The world body had previously suggested that air drops would need government approval, undermining the idea that the government of President Bashar al-Assad could be strongarmed into accepting aid by the threat of air drops.
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Access to millions of Syrians in need of help is worsening as violence increases across the war-torn country, the United Nations humanitarian chief warned Friday, and the Security Council announced it will formally ask Damascus to allow air drops to besieged areas.
Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations mediator of Syria peace talks, has said he wants to see improved humanitarian access, as well as a renewed lull in the fighting, before announcing a date for a new round of peace talks in Geneva after the last round ended on 28 April.
The joint U.N., International Committee of the Red Cross, and Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy that reached Daraya Wednesday contained medicines, vaccines, baby formula, and “nutritional items for children”, the ICRC said, but no food.
The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria is calling for the U.S., Russian Federation and the world community to support possible airdrops of food and other critically needed supplies to besieged areas of Syria.
Peace talks to end Syria’s five-year war stalled in April after the opposition walked out ove escalating violence and lack of humanitarian access.
The Pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen channel based in Beirut said the offensive aims to regain control of the IS stronghold of Tabqa near the city of Raqqa, the extremists’ de facto capital.
HNC official Bassma Kodmani said the armed factions would nevertheless abide by a cease-fire if the government does as well, saying the opposition group consults the rebels before making decisions.
Syrian opposition negotiator Basma Kodmani said the aid to Daraya and nearby Mouadamiya, another besieged zone, was only a first step that had come about as a result of extreme global pressure on the Syrian government, and substantial change was still needed.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to decide whether to go ahead with air drops in Syria after the Damascus regime allowed convoys to enter two besieged towns.
Foua and Kafraya, two Shia towns in Idlib province, are considered besieged by rebel forces, while Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria is considered besieged by the Islamic State group, and has already been targeted with air drops.
The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a special meeting Friday to assess whether aid workers have access to besieged areas in Syria as demanded last month by major world powers.
The UN food agency says airdrops are always a last resort as access by land is more efficient.
Also on Friday, the United States military said that Syrian rebels advancing on IS group fighters in the strategic northern city of Manbij have seized more than 40 square miles (100 square kilometers) this week.
It agreed to partial deliveries to Moadamiyeh, Daraya and Douma, which are besieged by regime forces.
Russia’s defence ministry said a temporary ceasefire, or “regime of calm”, had taken effect from Wednesday for 48 hours in the town to allow humanitarian aid to be distributed to thousands of civilians in dire need.
The Syrian Democratic Forces alliance has seized some 20 villages outside the town, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
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Egeland said that, thus far, 14 out of the 19 besieged areas on the Task Forces list had been reached since the beginning of the year.
