Russia fears terrorists to benefit from humanitarian aid airdrops in Syria

Russia fears that airdropped humanitarian cargoes meant to support the people of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo and its vicinity may be seized by terrorists, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

"We see huge risks that weather conditions, like wind, and the constant alterations in the configuration on the ground will leave humanitarian cargo in the hands of terrorists, and serves to strengthen their position," Lavrov said at a joint briefing with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

Russia and Syria have opened six humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave Aleppo and to provide aid to those who decide to stay, as well as another for the safe passage of the militants who lay down arms.

Lavrov said that terrorists prevented both the escape of fellow militants and the civilians, using public executions to intimidate them.

The foreign minister said Russia will continue to coordinate additional steps in the delivery of humanitarian aid with the International Syria Support Group, the United States and the United Nations.

"The main thing, while providing humanitarian aid, is to prevent using humanitarian channels to allow terrorists to receive reinforcements in the forms of militants, arms and munitions," he said.

He added that one U.N. checkpoint has been set up to control cargoes coming to Syria from Turkey and there is "an understanding" with Ankara on establishing another such checkpoint. Endi