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| Syria conflict: Calls for air drops of humanitarian aid to besieged towns | Syria conflict: Calls for air drops of humanitarian aid to besieged towns |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The US, UK and France have urged the UN to begin air drops of humanitarian aid to besieged areas in Syria. | |
| They said the Syrian government had failed to respect the 1 June deadline for widespread aid distribution agreed by world and regional powers. | |
| Only a small amount of aid was delivered on Wednesday and a convoy to the town of Darayya near Damascus did not carry food. | |
| The UN Security Council will meet on Friday to discuss the air drops. | The UN Security Council will meet on Friday to discuss the air drops. |
| Syrian town in 'extremely dire' state | Syrian town in 'extremely dire' state |
| What's left of Syria? | What's left of Syria? |
| US State Department spokesman John Kirby said hundreds of thousands of Syrians needed "sustained and regular" access to aid. | |
| He said the UN food agency, the World Food Programme, had briefed the US on how the air drops could be carried out. | |
| Meanwhile British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond described the limited access for aid allowed on the day of the deadline agreed by the International Syria Support group (ISSG) as "cynical". | |
| "While air drops are complex, costly and risky, they are now the last resort to relieve human suffering across many besieged areas," he said. | "While air drops are complex, costly and risky, they are now the last resort to relieve human suffering across many besieged areas," he said. |
| The US and UK called on Russia and Iran, which back the Syrian government, to use their influence to ensure the air drops could proceed safely. | |
| Russia said the arrival of Wednesday's aid convoys was a positive step. | Russia said the arrival of Wednesday's aid convoys was a positive step. |
| The ISSG, co-chaired by the US and Russia, comprises 17 world and regional powers, as well the Arab League, the European Union and the United Nations. | |
| In April, the UN said at least 4,000 people were besieged in Darayya by Syrian government forces, which have surrounded the suburb for four years. | In April, the UN said at least 4,000 people were besieged in Darayya by Syrian government forces, which have surrounded the suburb for four years. |
| The Darayya convoy - the first since November 2012 - contained vaccines, baby milk, medicine and nutritional goods. | The Darayya convoy - the first since November 2012 - contained vaccines, baby milk, medicine and nutritional goods. |
| Separately, the rebel-held town of Muadhamiya, north-west of Darayya, received deliveries of food parcels and wheat flour on Wednesday, a month since aid convoys last visited. | Separately, the rebel-held town of Muadhamiya, north-west of Darayya, received deliveries of food parcels and wheat flour on Wednesday, a month since aid convoys last visited. |
| Darayya's electricity supply was cut off more than three years ago. | Darayya's electricity supply was cut off more than three years ago. |
| UN emergency relief co-ordinator Stephen O'Brien said in April that the Syrian government had ignored "countless" requests for aid to be allowed in. | UN emergency relief co-ordinator Stephen O'Brien said in April that the Syrian government had ignored "countless" requests for aid to be allowed in. |
| An aid convoy was blocked from entering the town last month, despite all involved parties agreeing aid could be delivered. | An aid convoy was blocked from entering the town last month, despite all involved parties agreeing aid could be delivered. |
| The latest delivery was made by teams from the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Red Crescent. | The latest delivery was made by teams from the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Red Crescent. |
| Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday it had agreed a pause with the Syrian authorities for 48 hours to allow for the distribution of humanitarian aid in Darayya. | Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday it had agreed a pause with the Syrian authorities for 48 hours to allow for the distribution of humanitarian aid in Darayya. |
| It borders a military airport used by Russian planes in support of the government of President Bashar al-Assad. | It borders a military airport used by Russian planes in support of the government of President Bashar al-Assad. |
| It was one of the first towns to report demonstrations against the Assad regime, and has been under siege since late 2012. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes this week between rebel groups and government fighters on the outskirts of Darayya. | It was one of the first towns to report demonstrations against the Assad regime, and has been under siege since late 2012. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes this week between rebel groups and government fighters on the outskirts of Darayya. |
| The UN believes there are more than 4.6m people living in hard-to-reach areas in Syria, including nearly 600,000 in besieged areas. | The UN believes there are more than 4.6m people living in hard-to-reach areas in Syria, including nearly 600,000 in besieged areas. |