The UN s humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said aid dispatched Wednesday to Moadimayet al-Sham and four other besieged towns was enough for 93,000 people.
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The Syrian government swiftly objected, however, to de Mistura’s implication that their commitment to allowing humanitarian aid was not guaranteed and needed to be tested. But those efforts have been clouded by the intense fighting north of Aleppo, where various forces backed by regional and worldwide rivals are clashing over a crucial strip of land linking Syria’s largest city to the border with Turkey. Russian Federation has said it will continue to strike extremists in Syria despite a planned truce.
De Mistura is making the surprise visit as world powers push for a ceasefire in the Syrian conflict.
De Mistura said after the meeting with al-Muallem that they discussed the humanitarian access to all besieged Syrian areas, not only those besieged by the government, but those under the siege of the opposition and Daesh (ISIL) as well.
Later in the day, a United Nations spokesperson in NY reported that Mr.de Mistura had announced that access to besieged areas had been obtained for convoys, which are coordinated by the United Nations country team.
Still, the convoys appeared to be preparing to head to besieged areas Wednesday.
Hillo said supplies for 20,000 people were to be delivered to the Shiite towns of Fuaa and Kafraya, in northwestern Idlib province, which are surrounded by rebel forces.
“Syria now needs to test the truthfulness of the United Nations envoy”, the ministry added.
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The convoys represent the third humanitarian aid delivery to the besieged communities after two similar efforts last month.
