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| UN reluctant to start aid airdrops in Syria without Russian backing | UN reluctant to start aid airdrops in Syria without Russian backing |
| (3 months later) | |
| The UN has infuriated the Syrian opposition by saying that a previous commitment to push for airdrops to deliver food aid to besieged towns cannot go ahead without the permission of the Russian government. | The UN has infuriated the Syrian opposition by saying that a previous commitment to push for airdrops to deliver food aid to besieged towns cannot go ahead without the permission of the Russian government. |
| The UN and the World Food Programme were under instruction from the international community to deliver food aid by air if Syrian government had not given permission for widespread access to rebel-held towns surrounded by government troops by 1 June. The instruction was delivered by the 17-nation International Syria Support Group in Vienna co-chaired by the US and Russia. | The UN and the World Food Programme were under instruction from the international community to deliver food aid by air if Syrian government had not given permission for widespread access to rebel-held towns surrounded by government troops by 1 June. The instruction was delivered by the 17-nation International Syria Support Group in Vienna co-chaired by the US and Russia. |
| But at a press conference in Geneva, UN officials made clear they were still drawing up plans and showed reluctance to press ahead with food drops by air, saying such missions were expensive, dangerous and liable not to succeed. | But at a press conference in Geneva, UN officials made clear they were still drawing up plans and showed reluctance to press ahead with food drops by air, saying such missions were expensive, dangerous and liable not to succeed. |
| The UN deputy special envoy to Syria, Ramzy Ramzy, said: “As the World Food Programme has not yet finalised its plan, I don’t think there is something imminent. I think that the process that will lead to airdrops has already started, so we just have to wait and see when it will be put into effect at the earliest possible date.” | The UN deputy special envoy to Syria, Ramzy Ramzy, said: “As the World Food Programme has not yet finalised its plan, I don’t think there is something imminent. I think that the process that will lead to airdrops has already started, so we just have to wait and see when it will be put into effect at the earliest possible date.” |
| According to the UN, 592,000 people live under siege in Syria and another 4 million live in hard-to-reach areas. | According to the UN, 592,000 people live under siege in Syria and another 4 million live in hard-to-reach areas. |
| On Wednesday, an aid convoy entered the Damascus suburb of Darayya for the first time since 2012, after the government agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire. The aid did not contain food and instead was largely made up of mosquito nets and shampoo. | On Wednesday, an aid convoy entered the Damascus suburb of Darayya for the first time since 2012, after the government agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire. The aid did not contain food and instead was largely made up of mosquito nets and shampoo. |
| Jan Egeland, a UN special adviser, said it had always been intended that Wednesday’s delivery would consist largely of medicines and that food would be despatched in a second delivery. | Jan Egeland, a UN special adviser, said it had always been intended that Wednesday’s delivery would consist largely of medicines and that food would be despatched in a second delivery. |
| Food convoys cannot reach towns if either the Syrian government or, in a smaller number of cases, Syrian rebels refuse to allow them to pass, and Egeland said the planned delivery of foodhad been delayed until the weekend | Food convoys cannot reach towns if either the Syrian government or, in a smaller number of cases, Syrian rebels refuse to allow them to pass, and Egeland said the planned delivery of foodhad been delayed until the weekend |
| Syrian activists suspect that the UN does not want to antagonise the Russians who it regards as the only party able to persuade the Syrians to allow humanitarian access. Russia has been calling for the Syrian government to be given more time to allow through aid and will resist any air activity in Syria that is not permitted by the Syrian government. | Syrian activists suspect that the UN does not want to antagonise the Russians who it regards as the only party able to persuade the Syrians to allow humanitarian access. Russia has been calling for the Syrian government to be given more time to allow through aid and will resist any air activity in Syria that is not permitted by the Syrian government. |
| Britain’s foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, has recognised the severe practical issues around airdrops but believes the already tarnished credibility of the international community will be further damaged if the 1 June deadline is simply ignored. | Britain’s foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, has recognised the severe practical issues around airdrops but believes the already tarnished credibility of the international community will be further damaged if the 1 June deadline is simply ignored. |
| Egeland said most of the places requiring food were dense urban areas where airdrops would have to be made by helicopter and the World Food Programme would need clearance from the government. | Egeland said most of the places requiring food were dense urban areas where airdrops would have to be made by helicopter and the World Food Programme would need clearance from the government. |
| Bassma Kodmani, the leader of the the umbrella body for the Syrian opposition, welcomed the delivery of medical supplies to Darayya: “This is clearly a first move that came as a result of extreme pressure and the real threat of airdrops. Pressure and ultimatums are the only way to get the Syrian regime to hear anything. We will obviously not be content with very limited and short-lived access,” she said. | Bassma Kodmani, the leader of the the umbrella body for the Syrian opposition, welcomed the delivery of medical supplies to Darayya: “This is clearly a first move that came as a result of extreme pressure and the real threat of airdrops. Pressure and ultimatums are the only way to get the Syrian regime to hear anything. We will obviously not be content with very limited and short-lived access,” she said. |
| “The international community must now intensify pressure on the Syrian regime, including by delivering airdrops to all areas in need, to ensure that access is comprehensive, intensive and continuous.” | “The international community must now intensify pressure on the Syrian regime, including by delivering airdrops to all areas in need, to ensure that access is comprehensive, intensive and continuous.” |
| She said the airdrops should be extended to all areas in need and called for them to be attempted regardless of the consent of the Syrian government. | She said the airdrops should be extended to all areas in need and called for them to be attempted regardless of the consent of the Syrian government. |
| Syria Solidarity UK welcomed cross-party support in UK for airdrops and accused the UN, the World Food Programme and the International Red Cross of allowing themselves to be used by Bashar al-Assad’s regime throughout the crisis. | Syria Solidarity UK welcomed cross-party support in UK for airdrops and accused the UN, the World Food Programme and the International Red Cross of allowing themselves to be used by Bashar al-Assad’s regime throughout the crisis. |
| “If the World Food Programme is unwilling to carry out humanitarian airdrops, then the UK should call on the expertise and resources of the RAF,” it said. | “If the World Food Programme is unwilling to carry out humanitarian airdrops, then the UK should call on the expertise and resources of the RAF,” it said. |
| Separately, the UN has claimed that in Iraq more than 656,000 people have returned home to areas liberated from Islamic State after coalition countries provided more than $120m (£83m) to make areas safe. | Separately, the UN has claimed that in Iraq more than 656,000 people have returned home to areas liberated from Islamic State after coalition countries provided more than $120m (£83m) to make areas safe. |