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Wednesday 20 Jan 2016 - 12:04 Makkah mean time-10-4-1437
Distribution of humanitarian aid supplies in Madaya, Syria (WFP image)
Geneva (IINA) – The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced Tuesday that overnight aid deliveries reached the Syrian towns of Madaya, Zabadani, Kefraya and Foah, adding it is planning on delivering more assistance.
The extreme weather, which has made it difficult to move around Syria, was among several issues that slightly delayed the aid convoy, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva, but, he added, "the operation continues based on the so-called ‘Four Town Agreement’ which we do have.”
Fuel in particular was delivered to the locations during this third joint operation with UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) in recent weeks, but a diverse range of aid is reportedly still needed, including food, nutrition and health services.
Laerke described the situation in the eastern part of Syria as “extremely grave” and “catastrophic”. He voiced concern about the plight of some 200,000 people in the western part of Deir al-Zour, which is under siege by Daesh, warning that they do not have unhindered access to the city.
In related news, UN human rights expert Hilal Elver on Tuesday warned that some 400,000 people living in 15 besieged locations throughout Syria are trapped in desperate circumstances and in urgent need of emergency assistance. She said that an immediate and unconditional humanitarian pause in hostilities must be put in place to allow humanitarian aid to reach everyone in Syria.
On the political level, it was reported that UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is “intensively occupied” with preparations for the Intra Syrian Talks, in order for them to start next week.
AB/IINA
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