This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/world/middleeast/un-report-faults-syria-and-rebels-for-blocking-relief-supplies.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
U.N. Report Faults Syria and Rebels for Blocking Relief Supplies U.N. Report Faults Syria and Rebels for Blocking Relief Supplies
(about 13 hours later)
A month after the Security Council ordered warring parties in Syria to let aid workers into besieged areas and stop indiscriminate attacks on civilians, the office of the United Nations secretary general says that the Syrian government continues to delay or ignore requests for access and that relentless fighting among opposition groups has also kept many areas of the country inaccessible.A month after the Security Council ordered warring parties in Syria to let aid workers into besieged areas and stop indiscriminate attacks on civilians, the office of the United Nations secretary general says that the Syrian government continues to delay or ignore requests for access and that relentless fighting among opposition groups has also kept many areas of the country inaccessible.
The findings are part of a 14-page report documenting the response of the Syrian government and its rivals to the Council’s Feb. 22 resolution. The document is likely to spur fierce arguments among the members of the deeply divided Council over who is to blame, but it is unlikely to result in any immediate enforcement measures.The findings are part of a 14-page report documenting the response of the Syrian government and its rivals to the Council’s Feb. 22 resolution. The document is likely to spur fierce arguments among the members of the deeply divided Council over who is to blame, but it is unlikely to result in any immediate enforcement measures.
Limited relief has trickled into some hard-to-reach areas, according to the report, which has been circulated to Council members but has not been made public. It also chronicles a pattern of obstruction, as repeated requests by United Nations officials get a nod from Syrian government officials, only to be bogged down by fighting on the ground or recalcitrant local authorities.Limited relief has trickled into some hard-to-reach areas, according to the report, which has been circulated to Council members but has not been made public. It also chronicles a pattern of obstruction, as repeated requests by United Nations officials get a nod from Syrian government officials, only to be bogged down by fighting on the ground or recalcitrant local authorities.
Food rations have been held up at government checkpoints; medicines have been removed from aid trucks; visas are held up for United Nations officials; and a hard-won agreement to let aid through the land border from Turkey ran into trouble when customs officials at the border said they had not received a green light from Damascus.Food rations have been held up at government checkpoints; medicines have been removed from aid trucks; visas are held up for United Nations officials; and a hard-won agreement to let aid through the land border from Turkey ran into trouble when customs officials at the border said they had not received a green light from Damascus.
All the while, the United Nations estimates, 200 people are killed on average each day. The office of the secretary general described the obstacles as “extremely challenging.” The report urged the Syrian government to streamline aid convoy procedures, speed up visa approvals and instruct local officials to comply with approvals given in Damascus. It urged the opposition to “strengthen control and command structures” to ensure aid workers can operate safely in areas they control.All the while, the United Nations estimates, 200 people are killed on average each day. The office of the secretary general described the obstacles as “extremely challenging.” The report urged the Syrian government to streamline aid convoy procedures, speed up visa approvals and instruct local officials to comply with approvals given in Damascus. It urged the opposition to “strengthen control and command structures” to ensure aid workers can operate safely in areas they control.
“Delivering lifesaving items, in particular medicines, remains difficult,” the report concluded. “And the assistance reaching people continues to fall far short of what is required to cover even their basic needs.”“Delivering lifesaving items, in particular medicines, remains difficult,” the report concluded. “And the assistance reaching people continues to fall far short of what is required to cover even their basic needs.”
The report went on to say that the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad had kept up its use of barrel bombs, which contain hundreds of pounds of explosives and shrapnel like metal shards or nails. They are considered weapons of indiscriminate killing of civilians, and their continued use is something Syria’s critics are likely to seize upon. But the report also blamed opposition forces for their continued use of suicide attacks and car bombings, and it singled out attacks on Christians by Islamist fighters in a town called Ar Raqqa. The report went on to say that the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad had kept up its use of barrel bombs, which contain hundreds of pounds of explosives and shrapnel like metal shards or nails. They are considered weapons of indiscriminate killing of civilians, and their continued use is something Syria’s critics are likely to seize upon. On Monday, Human Rights Watch said that it had identified at least 340 sites in opposition-held neighborhoods in Aleppo that had been damaged in recent months, and that most of them “have damage signatures that are strongly consistent with the detonation of barrel bombs.”
But the United Nations report also blamed opposition forces for their continued use of suicide attacks and car bombings, and it singled out attacks on Christians by Islamist fighters in a town called Ar Raqqa.
The report says United Nations agencies have continued to be denied access to 175,000 Syrians who are besieged by government forces and 45,000 by the opposition.The report says United Nations agencies have continued to be denied access to 175,000 Syrians who are besieged by government forces and 45,000 by the opposition.
The report pointed to the United Nations’ efforts to get food and medicine to Madamiyet Elsham, where it has sought permission to enter 15 times since March 2013. Permission finally came from Damascus a week after the Council resolution was passed, but there were obstacles.The report pointed to the United Nations’ efforts to get food and medicine to Madamiyet Elsham, where it has sought permission to enter 15 times since March 2013. Permission finally came from Damascus a week after the Council resolution was passed, but there were obstacles.
First, the aid convoy could not enter because opposition groups in the area said they needed more time to prepare to receive the supplies. Then, government officials delayed the convoy, conducted “lengthy searches of relief supplies” and said medicines could not be taken to opposition-held areas. When the convoy finally started moving on March 18, pro-government forces said aid could only be delivered to government-held areas. The convoy turned back. No aid reached where the United Nations said it was needed.First, the aid convoy could not enter because opposition groups in the area said they needed more time to prepare to receive the supplies. Then, government officials delayed the convoy, conducted “lengthy searches of relief supplies” and said medicines could not be taken to opposition-held areas. When the convoy finally started moving on March 18, pro-government forces said aid could only be delivered to government-held areas. The convoy turned back. No aid reached where the United Nations said it was needed.
Then there is the matter of getting relief across the land border into hard-to-reach areas inside Syria. The resolution ordered Syria to allow cross-border aid convoys, and last Thursday, in a significant breakthrough, the first of 80 trucks began crossing in from Turkey into northeastern Syria. The trucks were packed with food, mattresses and medicines meant for an estimated 500,000 people. But after the first day, Syrian customs officials told the United Nations that they had not received permission from Damascus to let the convoy pass on the second day.Then there is the matter of getting relief across the land border into hard-to-reach areas inside Syria. The resolution ordered Syria to allow cross-border aid convoys, and last Thursday, in a significant breakthrough, the first of 80 trucks began crossing in from Turkey into northeastern Syria. The trucks were packed with food, mattresses and medicines meant for an estimated 500,000 people. But after the first day, Syrian customs officials told the United Nations that they had not received permission from Damascus to let the convoy pass on the second day.
“We had not anticipated that,” said Nigel Fisher, the United Nation regional humanitarian coordinator in Amman. After further talks with Damascus, the aid convoy was allowed to resume on Saturday and Sunday.“We had not anticipated that,” said Nigel Fisher, the United Nation regional humanitarian coordinator in Amman. After further talks with Damascus, the aid convoy was allowed to resume on Saturday and Sunday.
The aid convoy traveled through areas controlled by Kurdish groups that the Turkish government considers to be a terrorist outfit. Mr. Fisher said Turkey had sought assurances that the United Nations would press for other border crossings as well, but did not block the aid convoy. “The Turkish authorities did not impose any impediments. They did express the hope that other crossings would be opening up as well,” Mr. Fisher said.The aid convoy traveled through areas controlled by Kurdish groups that the Turkish government considers to be a terrorist outfit. Mr. Fisher said Turkey had sought assurances that the United Nations would press for other border crossings as well, but did not block the aid convoy. “The Turkish authorities did not impose any impediments. They did express the hope that other crossings would be opening up as well,” Mr. Fisher said.
A truce in the Old City of Homs allowed workers to deliver food and evacuate more than 1,300 people from that rebel-held area in February. Among those evacuated, the report said, 150 men are still being held by the government. United Nations monitors suspended their visits to the screening facility in early March after the building was struck by mortar fire.A truce in the Old City of Homs allowed workers to deliver food and evacuate more than 1,300 people from that rebel-held area in February. Among those evacuated, the report said, 150 men are still being held by the government. United Nations monitors suspended their visits to the screening facility in early March after the building was struck by mortar fire.