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Aid Convoy in Syria Delivers Food to Rebel-Held Area Aid Convoy in Syria Delivers Food to Rebel-Held Area
(about 1 hour later)
GENEVA — An international aid convoy has delivered food supplies to the rebel-held town of Daraya in Syria for the first time since 2012, when the town came under siege by government forces, the United Nations said on Friday.GENEVA — An international aid convoy has delivered food supplies to the rebel-held town of Daraya in Syria for the first time since 2012, when the town came under siege by government forces, the United Nations said on Friday.
Trucks from the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent brought enough food to feed 2,400 people for a month, according to Jens Laerke, a spokesman of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.Trucks from the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent brought enough food to feed 2,400 people for a month, according to Jens Laerke, a spokesman of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Any sense of relief, however, was tempered by concerns that the food supplies would only last a month and that the United Nations had underestimated the number of people in the town, the local council and a monitoring group reported. Any sense of relief, however, was tempered by concerns that the supplies would only last a month and that the United Nations had underestimated the number of people in the town, the local council and a monitoring group reported.
The operation began late on Thursday and lasted several hours, Mr. Laerke said. “They managed to get through all the checkpoints to get in there, deliver overnight, stock what needed to be stocked and provide food for the first time in years to people inside Daraya,” he said at a news briefing.The operation began late on Thursday and lasted several hours, Mr. Laerke said. “They managed to get through all the checkpoints to get in there, deliver overnight, stock what needed to be stocked and provide food for the first time in years to people inside Daraya,” he said at a news briefing.
Malnutrition has been reported in the rebel-held town, which is about seven miles from Damascus. A convoy carrying nonfood supplies — including wheelchairs, infant formula, vaccines, mosquito nets and anti-lice shampoo — was allowed to enter on June 1.Malnutrition has been reported in the rebel-held town, which is about seven miles from Damascus. A convoy carrying nonfood supplies — including wheelchairs, infant formula, vaccines, mosquito nets and anti-lice shampoo — was allowed to enter on June 1.
The United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, speaking to reporters on Thursday, said President Bashar al-Assad’s government had approved the arrival of United Nations land convoys at 15 of 17 government-besieged areas in June.The United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, speaking to reporters on Thursday, said President Bashar al-Assad’s government had approved the arrival of United Nations land convoys at 15 of 17 government-besieged areas in June.
Airdrops remain an option if the land convoys are unable to reach the affected areas, the envoy said.Airdrops remain an option if the land convoys are unable to reach the affected areas, the envoy said.
Mr. Laerke called on Friday for “unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access” for all people in need, “in particular, besieged and hard-to-reach areas where we have still about 4.6 million people living under these conditions in Syria.”Mr. Laerke called on Friday for “unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access” for all people in need, “in particular, besieged and hard-to-reach areas where we have still about 4.6 million people living under these conditions in Syria.”
The convoy for Daraya also includes nearly two tons of medicine for chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes, antibiotics, vitamins and other health and hygiene items, officials said.The convoy for Daraya also includes nearly two tons of medicine for chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes, antibiotics, vitamins and other health and hygiene items, officials said.
The government, however, declined to approve the delivery of three burn kits that would have been enough to treat about 30 people, said another spokesman, Tarik Jasarevic.The government, however, declined to approve the delivery of three burn kits that would have been enough to treat about 30 people, said another spokesman, Tarik Jasarevic.
There was also anger and frustration at the amount of food aid, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group based in Britain that tracks the war using sources on the ground.There was also anger and frustration at the amount of food aid, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group based in Britain that tracks the war using sources on the ground.
It cited the Daraya local council as saying the supplies brought in would not last two weeks. The council said the population of Daraya was greater than 8,000, more than double the United Nation estimates.It cited the Daraya local council as saying the supplies brought in would not last two weeks. The council said the population of Daraya was greater than 8,000, more than double the United Nation estimates.
A council spokesman, Hossam Ayyash, said it was unclear how the aid, which would cater for only a quarter of the besieged population, would be distributed. A council spokesman, Hossam Ayyash, said it was unclear how the aid would be distributed.
“Of course we are grateful to the team that brought in the supplies, but unfortunately they are not sufficient,” Mr. Ayyash said. “We don’t know what decision will be taken, but it won’t be able to be shared out among everyone who’s here.”“Of course we are grateful to the team that brought in the supplies, but unfortunately they are not sufficient,” Mr. Ayyash said. “We don’t know what decision will be taken, but it won’t be able to be shared out among everyone who’s here.”
Government helicopters stepped up on Friday their barrel bombing of Daraya, the Observatory and local council said. On Friday, government helicopters stepped up their barrel bombing of Daraya, the Observatory and local council said.
Daraya was reported to have been shelled last month after an aid convoy was turned away despite an agreement for it to enter.Daraya was reported to have been shelled last month after an aid convoy was turned away despite an agreement for it to enter.