Aid shipment arrives in besieged eastern Ghouta

This is the first shipment of food and medicine in the last three months in the area besieged by Syrian troops. Supplies of food and medicines for about 7200 people, equal to 1440 families. The WHO sent 1.8 tons of medicines, sufficient for 10 thousand treatments. Director WFP: "Much more needed". The evacuation of 700 patients is still suspended.

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The eastern Ghouta region, a rebel stronghold on the outskirts of Damascus and long under government siege, has received a shipment of aid (in the picture) for the first time in the last three months. For weeks, the UN agencies and NGOs present in the area have appealed to the Syrian authorities to allow the delivery of food, medicines and basic necessities and encourage the evacuation of hundreds of people in critical health conditions.

About 400 thousand people live in the enclave under siege to the east of Damascus, where mortar shells hit even Christian locations in the capital. The area is the subject of repeated government artillery attacks, in an attempt to curb the opposition of the rebel militias.

In recent weeks, hundreds of people have been killed in the context of the offensive launched by the military to regain control of the area.
 

According to the UN Humanitarian Affairs coordinator, yesterday's delivery of humanitarian aid enabled the delivery of food and supplies to 7200 people. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (Sarc), an NGO active in the area and involved in the delivery of aid, emphasizes that nine trucks are sufficient to contribute to the needs of 1440 families.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports the sending of 1.8 tons of medicines, sufficient for about 10 thousand treatments.

WHO representative in Syria Elizabeth Hoff adds that stocks include antibiotics, medicines for daily dialysis cycles, insulin, trauma kits, treatment for pneumonia and hospital beds. However, the delivery of aid yesterday in eastern Ghouta is quite small compared to the UN standards. Jakob Kern, director of the World Food Program (WFP) for Syria warns: "Much more is needed".

These statements were re-launched by the UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura who, in an intervention at the UN Security Council, recalled that this delivery "benefits 2% of the population" and "serves much more".

At present there are no official statements from the Syrian government and the evacuation of 700 critically ill patients remains suspended.

Meanwhile, Sweden and Kuwait are preparing a draft resolution to be presented to the Security Council, to reach a ceasefire and ensure continued humanitarian assistance. The UN continues to call for a cease-fire after days of intense bombing that killed at least 200 people in the area. For Damascus, and Russia, the request "is not realistic".

The eastern Ghouta region has been under siege since 2013. This is an area of ​​strategic importance and is completely surrounded by the Syrian regular army units that stop aid delivery. Hence the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation inside it.