Syrian government has duty to allow aid, UN envoy says

GENEVA

The Syrian government has an obligation to allow humanitarian aid into besieged areas of the country, the UN’s special envoy for Syria said Tuesday.

In a statement released by the UN in Geneva, Staffan de Mistura said: “It is clear it is the duty of the government of Syria to want to reach every Syrian person wherever they are and allow the UN to bring humanitarian aid, particularly now after so long time.”

Speaking after meeting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in Damascus, he added: “Tomorrow we test this and we will be able to talk more about it.”

Last week a deal was agreed to allow humanitarian access to areas of Syria cut-off by sieges as well as introduce a “cessation of hostilities” between warring parties.