UN, partners ship aid to over 941,000 civilians in Syria since beginning of year

Since the beginning of this year, the UN and partners have delivered humanitarian assistance through inter-agency operations to over 941,000 Syrian civilians in besieged, hard-to-reach and other priority cross-line locations with dire humanitarian needs, a UN spokesman told reporters here Thursday.

"Many people have been reached more than once," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

A total of 64 UN inter-agency convoys have taken place, reaching more than 822,000 people, Dujarric said, adding that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has also delivered 30 convoys with assistance to 19,000 people, including thousands of residents in and from Yarmouk, home to the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria.

In addition, through 64 World Food Programme-led airdrops, 1,140 metric tons of humanitarian supplies have been delivered to besieged parts of western Deir Ezzour city. Since June 1, airdrops have provided sufficient materials to support more than 42,000 people in need as part of a second round of food distribution, which aims to reach a total of 110,000 beneficiaries.

"The UN continues to call for unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access to the 5.47 million Syrian men, women and children in hard-to-reach locations, including close to 600,000 in 18 besieged locations," the spokesman said. Enditem