here is not politicised units supporting one side or the other, but innocent people and children in need of assistance. Traditional strategies and personal interests must be set aside. It is our most profound hope that Russia, as a leading nation, will display the sensitivity to take the initiatives required.

Adnan Oktar (aka Harun Yahya) has authored more than 300 books in 73 langauages on political, faith-related and scientific topics. Twitter: @harun_yahya