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| Syria crisis: Aid arrives in besieged towns | Syria crisis: Aid arrives in besieged towns |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Convoys carrying urgently-needed aid have reached four besieged areas of Syria, the UN and aid agencies said. | Convoys carrying urgently-needed aid have reached four besieged areas of Syria, the UN and aid agencies said. |
| Trucks reached rebel-held Muadhamiya and Madaya, near Damascus, and pro-government northern villages of Foah and Kefraya on Wednesday. Another town, Zabadani, is also due to receive aid. | Trucks reached rebel-held Muadhamiya and Madaya, near Damascus, and pro-government northern villages of Foah and Kefraya on Wednesday. Another town, Zabadani, is also due to receive aid. |
| 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 of 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 of 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. |
| They are intended to provide one month's worth of aid for more than 90,000 people, 30,000 in Muadhamiya alone, the UN said. | They are intended to provide one month's worth of aid for more than 90,000 people, 30,000 in Muadhamiya alone, the UN said. |
| A spokesman for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent told the BBC many Syrians were desperate for basic supplies. | A spokesman for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent told the BBC many Syrians were desperate for basic supplies. |
| "People in Kefraya and Foah, 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. | Humanitarian supplies reached some of the areas last month amid reports of people starving. |
| 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. | 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. |
| But a senior aide to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Mr de Mistura should focus on peace talks rather than on aid deliveries. | But a senior aide to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Mr de Mistura should focus on peace talks rather than on aid deliveries. |
| "His mission now is to establish a list of terrorist groups, and a list of opposition groups who should dialogue with the Syrian government," Buthaina Shaaban told the AFP news agency. | "His mission now is to establish a list of terrorist groups, and a list of opposition groups who should dialogue with the Syrian government," Buthaina Shaaban told the AFP news agency. |
| 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 |
| 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. | 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. | The facility was among several hospitals in schools hit in strikes on Monday, killing up to 50 people, according to the UN. |
| Russia, which is carrying out air strikes in support of the Syrian army, has rejected accusations it was responsible. | Russia, which is carrying out air 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 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. | 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. |