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Doubts over Syria's commitment to aid after reports of bombing
Source: The Guardian
Doubts over Syria's commitment to aid after reports of bombing
Convoy of food reaches Darayya but rights group says regime
helicopters have dropped at least 20 barrel bombs
Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Friday 10 June 2016 19.24 BST
The Syrian government’s willingness to allow humanitarian aid into besieged towns is under fresh doubt after it reportedly started barrel bombing the Damascus suburb of Darayya hours after allowing food aid in for the first time since 2012.
A convoy of food aid – approved by Damascus – reached rebel-held Darayya on Thursday night. It was greeted by the UN and the World Food Programme (WFP) as a sign that Bashar al-Assad’s regime might become more flexible on the delivery of aid to other besieged towns.
But on Friday reports emerged that the Syrian air force had begun a succession of raids on the town as residents converged to collect the food. “There has been intense random barrel bombing of the town since 9am local time,” a member of the local council told Agence France-Presse, referring to the crude unguided explosive devices usually dropped by regime helicopters.
“Aid received by the council has not been distributed yet because of the intensity of the raids,” Shadi Matar said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime helicopters had dropped at least 20 barrel bombs. “Heavy barrel bombing on many areas of Darayya from the morning has stalled food aid distribution,” observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.
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Convoy of food reaches Darayya but rights group says regime
helicopters have dropped at least 20 barrel bombs
Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Friday 10 June 2016 19.24 BST
The Syrian government’s willingness to allow humanitarian aid into besieged towns is under fresh doubt after it reportedly started barrel bombing the Damascus suburb of Darayya hours after allowing food aid in for the first time since 2012.
A convoy of food aid – approved by Damascus – reached rebel-held Darayya on Thursday night. It was greeted by the UN and the World Food Programme (WFP) as a sign that Bashar al-Assad’s regime might become more flexible on the delivery of aid to other besieged towns.
But on Friday reports emerged that the Syrian air force had begun a succession of raids on the town as residents converged to collect the food. “There has been intense random barrel bombing of the town since 9am local time,” a member of the local council told Agence France-Presse, referring to the crude unguided explosive devices usually dropped by regime helicopters.
“Aid received by the council has not been distributed yet because of the intensity of the raids,” Shadi Matar said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime helicopters had dropped at least 20 barrel bombs. “Heavy barrel bombing on many areas of Darayya from the morning has stalled food aid distribution,” observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/10/food-aid-besieged-damascus-suburb-darayya-syrian-arab-red-crescent
