UN advisor foresees more humanitarian deliveries this month to besieged areas in Syria

United Nations Senior Advisor Jan Egeland said today there are plans to go to 11 besieged areas in Syria in the next few days, following the delivery yesterday of humanitarian supplies in the city of Darayya for the first time since it was besieged in 2012.

Speaking to the press in Geneva at the conclusion of a meeting of the humanitarian task force set up by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) – comprised of the UN, the Arab League, the European Union and 18 countries that have been working on a way forward since late last year – Mr. Egeland said that while May had been a “very bad month” for the humanitarian task force, June seems to be “much better.”

“We reached many fewer places and many fewer people [in May] than we did in March and April,” said Mr. Egeland, who is the Senior Advisor to UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. “June can be […] much better.”

The task force plans to return to Darayya with food, Moadameyah, again with food, five places in the east Ghouta area, Kafr Batna, and three areas – Zabadin, Arbin and Zamalka – where it hasn't been yet.

Mr. Egeland said that, thus far, 14 out of the 19 besieged areas on the Task Force's list had been reached since the beginning of the year. In addition, another three areas could be reached for the first time in the next few days.

He added that the task force has “full hopes” that a full convoy to follow up on the supplies delivered to Darayya will be able to be delivered very soon.

Noting that one more besieged area – Al'Wae'r – had been added to the list since the last meeting, Mr. Egeland said the area has 75,000 people and is “possibly the place with the worst nutritional situation” of all the besieged areas.

He said attempts had been made to reach Al-Wae'r in the next few days, and that the Red Crescent had been able to deliver some items over the past 48 hours.

“Altogether, 592,000 people are now in besieged areas, and it is not a good sign that we have to add people to that list. But one of the reasons we are adding people to the list is that we are now getting access and we have better assessment of the situation in these areas,” Mr. Egeland noted.

Also speaking to the press was Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, who highlighted that the latest meeting of the humanitarian task force was “important and useful.”

“It comes against the backdrop of two developments, as you are aware. There has been some positive movement in terms of humanitarian access yesterday and the expectations there will be some more positive developments in the next few days, but of course we have to wait and see,” he said.

A family from Darayya, Syria, receiving food rations. Photo: WFP/Hussam Alsaleh

The other development – the deadline for the air drops of 1 June – had been discussed in detail by the humanitarian task force.

He said that the World Food Programme (WFP) had studied the issue and is in the process of finalizing its plans.

Noting that air delivery is “certainly not a substitute for land delivery,” Mr. Ramzy stressed that air delivery remains an option if land deliveries do not go through.

“Clearly, in spite of these positive developments, it is not enough,” he said.

“Ultimately, what we are seeking is the removal of all sieges. I think this is absolutely necessary if we are able to have humanitarian access at the level that we want,” he added.

Separately, WFP said that in response to the request of the ISSG, it has developed a plan to provide humanitarian aid deliveries by air to besieged areas inside Syria.

The plan considers the various modes of delivery that would be possible to the 19 besieged areas identified by the UN.

In 15 of the areas assessed, if land access is not granted, helicopter operations are the only viable option. This includes all urban or semi-urban areas such as Madaya, Darayya, Moadamiya and Duma, the agency said, noting that high-altitude airdrops to those locations are not possible owing to the risk of harming people on the ground along the path between actual release of the cargo from the airplane and the actual landing zone. This path can be up to 5 kilometres.

At least 11 helicopters will be required to meet the monthly needs of those trapped in these besieged areas, WFP said.

High altitude airdrops may be possible to Foah and Kafraya (Idlib Governorate), where an estimated 20,000 people are trapped, and will also be continued to Deir Ez-Zour.

On the basis of the ISSG assessment of the situation as of 1 June, WFP said it is now activating the plan. This includes preparing a clearance request for submission to the Syrian authorities.

In order to implement the plan, it will be necessary to have both funding and all necessary clearances in place, the agency said.

The Security Council will meet tomorrow on the issue of humanitarian access, and will be briefed by the special envoy together with the UN Under-Secretary-General of Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O'Brien.