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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Syria crisis: Aid arrives in besieged Muadhamiya | Syria crisis: Aid arrives in besieged Muadhamiya |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The first of several convoys carrying badly-needed aid to besieged areas of Syria has arrived at its destination. | The first of several convoys carrying badly-needed aid to besieged areas of Syria has arrived at its destination. |
| Thirty-five trucks have entered the rebel-held town of Muadhamiya, near the Syrian capital Damascus, the Syrian Red Crescent told the BBC. | |
| Aid is heading as well to Madaya and Zabadani, also near the capital, and to the pro-government northern villages of Foah and Kefraya. | Aid is heading as well to Madaya and Zabadani, also near the capital, and to the pro-government northern villages of Foah and Kefraya. |
| Almost 500,000 people live in besieged areas in Syria, according to the UN. | Almost 500,000 people live in besieged areas in Syria, according to the UN. |
| The deliveries are part of an agreement that world powers hope will lead to a "cessation of hostilities" by Friday. | The deliveries are part of an agreement that world powers hope will lead to a "cessation of hostilities" by Friday. |
| However, offensives by Syrian government forces and Kurdish militia fighters on rebel-held areas of the northern province of Aleppo have dimmed hopes for a truce. | However, offensives by Syrian government forces and Kurdish militia fighters on rebel-held areas of the northern province of Aleppo have dimmed hopes for a truce. |
| Some 100 trucks left Damascus earlier on Wednesday, carrying food, non-food items, medical equipment and medicine. | Some 100 trucks left Damascus earlier on Wednesday, carrying food, non-food items, medical equipment and medicine. |
| A spokesman for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent told the BBC many Syrians were desperate for basic supplies. | |
| "People in Kefraya and Foua, they need diesel to switch on the water pumps - without the diesel, they cannot dig for water, they need water, drinking water," Mouhannad al Assadi told the BBC. | |
| Two more places - Kafr Batna and Deir al-Zour - are expected to receive aid later in the week. | Two more places - Kafr Batna and Deir al-Zour - are expected to receive aid later in the week. |
| Humanitarian supplies reached some of the areas last month amid reports of people starving. | |
| Where the aid is going | Where the aid is going |
| The UN named seven areas where it would deliver aid: | The UN named seven areas where it would deliver aid: |
| Syria: The story of the conflict | Syria: The story of the conflict |
| On Tuesday, UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura said it was the "duty" of the Syrian government to allow aid to reach whoever needed it. | |
| Medecins Sans Frontieres has said at least 25 people are now confirmed to have died when one of its hospitals in Syria was bombed on Monday - 14 more than it previously reported. | |
| The facility was among several hospitals in schools hit in strikes on Monday, killing up to 50 people, according to the UN. | |
| Russia, who is carrying out strikes in support of the Syrian army, has rejected accusations it was responsible. | |
| The nationwide "cessation of hostilities" is due to come into force on Friday. | |
| The agreement, approved by the 17-member International Syria Support Group (ISSG), does not apply to the fight against Islamic State or al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate. |