Humanitarian aid convoys to set off for Syrian towns
At least 100 trucks carrying humanitarian aid are scheduled to set off for the besieged areas of war-hit Syria from the capital, Damascus.
The aid convoys are slated to head for the five towns of Dayr al-Zawr, Madaya, Zabadani, Kafr Batna, and Mu’adamiyat al-Sham as well as two militant-besieged villages of Fuaa and Kefraya on Wednesday.
Almost half a million people in Syria live in areas besieged by either the government or foreign-backed terrorist groups, according to the UN.
Damascus has pledged full cooperation with the UN and the Red Cross to deliver humanitarian aid to all civilians “without any discrimination,” including those in hard-to-reach areas.
On Tuesday, the Syrian government gave the green light to the aid convoys following a visit by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura to Damascus.
It came a week ahead of a planned resumption of UN-backed peace negotiations between Syria’s warring sides. The peace talks are slated to restart in Geneva on February 25, after de Mistura suspended a previous round on February 3.
On Friday, the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting in the German city of Munich agreed to seek a nationwide “cessation of hostilities” and to accelerate and expand aid deliveries. The deal is due to come into force later this week.
The ISSG said in a statement that the planned ceasefire in Syria does not include areas held by groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United Nations Security Council, including Daesh and the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. According to a new report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.
Syrian president, Bahrain FM discuss expansion of bilateral relations
US occupation forces in Iraq, Syria hit in two separate attacks in 24 hours
Missiles, drone hit two US military bases in eastern Syria
VIDEO | IRAN EXPO 2024 spotlights free trade zones
Columbia University students defy deadline to clear pro-Palestinian encampment
Yemen strikes several vessels in fresh defensive, pro-Palestinian operations
No peace in world without permanent ceasefire in Gaza: Pakistan PM
VIDEO | After 12 years of closure, Yemen’s national museum reopens
VIDEO | Pariah regime cornered
VIDEO | Palestinian rescuers search for casualties following Israeli strike on Rafah
7 people, incl. child, killed in attack on Shia mosque in NW Afghanistan: Report
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
