United Nations official calls on Syrian warring sides to allow aid into Damascus district

BEIRUT – A United Nations official is calling on warring sides in Syria to allow aid workers to resume distribution of food and medicine in a besieged Palestinian district of Damascus.

Chris Gunnes of the UNRWA relief agency called Wednesday on both the forces loyal to President Bashar Assad and the rebels fighting to oust him to facilitate “safe and unhindered humanitarian access” to thousands of trapped civilians in Yarmouk camp.

The call comes as U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urged Syrian government to authorize more humanitarian staff to work inside the country, devastated by its 3-year-old conflict.

Yarmouk has seen some of the worst fighting in the capital, leading to to severe food shortages and widespread hunger.

The UNRWA chief spoke after a rare visit to Yarmouk on Monday.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.
The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.