UN poised to deliver aid to besieged Syrian cities as fragile peace ‘largely intact’

The United Nations prepared to deliver aid to thousands of besieged civilians in Syria on Monday as a fragile ceasefire entered its third day largely intact despite accusations of violations. UN humanitarian coordinator Yacoub El Hillo said the world body hoped to take advantage of the first major truce in five years of conflict to distribute supplies to an extra 154,000 people living in besieged areas over the next five days. A successful truce would also create a more favourable backdrop for peace talks that collapsed in acrimony in early February as a Russia-backed regime offensive in northern Syria caused tens of thousands to flee.

We have violations here and there, but in general it is a lot better than before and people are comfortable.

Salem al-Meslet, spokesman for the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee

The jihadists of IS last week cut the government’s sole supply route to territory it holds in and around second city Aleppo. After several days of deadly clashes, the army succeeded in reopening it on Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. An HNC letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accused Syria’s regime and its allies of committing “24 violations with artillery shelling and five ground operations… in 26 areas held by the moderate opposition”. Russia, which has waged a five-month bombing campaign to support Assad, accused “moderate” rebels and jihadists of nine ceasefire violations.

Things will become clearer in the coming days on whether the regime and Russia are serious or not about the ceasefire.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir

Syria ceasefire