Urgently-Needed Humanitarian Supplies Reach Rural Aleppo [EN/AR]

Damascus, 11 May 2014 – United Nations humanitarian agencies and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent reached men, women and children in hard to access towns in northwestern rural Aleppo with vital life-saving supplies for the first time in several months up to almost two years.

Over the course of two days, 8 and 9 May 2014, a joint inter-agency and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) team, including the World Food Program (WFP), World Health Organization (WHO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) and the Organization for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) transported life-saving assistance to six towns.

On 8 May, the UN inter-agency and SARC team delivered food, nutrition and hygiene assistance to Kfar Hamra, Maaret Elartiq, Hariten and Hayyan.

On 9 May, the joint convoy was able to deliver assistance for besieged towns of Nabul and Zahraa, including food, medicines, non-food items, water and hygiene kits for up to 15,000 people.

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Yacoub El Hillo, explained that “efforts by the United Nations and its partners to access civilians wherever found with needs-based humanitarian assistance will continue. Every affected civilian in Syria has the right to a dignified life where basic humanitarian needs are being met. Reaching these areas, some of which have not been accessed since August last year and others for over 23 months, will only motivate us to do more.”

United Nations humanitarian agencies call on all parties to the conflict to facilitate access to affected civilians and ensure the safety and security of humanitarian workers. The United Nations and partners are scaling up their presence in Aleppo Governorate and plan to reach areas in eastern Aleppo city, and western and northern rural Aleppo in a succession of deliveries through inter-agency convoys and regular agency programmes.

For more information:
Dr. Khaled Al-Masri, UN Media Analyst in Syria M: 00963933494267
Kelly Gilbride, Humanitarian Affairs Officer | OCHA Syria m: + 963 95 888 0061